Most Awaited version of WCS- Websphere commerce v8 !!

After a much awaited and most speculative version of Websphere commerce is out with some predictions like replacing the business tools framework with Struts+BOD with Spring+BOD etc.

Below is first draft version of my understanding on our new rock star i.e Websphere Commerce v8.. more to come after Nov' 30 or I get hand of any concrete information.

WebSphere Commerce Enterprise v8 is an omni-channel, e-commerce platform that enables business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) sales to customers across all channels, which include web, mobile, social, store, and call center. WCS v8 delivers a new approach to e-commerce with an improved business user experience to help merchandisers and marketers deepen customer engagement and greatly enhance business results. Version 8.0 also includes a new customer service capability that enables organizations to provide a seamless experience across digital and call center channels.

The Enterprise edition allows brands to engage shoppers in a personalized and consistent way with merchandising tools, precision marketing, site search, customer experience management, catalog and content management, and social commerce capabilities. Organizations can go to market quickly and easily with an advanced starter store for B2C and B2B that is responsive to optimize content for various device types and formats, which include web, mobile, and tablet.

Below are major changes with high level understanding:

IBM Customer Service for WebSphere Commerce: Replacing Sales center with light weight Web application

Version 8.0 delivers enhancements to Customer Service for WebSphere Commerce that offer a better customer service and support experience. The customer service representative (CSR) can utilize the same buying experience that customers use to provide assistance with site activities, for example, assist customers to manage their cart content and assist with the checkout process. As a part of the buying experience, the CSR can look up customer accounts and orders, and help customers with their account management. Customer Service for WebSphere Commerce is a separately purchased solution for WebSphere Commerce V8.0 clients.

The pattern they are using seems to be one of the most familiar pattern which we have used for various client implementation i,e  webased esite based cal center approach with UI treatment for an intuitive fronted for CSRs.

Some high level points:

• These new capabilities are built into the WebSphere Commerce V8.0 storefront and enable a CSR to perform key tasks on behalf of a guest, registered customers, and for both B2B and B2C business models
• Light weight web based application which cost effective that delivers a UI interface for CSRs.
•  A common experience for customers and CSRs that helps CSRs solve customer issues faster.  
• Personalized content and promotions presented to CSRs to help drive increased sales.  
• If using SOLR then a Powerful WebSphere Commerce site search to quickly find the right products for customers.
• Work with customer accounts for both B2B and B2C business models. 
• Find products through catalog navigation or through powerful facetted search that provides detailed product information. 
• Work with customer orders so they can create new orders, view order history, and cancel orders. 

Note: Entitlement to IBM Call Center for Commerce V9.4 is required for use of IBM Customer Service for WebSphere Commerce.

IBM Management Center for WebSphere Commerce 

In Version 8.0, the Management Center is updated to use Dynamic HTML (DHTML) and the open source Spring Framework. This update makes it easier for developers to customize and embed custom tools in the Management Center. With DHTML, Management Center is no longer dependent on AdobeTM Flash technology, and developers who customize the Management Center can now view their changes without first compiling their code. Additionally, the Management Center user interface now has a new look.

Additional changes

In addition to the enhancements for business users, Version 8.0: 

• Leverages a software platform upgrade to the latest versions of the web application server, database, and integrated developer environment.

• Incorporates the capabilities of earlier WebSphere Commerce V7.0 feature packs.

• Provides more streamlined packaging options.

• Allows businesses to use the Gift Center capability in their physical stores, without the purchase of an additional license.

Going out :

• IBM Sales Center for WebSphere Commerce V7.0 is not compatible with WebSphere Commerce V8.0. 
• Madisons starter store is deprecated for WebSphere Commerce Version 7 Feature Pack 8. Madisons starter store provided all of the pages and features necessary for a functioning consumer direct online store.

Availability of national languages 

Release date: Nov 30 2015

Languages Supported:

Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, English (US), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese,(Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Spanish

NOTE:Aurora Starter Store is also translated into Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish.

Reference and Thanks:

IBM document update for WCS v8: http://www-01.ibm.com/