Feature for feature, our eBusiness Solution is just what your music business needs. CDI sets the standard by integrating all components into one seamless system. We do not do generic installations. Instead, each client receives a genuine custom-made web site utilizing appropriate selection from the following list of features. The list is admittedly intimidating; don't let is scare you. We can handle all configurations, initial settings and ongoing regular maintenance for you.

1. Shopping Cart & Storefront
   1. Unlimited Products
      Have a huge inventory? No problem! There's no limit on the number of items this system can handle.
   2. Unlimited Categories
      Sell all kinds of music? No problem either! Give your customers the option of browsing to their selection of choice by navigating your music categories, just like an index!
      1. Unlimited sub-categories, sub-sub-categories, etc.
      2. Images and icons supported: Any CD, category or service (like Gifts) can have an image attached to it.
      3. Dynamic Categories display: ie: Tell your web site to automatically show your categories on the page dynamically, either via a drop-down menu or as text. Sub-categories are automatically indented.
   3. Unlimited Modifiers (properties)
      Add any number of Modifiers to a product, and only enter your products once! Domestic release or import (even from more than one region), CD, tape or vinyl...
      1. by Group
         1. Origin (domestic, import)
         2. Configuration (CD, tape, vinyl)
         3. Invent your own!
      2. by Quantity: Automatically keeps track of how many items you have in stock.
      3. by Image: Assign one or more images to any product. Full size, thumbnails - whatever you prefer.
      4. by Cost: Use different prices, such as a domestic CD for $12.00 and an import for $24.00.
      5. by Weight: A pre-requisite for accurate real-time shipping.
      6. by Barcode: Every product you have can utilize a barcode if you wish.
      7. by SKU: Every product you sell can have a different SKU/Catalog number.
   4. Automatic inventory indexing and sorting
      Customers can browse your products by record label, sale items, item name or price, ascending or descending.
   5. Built-in newsletter
      Keep everyone on your mailing list informed. Regular permission e-mail is the best marketing tool at your disposal, and it is almost free.
   6. Automated browse-mode thumbnails
      When customers are browsing your catalog by category, you have the option to show a little thumbnail image of each CD for quick visual reference.
   7. Built-in search engine
      Give your customers the added benefit of finding the artist/title/song they want without having to navigate or browse your entire catalog.
   8. Unlimited images per product & Previewing
      Individual modifiers can have their own image and your customers can preview them on-the-fly. So if a CD has different covers in different markets, you can show them all.
   9. Multi-tiered pricing
      1. by Customer: Reward your best clients: This customer gets a CD for $10, that customer sees the price as $12. Wholesalers support is also included. Discount your entire inventory (one or more items).
      2. by Modifier: A domestic release is $12, but an import is $24.
      3. Require a login: Some web sites may be subscription only, others may require an account first. Some web sites want the customer to log in first before actually buying anything. You can easily enable/disable any of these features.
   10. International support
       Set your web site to display prices in any currency, such as the Dollar, Euro, Pound, Peso, Rupee etc., or translate them to any language.
   11. Dynamic BuyNow button
       Show it, or not, and allow Modifier selections.
       1. Modifier selection: All Modifiers will display next to your BuyNow button where your customer can either preview that product first, or click the BuyNow button.
       2. Backorder/Preorder: Control whether or not the BuyNow button even shows up, based on your quantity in stock. If an item is out of stock, then you can allow or disallow Backorder and/or Preorder purchase of that item.
   12. Freebie item
       Offer a freebie: "Buy 1 get 1 free!" or "Buy 4 of these and get the 5th free!"
   13. Unlimited coupons
       Got coupons? Issue one or more and apply each to one or more products. Each coupon you create can also have an expiration date, or you can set how many items are allowed in the purchase. Very flexible!
   14. Unlimited "Related items" and "Impulse buy" products
       Tempt your customers with any number of other products during checkout.
   15. Fail-safe cart
       
       1. User Session Enabled: Javascript not required. If your visitor gets bumped offline or accidentally closes their browser while they still have items in their cart, the code has already assigned a customer number to them. The next time that visitor comes to your site it will pre-fill their cart, allowing them to pick up where they left off.
