IMS HERMES Merchandising Gateway^® and ChannelPartner^® for Distribution Strategies - Connected eBusiness™

HERMES is an XML-RPC EDI type internet based system, installed on your servers that can increase your sales and product visibility by providing low-cost, rapidly deployed, XML-RPC connected ecommerce websites, built around your product database, to your distributors and resellers, including dealers, retailers, sales agents, and integrators. Hereafter, the term ‘resellers’ refers to your partners in the distribution channel.

Using our revolutionary HERMES Merchandising Gateway web software, we make it possible for you to build fully-functional websites quickly and cost effectively, without programming knowledge or technical experience.

An online product catalog is the most likely application of the program, and it incorporates an ecommerce system to manage orders and process transactions online. The ecommerce system is managed from your central site, or your resellers can manage allowed features on their end via their ChannelPartner connected websites.

HERMES consists of a server based Merchandising Gateway and web connected Channelpartners, (Remote eCommerce Storefronts). The software provides a complete net-based platform of business-to-business (B2B), dealer or reseller integration connectivity for small to medium-sized business, enterprises and e-marketplaces.

These are just a few of the advantages of HERMES:

• Increase company and product visibility across your distribution network
• Open new marketing and sales opportunities for your products
• Provide incentives for distributors to carry or expand your product lines
• Build strong supply chain logistics management
• Integrate with existing web sites and third-party software systems
• Program is scalable to your budget; expandable as business grows
• Online descriptive catalog provides in-depth product resources
• Wide choice of available functionality, including a full e-commerce system
• Manage local and global content through a back-end control panel
• Total creative flexibility from stock layouts to totally custom looks
• Easy product management, including unique pricing profiles
• Turn-key solution saves you time, money, and headache

No programming or technical skills required

HERMES Software

Our HERMES Merchandising Gateway software system breaks the elements of a website into individual components, or modules, providing the following benefits:

• Your clients choose which functions they want for their site from an extensive “ala carte” menu of options.
• The modules are designed to snap together like building blocks, using a common underlying architecture.
• Navigation is incorporated as part of the build process, so the entire site “shell” is constructed using an automated, online build process.
• The creative (graphic) layer of the site is completely independent of this functional layer, so virtually any type of creative design can be laid on top of the site shell without interfering with the function.
• The site can accommodate your custom graphics.
• Your product database can be converted into a proprietary software module that can then be incorporated across an unlimited number of websites (specifically, those of your resellers).
• With the catalog module, you can present your products and services to a global marketplace, accessible anywhere, at any time, greatly expanding the visibility and availability of your goods, all at a fraction of the cost of printing and mailing traditional catalogs.
• In addition, HERMES enables you to present far more product detail and marketing information (including custom pricing structures and targeted promotions) than standard print catalogs.
• The e-commerce system is dynamically driven by your product catalog to manage orders and process transactions online, and can be managed from the branded site or from your central site.
• Our e-commerce module enables you to create a functional method of generating and fulfilling orders online both from the branded site and these orders are then transacted via the main site.
• Optional features give you the abilities to:
  • Create custom tax and payment profiles
  • Customize the shopping cart
  • Accept coupons, manage customers and mailing lists
  • Define shipping details
  • Handle recurring charges
  • Track and archive order history.

HERMES Merchandising Gateway Master Site

 Your product database is entered into HERMES, which is then syndicated by incorporating it into your company’s site and the branded sites you provide to your resellers via our ChannelPartner software (or any website you choose). If you do not have an existing website, or if you are unsatisfied with your current site, you may opt to build one using HERMES.

The platform is rich in features and does not require a web developer to maintain. This translates to a low barrier to entry, minimal maintenance and quick deployment.

Our experts can also provide custom programming for needed niche features.

HERMES enables you to:

• Improve effectiveness in delivering timely/near real-time information to selling partners websites.
• Rapidly and cost-effectively deploy a powerful XML RPC e-commerce solution.
• Shorten order placement from resellers and tracking time from weeks to real-time.
• Build stronger partner and customer service.
• Cut partner ramp-up time, making it easier for partners to do business with you.
• Provide more efficient price quoting, description & quantity updating to all your resellers in real-time.
• Manage your product information, including, but not limited to:

• Content – Images, Descriptions, etc.
• Categories – Groupings of similar products
• Pricing – Suggested Retail, minimum pricing, quantity breaks, and unique customer pricing tiers and profiles.
• Cross-Selling Opportunities – Display required / related products

• Make all changes through the control panel, automatically updating the information across all branded websites. The control panel is a back-end administrative module that enables you to control all the features of your site, allowing you to:
  • Make changes to the content on your web site (including text and images)
  • Modify the layout (including colors, fonts, alignment, etc.)
  • Add or remove sections
  • Upload new features, products, prices, etc.
  • Manage how your site operates.
  • Integrate the system with existing accounting or warehouse management programs (optional).  

ChannelPartner Sites

Branded Sites – Branded websites are built independently for your resellers, using your product catalog and the Channelpartner e-commerce system as the foundation.

• Branded sites are “separate” from yours, but when site customers utilize the catalog, they access your central product database, which you control, so that the product information and pricing (where applicable) is consistent and up-to-date.
• Each branded site comes with its own control panel, through which your resellers can manage local content changes, filter products, edit pricing, and view/process orders (where applicable).
• Each branded site is located at your reseller’s unique domain name (i.e. www.yourmyreseller.com), and carries their particular brand.

Why is HERMES™ the Best Choice for You?

These are just a few of the reasons our revolutionary HERMES Merchandising Gateway web software is right for you:

• Flexible Solution – Our system can be fully customized to fit the unique needs of you and your resellers.
• Quick Deployment – If you have an electronic version of your product database, we can fully implement a customized Branded Website Program in just a few short weeks.
• Third-Party Integration – Our system can be customized to accommodate your existing software and financial accounting programs, providing seamless integration.
• Total Catalog Management – You control all elements of your catalog information (and the optional e-commerce system as well) through the Web Driver™ control panel. Any changes you make to the central database are reflected “globally” across all your reseller’s branded sites.

Why Is HERMES™ the Best Choice for Your Resellers?

These are just a few of the advantages HERMES brings to your distributors and resellers:

• Rapid Website Launch – Branded sites can be deployed in a matter of a few days, depending largely on how long it takes the client to prepare their content.
• Simple Content Management –You make content changes through the online password-protected control panel in HERMES. Changes are updated vis XML-RPC in real-time, displaying immediately on the reseller sites as are changes to inventory levels as orders are received from reseller websites.
• Meets Any Budget – Because our system components are modular, your resellers can choose what functionality they want and pay only for what they need or can afford.
• Scalable Architecture – If your resellers wish to upgrade or add functionality after the branded site is launched, new modules can be added quickly, without having to rebuild the entire site.
• Creative Flexibility – Unlike many “cookie-cutter” sites, our system enables complete flexibility in the design/look of the site. Options include:
  • Add graphics and colors to pre-configured design templates.
  • Create a completely custom design.
  • Exactly match an existing website design and navigation.

Take advantage of the Web, not only by selling from your own websites but by empowering your existing dealers/distributors' websites,  move from a linear, sequential supply chain to a networked, adaptive value chain;

Companies using channel management strategies and technology are turning these distribution networks into a competitive advantage by making it easier for partners to work productively with them.

Depending upon the industry, between 30 percent and 70 percent of all sales worldwide flow through channels, allowing businesses to lower costs, expand more aggressively into new markets and offer more valuable solutions to customers.

Allowing your dealers and distributors to sell and order online with HERMES can significantly reduce costs plus it can demonstrate your product lines to millions of potential on-line buyers.