Isg Group's I-Web Version 1.5 Provides New Services

Online Product News, Jan 1, 2007

The ISG Group, Rockville, Md., has launched version 1.5 of I-Web, a software suite that allows associations to provide a wide variety of services to members over the Internet, including online communities, directories, a buyers' guide, event registration, and product sales. I-Web offers seamless, real-time integration with an association's member database. This tight integration lets the association's website take advantage of the detailed information in the member database to provide a better experience on the website, and eliminates the need for multiple databases that can get out of sync. With I-Web, both the website and member database display information about members and products that is accurate to the minute.

With the release of I-Web version 1.5, ISG has expanded I-Web's e-commerce capabilities to include support for sophisticated discounting via promotional tools such as vouchers, coupons, gift cards, and group registration discounts, which are not typically supported by association e-commerce solutions.

The I-Web shopping cart now allows users to add one or more discount eligibility codes when checking out. The system automatically validates the code number and checks its available balance and the presence of qualifying conditions before calculating the applicable discount.

* Promo codes and coupons, used to measure the reach of the association's marketing message, are available to any user who sees them, whereas vouchers and gift cards are uniquely numbered and distributed to association members for redemption only for specified types of purchases.

* Each discount code can be restricted by expiration date or dollar amount. Gift cards, for instance, have a set dollar value that can be applied to multiple items, while vouchers may be usable only once, even if a balance remains. Discounts can be limited to specific products, categories or events.

* I-Web can calculate discounts based on a flat dollar amount or by discount percent. Discounting rules, such as discounts for group registrations or bulk purchases, can be applied to any item or combination of items in the shopping cart.

Significant enhancements have also been made to the I-Web Communities module, which supports the development and management of online communities on an association's website:

* Community members can flag certain topics or discussions and have them displayed as news in the association's RSS feeder.

* A "Subscribe Now" feature lets members pay for access to certain communities whenever they want to join, even outside the normal dues cycle.

* The community setup tool now allows association staff to query the association management software to identify members with certain interests and then easily create a community made up of these people; for example, subscribers to a journal, registrants for an event, or a group of experts.

* When a community is created or members are added to a community, invitations are e-mailed automatically, along with a notification to the community leader.

* Moderators now have more flexibility and a greater ability to fine- tune the controls for the forums they moderate.

The full I-Web suite of web modules includes 14 modules. The three foundation modules are required: Unified Login & Create Account, Update Profile, and Administrator. The other modules can be purchased individually: Membership Directory, Leadership Directory, Buyers Guide & Find a Professional, Company Profile Management, Membership Application, Dues Renewal, Events Calendar & Simple Meetings Registration, Conference Setup & Registration, Product Catalog, Communities, and Donations.

About ISG Group

The ISG Group develops, sells and supports Web-based solutions that allow associations to offer more services to members through their websites. These solutions offer tight, real-time integration between the associations' websites and their association management software, increasing the accuracy of the data in both locations while reducing workload for the association staff. The ISG Group also sells, implements and supports Avectra's netFORUM association management software, customizing netFORUM to fit each association's unique business processes. The ISG Group is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.

For more information, visit http://www.isggroup.com or call 301/869-5146, ext. 110.