       2. Session-loss trapping: The cart contents are:
          1. Encrypted for privacy
          2. Passed via session
          3. Passed via cookies
          4. Passed via hidden form elements
          5. Passed via querystring parameters
          6. Enhanced security using additional HTTP ServerVariables and geographical data to assure your shoppers are secure, never lose what's in their cart, or get their cart confused with another.
   16. Full SSL security
       With an SSL certificate installed, you can take full advantage of SSL encryption. No more hacked credit card numbers!
   17. Database security
       Secure your customer data via a password protected database, NTFS/Active Directory Permissions, segregated database server via non-routable NetBEUI protocol, and Admin level access rights.
   18. Simplified checkout
       Make your checkout procedures as quick and painless as possible.
       1. Pre-filled customer data: The cart will automatically fill out billing & shipping info for returning customers. No retyping over and over.
       2. vCard enabled: If the customer's web browser has their personal info entered and/or is using Microsoft Wallet, the checkout page will use it to pre-fill all the fields.
       3. DHTML enabled: If the customer's shipping and billing addresses are identical, a box can be checked causing the shipping section to completely disappear from the screen. Less fields on checkout result in greater site "stickiness" and customer retention.
       4. Expanded Alt text: Easy-to-read Help buttons/effects walk your customers right thru your checkout page, reducing the number of abandoned carts.
       5. Automatic weight detection: If the cart sees the customer is only buying downloadable (digital) goods, it removes the Shipping address part. The shorter your checkout page is, the better!
   19. Real-time shipping
       Your web site checkout page will actually communicate with the shippers' servers over the Internet, in real-time, to obtain accurate rates based on zip codes, geographical location, quantity, or shipment size and weight. Very flexible.
       1. United Parcel Service (UPS)
          No more rate guessing. With UPS OnLine^® Tools' Rates and Service selection, your customers see real-time UPS rates at checkout and get to choose which service and price best meet their needs. UPS OnLine^® Tools uses cutting edge XML technology to deliver shipping rates lightning fast. All you need to do is register with UPS to use this free service. Shipped orders can be tracked on your web site Extranet with UPS Tracking. That's a comprehensive shipping solution!
          1. Next Day Air^®
          2. Next Day Air Saver^®
          3. Next Day Air Early AM^®
          4. 2nd Day Air^®
          5. 2nd Day Air AM^®
          6. 3-day Select^®
          7. Ground^®
          8. Worldwide Express Plus^SM
          9. Worldwide Express^SM
          10. Worldwide Expedited^SM
          11. Worldwide Standard^SM
          12. Express Saver^®
       2. United States Postal Service (USPS)
          1. Global Express Guaranteed
          2. Global Express Mail (EMS)
          3. Airmail Parcel Post
          4. Economy (Surface) Parcel Post
          5. Priority
          6. Express Shipping
          7. Media Mail
          8. Parcel Post
          9. Bound Printed Matter
          10. Library Mail
       3. FedEx: FedEx support has been discontinued due to them not providing an API or XML code. They require the developer to create their own and then pay a third party thousands of dollars to approve it. We have refused. Let's hope they change their mind and make some XML or API available. After all, FedEx doesn't go anywhere UPS cannot deliver.
          Note: This of course does not mean you cannot ship by FedEx if you wish. It only means we do not provide a real-time connection.
       4. Australia Post
          1. Standard
          2. Express
          3. Air
          4. Sea
          5. Economy
       5. Canada Post
          1. Regular
          2. Expedited
          3. Xpresspost
          4. Priority Courier
          5. Expedited Evening
          6. Xpresspost Evening
          7. Expedited Saturday
          8. Xpresspost Saturday
          9. Surface Air
          10. Air US
          11. Xpresspost US
          12. Purolator US
          13. Puropak US
          14. Surface International
          15. Air International
          16. Purolator International
          17. Puropak International
       6. Will-call: Do customers pick-up their goods in person? Offer will-call service! Great for combined mail order/brick & mortar enterprises.
