– Gr8start.net – Your Branded Digital Communicator



	What is a Branded Desktop Communicator (BDC)? I already have a Website, why do I need a BDC? GR8start BDCs are not Spyware? How can a BDC be used to improve customer retention? Can a Gr8start BDC be integrated into a brand's CRM system? Can a Gr8start BDC improve on email message deliverability? What features can a BDC have? What are "Desktop Alerts"? Can a Gr8start BDC be integrated with mobile? Can a Gr8start BDC incorporate chat or instant messaging? How would a Gr8start BDC integrate with ecommerce? How are BDC message and content channels managed? Can Web 2.0 user generated content be incorporated into a Gr8start BDC? Can I integrate a BDC with our existing customer databases? Can 3rd party content be channelled through a BDC? What platforms does Gr8start support? What will be the impact of developing a Gr8start BDC on our IT department? How long will it take to build a Gr8start BDC? What does the monthly hosted services fee cover? How much does a BDC cost?



	What is a Branded Desktop Communicator (BDC)? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Branded Desktop Communicator (BDC) is a fully customisable and branded software application that runs directly from a user's computer, eliminating the need for browsers or e-mail to receive information and updates. Installation is a simple as downloading and double-clicking the installation icon. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I already have a Website, why do I need a BDC? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Simply put, a BDC is the best way to stay connected to your users after they leave your site. Is email getting the open rates and interaction you want? Do customers return as often as they want and you want them to? A BDC can continuously interact with your users throughout the entire sales lifecycle. Think of it as an additional communication channel that is solely dedicated to your brand and message! top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GR8start BDCs are not Spyware? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No. Gr8start BDCs are always installed and operated with the user's permission. Your users are informed exactly what is being installed on their computers and what functions the application will perform once installed. If a customer decides they do not want it anymore, they can uninstall it quickly and easily. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Uses of Gr8start BDCs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How can a BDC be used to improve customer retention? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By keeping a user engaged over a longer period of time and by providing them with highly relevant messaging and content, a Gr8start BDC becomes the best way to stay engaged with your user after they leave the website. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can a Gr8start BDC be integrated into a brand's CRM system? top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, a Gr8start BDC makes an ideal desktop component of a brand's CRM system, allowing for desktop alerts and messaging that bypasses email channels and can include personalised messaging and targeting based on other online behaviours. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can a Gr8start BDC improve on email message deliverability? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many brands have problems with email communications including spam filtering and declining open rates - some brands find that a very high percentage of their mail is lost to spam filters. In all of these cases a Gr8start BDC can deliver brand messages, even uniquely targeted brand messages, without collecting personally identifiable information being limited by email filters. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gr8start BDC Features and Functions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What features can a BDC have? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Messages, news, rich media, interactive games, special offers, RSS, podcasts and other content can be served into a BD Communicator as a content channel. Special features and functionality can be developed to engage a brand's audience in a very specific way. By combining standard Gr8start features, custom-developed features and integrating client functionality a Gr8start BDC can be designed to achieve client-specific goals. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What are "Desktop Alerts"? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Desktop Alerts are what initiate interaction with your customers. This generally appear a slide-up box (sometimes called the "toaster") that informs users about new and relevant content in the BDC. Clicking on the alert will open the BDC which will already contain the updated information the user is looking for - including links to your site and other information of your choice. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can a Gr8start BDC be integrated with mobile? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, there are many ways to incorporate mobile integration into a Gr8start project, including SMS integration, feed-driven WAP sites, sync to scheduling software, and handheld applications for platforms such as Windows Mobile, Brew and Blackberry. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can a Gr8start BDC incorporate chat or instant messaging? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, chat can be incorporated directly into a Gr8start BDC using most standard chat server programs, client chat servers or even IRC chat servers. Some instant messaging platforms which can interoperate with all the other major IM networks can be integrated into a Gr8start BDC to provide users with messaging access to over 500 million IM users. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How would a Gr8start BDC integrate with ecommerce? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Gr8start BDC can be used as an initiator of ecommerce activity. The user can be presented with current offers and then click through to a pre-populated shopping cart. Deeper integration with ecommerce systems is also possible. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gr8start BDC Content Management ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How are BDC message and content channels managed? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BDC message and content channels are managed through the Gr8start content management system. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can Web 2.0 user generated content be incorporated into a Gr8start BDC? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, a Gr8start BDC is ideally suited to both facilitate the gathering of user generated content (UGC), and to present that content back to the audience in engaging and entertaining ways. Additionally a Gr8start BDC can be integrated into a Web 2.0 social networking environment to provide the user with dashboards and alerts designed to keep them informed and engaged with their network. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can I integrate a BDC with our existing customer databases? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, a BDC can be designed to allow users to authenticate against your existing customer databases in order for highly relevant messaging to be delivered to your audience. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can 3rd party content be channelled through a BDC? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, engaging content is available from 3rd parties usually in RSS format including weather reports, industry-specific updates, news, entertainment, events, podcasts and other content relevant to your industry and customers. Gr8start can work with your team to find and integrate relevant content into your BDC. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gr8start BDC Technical Issues ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What platforms does Gr8start support? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Depending upon the application, the Gr8start platform supports Windows and Macintosh, however, the majority of the applications are Windows based. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What will be the impact of developing a Gr8start BDC on our IT department? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In many cases, your IT section may never need to be involved because the Gr8start platform can operate as a fully hosted solution using the Gr8start content management system. Most brand content feeds can be integrated into the BDC using the same web services used to deliver content to the brand website. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Creating a Gr8start BDC for Your Brand ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How long will it take to build a Gr8start BDC? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Typically a Gr8start BDC will take between 10 and 14 weeks to develop based on the complexity of the application. Gr8start Launchers, toolbars and screensavers will take up to 10 days. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What does the monthly hosted services fee cover? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The monthly hosted services fee typically covers licensing, ongoing maintenance, content management, application updating, application hosting, send-to-a-friend, download process hosting, application hosting, landing page hosting and reporting. Third party licensed content such as news, weather, business and entertainment feeds may also be included in monthly hosted service charges. top of page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How much does a BDC cost? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just like building a website, there is an initial BDC development cost and after that, monthly licensing and hosted services fees that will depend on the functions and features you want. Contact us so we can provide details and a quote for a solution that matches your needs and budget. top of page ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gr8start BDC Technical Issues