Totally Integrated eStore Solution Helps Rokenbok Make the Holidays Happy for Children of All Ages.

As Rokenbok grew, they wanted to add direct sales to their previous wholesale focus. They elected to do so by adding an eStore to their company's web site. Nodus Technologies provided a powerful and flexible eStore solution for 1/2 the cost it would have taken to build from the ground up.

(PRWEB) January 8, 2004 --Started in 1997 in Cardiff by the Sea, California, Rokenbok Toy Company designs and manufactures a radio control and construction toy system which combines technology with multi-player remote controls and plastic construction sets. Rokenbok is currently on track to more than double their direct sales over last year.

In order to capitalize on demand for direct sales, Rokenbok added an eStore to their web site in 2001. This solution was based on Microsoft Commerce Server, Microsoft SQL Server; and an upgrade of Microsoft Business Solutions-Great Plains.

After further reviewing Rokenbok's needs, Rose Business Solutions, their Microsoft reselling partner, suggested Rokenbok contact Nodus Technologies to discuss integrating their credit card payment management solution. Ultimately, Rokenbok chose Nodus Technologies' eStore Advantage which provides end-to-end integration of web orders and electronic payments with Microsoft Great Plains. The solution integration expertise of Technology Consulting Group (TCG) was engaged to implement the solution.

The total solution, based on Microsoft products, provided Rokenbok with improved order processing at less than half the cost of a custom built solution.

Business Situation
As Rokenbok grew, they wanted to add direct sales to their previous wholesale focus. They elected to do so by adding an eStore to their company's web site and selected Technology Consulting Group (TCG) to deploy Microsoft® Commerce Server. They also wanted the ability to process orders in real-time.

While Rokenbok's primary business is selling to independent toy retailers and chains, they are also looking to grow the direct sales component of their business. In 2001, they decided to develop an eStore to use the internet as a direct retail distribution point.

From the company's inception in 1997, Rokenbok has relied on Microsoft® Business Solutions-Great Plains as their financial software. As the company grew and moved toward increasing direct sales over the web, they needed to continue to upgrade and expand their software solution.

Solution Description
Rokenbok chose to upgrade their Microsoft® Business Solutions-Great Plains software and to migrate from Microsoft Pervasive to Microsoft SQL Server. They added Microsoft Commerce Server and eStore Advantage from Nodus Technologies to integrate their solution.

As Rokenbok looked to scale up their solution, their Microsoft reselling partner, Rose Business Solutions, Inc. suggested that John Kiester talk to Nodus Technologies about credit card processing integration. Kiester connected with Donte Kim, President of Nodus Technologies, at Convergence.

After exploring the benefits of solutions provided by Nodus Technologies, Rokenbok asked TCG to add Nodus Technologies' eStore Advantage to their solution. eStore Advantage is a middleware application that allows order information to be communicated between Rokenbok's eStore and Microsoft Great Plains in real-time. All systems are running Microsoft Windows® 2000 Server and have a high-speed data connection between Rokenbok's front office (which is housed at a remote data center) and the back office (which resides at the corporate headquarters located 50 miles away).

This solution saves Rokenbok time and money and has helped the company to significantly reduce errors. Time spent tracking errors has been reduced by over 50 percent.

"I love how seamlessly this solution operates," says Kiester. "It's easy to configure and as we improve our business processes, we can rapidly modify our solution without the high cost of custom programming." He also appreciates the solution's inherent "intelligence" which alerts him to errors when they happen; thus, enabling him to resolve issues immediately.

Rokenbok is on track to process two and one half to three times the direct order volume they did last year, with half of that volume coming during the holiday season.

Designed as middleware, eStore Advantage reduces the need for a custom solution and slashes the implementation time from months to days. Donte Kim, President of Nodus Technologies, says, "By leveraging eConnect technology, a core component to eStore Advantage, we are able to provide a solution that is seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Great Plains. This helps companies to optimize business operations and increase their bottom line."

For more information about Rokenbok Toys products and services, call 760-632-3585 or visit the Web site at: www.rokenbok.com

For more information about Nodus Technologies, Inc. products and services, call 909-482-4701 or visit the Web site at: www.nodustech.com
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