       7. Digital download: If you sell digital goods too, this method is for you.
       8. Location disable: Have a Country/State/Province you do not ship to? Disable it!
       9. Coming soon: Royal Mail, DHL, Airborne Express, Roadway Express (RPS), Reimer Express, Parcelforce Worldwide, RGW Express, TransAsia, TransAfrica.
   20. Flat-rate shipping
       Features for flat rate and discounted shipping abound. Can be mixed with Real-time shipping, too!
       1. by Order cost: Free or reduced shipping charge for orders over pre-set minimum value.
       2. by Order weight: Free or reduced shipping charge for orders over pre-set number of Lbs/KGs.
       3. by Order quantity: Free or reduced shipping charge for orders over pre-set minimum number of items.
       4. Percentage (%) of total: Percentage will be determined by quantity, total weight or total cost of the order.
       5. Absolute total: A fixed amount will be determined by quantity, total weight or total cost of the order.
       6. Custom: Build your own shipping grid!
       7. Domestic & international support: There are 5 service levels for each in the Custom Shipping Services Editor.
   21. Free shipping
       Encourage your customers past the checkout page. If you enable the Free Shipping option, all Ground shipments will be free. Other real-time and/or flat-rate options are still available.
   22. Real-time Tax calculation
       By state, Province or Country, you name it. The Tax Editor in the Intranet allows you to collect or not collect tax based on location, and set the rate for each. Current rates and defaults are pre-filled. Postal Nexus, UK VAT tax, and worldwide tax calculation supported.
   23. Real-time Handling calculation
       Need a separate Handling charge? Just enter the amount to apply for the product.
   24. Real-time Payment processing
       Accept and authorize credit cards. Also offline manual payments.
       1. Credit cards
          1. Visa (CVV2 supported)
          2. MasterCard/Eurocard (CVC2 supported)
          3. Discover/Novus (CID supported)
          4. American Express (CID supported)
          5. JCB
          6. Diners Club
          7. Carte Blanche
          8. Delta
          9. Switch
          10. Solo
          11. ATM & Direct Debit
          12. enRoute
          13. Add your own
       2. Banking gateways
          This is what connects your bank merchant account to your web site in real-time.
          1. Verisign Payflow Pro
          2. Verisign FraudScreen
             1. Address Verification Service (AVS): Validates customer name, billing address, phone, e-mail, credit card data and much more. FraudScreen is based on industry-leading eFalcon fraud scoring technology from eHNC, considered the most powerful and intelligent fraud detection and risk management service available.
             2. Profiling and Neural Network technology: Fraud perpetrators can be identified before they reach your web site! This software actually learns and adapts to your visitors behavior.
          3. Cybercash
          4. Cybercash FraudPatrol
          5. Authorize.net
          6. SkipJack
          7. IO·NGATE
          8. Add your own
       3. Manual (and off-line) Payments
          1. PayPal
          2. Money Order
          3. Cashier's Check
          4. Company/Personal Check
          5. Purchase Order (PO)
          6. Cash on Delivery (COD)
          7. Wire Transfer
          8. Bank Deposit
          9. Add your own
   25. Invoicing/Receipt
       Now that your customer has made it through checkout, they will reach a nice looking Receipt (invoice) page that can be printed or saved. They can also access their receipts from the Extranet interface at any time after the sale.
       1. Successful payment: Shipments are automatically queued up for the day for processing, and digital goods are immediately accessible/downloadable.
       2. Unsuccessful payment: If your customer's credit card was not accepted or if they chose a manual form of payment, they can still complete their order but their Receipt will show as "Awaiting payment". After the customers payment has cleared, you can mark the order as "Completed".
   26. Order processing
       What exactly happens after an order has been received?
       1. Automated e-mail notifications
          Upon completion of an order, several types of e-mails may or may not be sent automatically (depending on your requirements):
          1. Sales Manager Alert: Order details can be automatically e-mailed to your sales manager, warehouse, etc notifying them of the order.
          2. Customer Order Confirmation: Your customer is thanked for their order and hyperlinks are provided for access to your Extranet, order details, order tracking, etc.
          3. Actual Manufacturer Alert: You may wish for your vendor or a third party to get notification of the order as well, for example if your orders are drop-shipped.
       2. Automatic database entry: All acquired customer and order information is written to your database for immediate access via your Extranet (your customers) and Intranet (your internal use).
       3. Intranet Orders Editor: View an order, edit an order, mark it as shipped, mark it as awaiting payment, assign a new tracking number to an individual item within an order, you name it. Customers are automatically e-mailed too, as soon as their order or an item within their order is marked as shipped, or you change its status. Your customers are always informed!

2. Web-based Intranet
   This is the internal Administrator Console from which you can manage your entire site. Important: The console has some very powerful functions that should better be left to back end database management to avoid conflict with its data-driven nature.
   1. Secure access to your site
      Anytime, anywhere; as long as you have access to the Internet, you have access to your Console.
   2. Inventory control
      The Inventory Control Center (ICC) is your one-screen, one-click product editor, giving you the control over
      1. SKU/Catalog Number
      2. Bar code: If your company uses bar code scanners and printers, then you will love this feature! Easily integrate your vendor databases with equipment such as Symbol, Metrologic, Opticon, Psion, Magtek, SOHO, Lexmark, Eltron and others. As long as the software included with your scanner can integrate with Microsoft SQL Server, you're all set!
      3. Item location: Building, row, shelf, bin number etc.
      4. Manufacturer selections: Web site displayed manufacturer (like a record label printed on each CD) and Actual manufacturer (the record company who owns the label).
      5. Product name: Artist name and CD title
      6. Product description: Track listing, personnel, miscellaneous notes etc.
      7. Category selection: Select one or more categories to put a CD (or artist) under.
      8. Thumbnail and large image selection: We provide the cover art. Image preview included.
      9. Downloadable file selection: Allows you to sell digital downloads.
      10. Weight: Both Lbs and KGs are supported.
      11. Package dimensions: Length, width, and height.
      12. Quantity in stock (QIS)
      13. Ship time selection: "Ships in 24-48 hours", or "Currently on backorder", or "Ready for download", etc.
      14. Allow backorders: Do you want to allow ordering of sold-out items?
      15. Flat rate shipping charge, if any
      16. Handling charge, if any
      17. Taxable handling: Apply tax also to the Handling charge?
      18. Cost, and Retail cost
      19. Taxable item: The Internet won't remain tax-free forever; we are ready.
      20. Unit of measurement: Item, carton, box, pallet, download file etc.
      21. Sale item & discount percentage.
      22. Quantity discount: Like "Buy 4, get the 5th for free" etc.
      23. Show it, Enable/disable: Enter the products into your inventory/database but show/not show it on your web site, such as out-of-print or temporarily unavailable items.
      24. Related items selection: Upsell your customers with one or more "impulse buy" products.
      25. Internal notes: Keep for-your-eyes-only notes about the product. Only seen internally, not on your web site.
   3. Pages Editor
      The Pages Editor is what your Web Site Template (see below) uses when dynamically generating your web site "pages". All page content, layout, colors, meta tags and images are controlled from this Pages Editor:
      1. Page name: Used to generate pages and create menu items for display through your Template (see below).
      2. META description: Used by Internet search engines.
      3. META keywords: Besides description, keywords are also used by search engines such as Google, Yahoo, AltaVista, AOL, MSN, InfoSeek to correctly index your web site.
      4. Page colors: Select a color theme for your page text, hyperlinks, table colors, page background color, etc.
      5. Page title: Text displayed in the title bar of the browser window when accessing the page.
      6. Page header: Text displayed as bold header on your page. Where, depends on your template.
      7. Page content: Text and images making up the majority of each web page.
      8. Menu item: To make the page a menu item on your template, type a title for the menu item and check whether or not you want this page to appear as a menu item in your main and/or footer menus, generated dynamically by your template.
      9. Show in search results: Determine if a page shows, or does not show in your web site local search results.
   4. Mass Update Tool
      View/update quantities and prices for every single item in your inventory from one screen. Even items with modifiers.
   5. Orders Editor
      Search for one or more orders and select the one you want from the results screen. Update the order status, select shipper and service used, enter/edit a tracking number, run a credit card, you name it. The Order Editor is also easily accessible from many other Intranet editors, from the Report screen and other points.
   6. Reports
      Extensive demographics and reporting are imperative to your eBusiness success. Develop your business around what your customers actually want!
      1. Orders by manufacturer: Find out what labels supply your best sellers.
      2. Orders by customer: View all orders placed by a given customer. Identify your best revenue sources.
      3. Orders for the day/unfulfilled: View all orders waiting for fulfillment.
      4. Taxes charged/collected: Your tax accountant/CPA will probably need this information.
      5. Shipping charged/collected: See how much has been charged to customers for shipping and compare with your actual paid shipping expenses.
      6. Best selling products: Which products are selling the best?
      7. Worst selling products: Which products are selling hardly at all?
      8. Credit cards used: Which credit cards are most often used?
      9. More reports to come!
   7. Shipping Editor
      Configure what shippers/carriers you support, custom shipping (by cost, weight, quantity), units of measure (lbs/inch, kgs/cm) and your domestic and international shipping options.
   8. Categories Editor
      Rock, Jazz, Rap, Country, ...
   9. Modifiers Editor
      Configuration (CD, vinyl, tape), origin (domestic, import), etc.
   10. Units Editor
       Item, box, carton, etc.
   11. Manufacturer Editor
       Who's products are you selling?
   12. Credit Card Editor
       What forms of payment you accept?
   13. Coupon Editor
       Create your own coupons as customer incentives.
   14. Tax Editor
       By locality, state/province, country, you name it. Allows you to collect or not collect tax based on location and set the rate for each. Current rates and defaults are pre-filled. Postal Nexus, UK VAT tax and worldwide tax calculation supported
   15. Global Settings Editor
       This is the biggest editor of them all. Control every facet of your site from this screen: What you support and what you don't. Color themes and other settings all come from this editor.
   16. Customer Manager
       Edit customer eAccounts, view account history.
   17. Permission Manager
       Control who gets access to what.
   18. Pricing Chart Editor
       Multi-tiered pricing! Assign different levels of pricing for different client groups. You can even require them to log in first.
   19. Newsletter Editor
       Edit or delete subscribers manually if desired. Single-screen interface for composing and sending out your newsletter. Both text-only and HTML e-mails are supported. Send your newsletter literally to thousands of people at once! Provide an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom to avoid flames. A totally automated process!
   20. Batch tool
       Almost as cool as the Mass Update Tool, the Batch Tool eliminates hours of repetitive data-entry work.
       1. Modifier assignments: Assign some/all of your products to modifiers all at once. Update thousands of products with one click.
       2. Category assignments: Assign some/all of your products to categories all at once. Update thousands of products with one click.
   21. EDI Tool
       This is what we use to integrate your vendors' databases with CDI content.
       
   22. coming soon:
       Other exciting new modules are being prepared, such as
       1. QuickBooks Integration: Export your customer and order information directly into QuickBooks.
          1. via IIF File Import: The .IIF file includes (but is not limited to)
             1. Order ID
             2. Order Date
             3. Customer ID
             4. Customer Name
             5. Customer Address
             6. Customer Phone
             7. Customer e-mail
             8. Items Purchased
             9. Shipping Collected
             10. Tax Collected
             11. Handling Collected
             12. Grand Total
          2. A new "qbXML"API connecting your site directly with the QuickBooks database in real-time. Promised by Intuit as early as 3rd Quarter 2003.
       2. ePeachtree, MAS 90, Oracle NetLedger: Export your data directly into these applications.
       3. UPS OnLine^® WorldShip^®: Export your orders directly into this software
          1. via CSV File Import: The .csv file includes (but is not limited to):
             1. Order ID
             2. Order Date
             3. Customer ID
             4. Customer Name
             5. Customer Address
             6. Item Sizes (if applicable)
             7. Item Weights
             8. Item Quantities
             9. Shipping Collected
          2. Real-time interface to the UPS WorldShip^® software is also expected soon.
       4. Microsoft Great Plains CRM, GoldMine CRM, Soffront CRM, Avaya CRM: Export your customer data directly into any of these applications.
       5. eBay, Amazon, and Yahoo! Auctions: Post your products on your web site and to the auction sites simultaneously.

3. Web Site Template
   This dynamic file will act as the framework for your entire web site. You can either run the entire site from one template (meaning all CD pages look the same, like at Amazon.com) or you can have different templates for different categories (sale items, domestic titles, imports, latest releases, etc.) You can either leave the design entirely to us, or design the templates yourself, or somewhere in-between. It's all flexible, limited only by your imagination and the amount you want to spend.
   1. Sample templates included
      They just need to be customized with your own logo and text. This is the lowest-cost, but also lowest-individuality solution.
      1. Find a pre-designed template you like and copy/paste the HTML code from it into the included blank template file.
      2. We will insert additional dynamic ASP code to make the template dynamic and functional.
   2. Integrate an existing site
      If you already have a web site and just wish to transfer it over to CDI, this option is for you. Only two steps are required to complete this process:
      1. Take your existing design and send it to us. The simplest way is compressing your entire current web site into a ZIP archive, with the PATH option enabled.
      2. We will take your design, install it on one of our servers and integrate it with the database back end, creating a seamless solution.
   3. Have a site template custom-designed for you
      Don't like the basic templates? Have CDI make you a custom design! You do not need to know anything about HTML, you can just fax/mail us a simple hand-made drawing(s) with your ideas. Then we will
      1. Discuss with CDI your needs for the site, your target audience, preferred color scheme, logos and other considerations, so that CDI can design it just the way you want it.
      2. Go over the new design (installed on one of our staging servers) together with CDI, edit if need be, then agree on its completion.
      3. That's it!
   4. Create your own
      If graphic design is your passion, you can design your own templates altogether and we will just enable the database back end. HTML, DHTML, CSS, Javascript, ASP and other content are all supported.

4. Web-based Extranet
   This is your customer external access point. Customers log in and can use this to:
   1. Track an order
      Real-time order and item tracking included.
   2. Check order status
      Accessing a pending order will also reveal its status, such as "Awaiting payment", "Completed", etc.
   3. Check order history
      At any time, your customers may view their past orders.
   4. Edit eAccount
      Customers may edit any of their personal data at any time.
   5. Download items
      If you sell digital downloads, customers may download (and re-download) them at any time.

5. System Requirements & Specifications
   This is actually our headache and not yours, but just that you know:
   1. Web Hosting
      We all need Web Hosting at an ISP if we have a web site. This is where the files actually reside.
   2. Server computer
      Requirements:
      1. Microsoft Windows 2000 Server or higher.
      2. Microsoft SQL Server 2000.
      3. ODBC System DSN, User DSN, and OLEDB connections also supported, providing greater flexibility when it comes to dynamic content.
      4. MDAC 2.6 and MSXML4 also supported.
   3. Web browser for remote management
      Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher recommended, Netscape and other browsers also supported.
   4. Specifications
      1. Unlimited concurrent online sessions.
      2. Written in ASP with SQL back end.
      3. Fast execution. No loose threads.
      4. Able to run with any SSL encryption certificate.
      5. A step-by-step Setup Guide, complete with Help Notes and FAQ.
      6. Online documentation through our searchable Knowledge Base. Individual Knowledge Base articles are linked-to throughout the application as well, so if you have a question on a specific feature, you can just click the Help button right next to that item for an in-depth explanation of its usage.
      7. No knowledge of programming necessary, we take care of that.

6. Support & Updates
   So if we buy from you, what do we get?
   1. Priority Support
   2. Integration with your vendors' data (for your back office ordering agenda)
   3. Integration with CDI content data (for display on your web site)
   4. Any custom enhancements you may desire