Web Applications

What is a "web application?"

Web Applications are complex web sites that offer more than a brochure on the web. Examples of web applications are content management systems, e-commerce and shopping cart applications, and other custom applications.

What is a Content Management System?

Content Management Systems (CMSs) are systems that allow you to control your own web content. With most CMSs, you log in to an administrative panel that allows you to add pages, change text, add pictures, and make other changes. A CMS puts you in control of your own site.

We can install and configure a CMS for you, and help you maintain it. Some of our clients want to take complete control of their sites once they go live. Others want us to keep a hand in the process, but want to be able to change certain content by themselves. We're comfortable with either arrangement.

At Robinson Web Design, we have experience with many content management systems, including Joomla, Mambo, e107, Xoops, and PostNuke. Contact us for more information on which CMS might be best for your needs.

Tell me about e-commerce sites.

E-commerce is shorthand for electronic commerce. In a phrase, it means "selling your goods/services on the web." There are a lot of factors in designing and building a good e-commerce site, including:

• Store Size - How many items do you sell? Some people only sell an item or two. Small product/service lines require less complex storefronts.
• Maintainability - Do you want to control your own store? Many clients want to be able to update their product/service offerings as their goods and services change. Others want to contact Robinson Web Design for such changes. Your maintenance plans are an important consideration in development of your web store.
• Payment Methods - If you've shopped online much, you've seen many different ways you can pay for goods or services. Each business needs to decide which way is best for their business processes. Robinson Web Design works with you to help you decide how to accept payment with options like PayPal, Google Checkout, credit card merchant services, check by web, or even check by snail-mail or COD.
• Much More - Selling products on the web can be complicated, leaving you with decisions like "How do I handle shipping?" and "What about sales tax?" Let Robinson Web Design guide you through the process of establishing your online presence.

What other web applications are there?

Web applications are as varied as businesses are. If you have a business process you can envision taking place on the web, contact us to help make your vision a reality. Robinson Web Design has installed and configured many kinds of web applications including (but not limited to):

• Contact/Lead Management Systems - A client asked for a system that would allow their sales agents to track contacts on the web. Robinson Web Design build a system that allows this company to track their customers, remind them the next time a contact is due, and monitor sales agent performance.
• Customer Relationship Management Software - Customer Relationship Management is a contact manager on steroids. It manages your contacts, but also guides them through your business process. By capturing data early in your sales cycle, you can track your clientele from contact to lead to customer, and manage your business to maximize customer satisfaction ...because satisfied customers come back.
• QuickBooks Interfaces - Do you use QuickBooks to manage your finances? Have you ever wished there was a way to share data between your web page and QuickBooks? There is a way. Robinson Web Design has developers experienced in passing customer data securely from web applications to QuickBooks and back. Why would you do this? Imagine a web page where your customers could log in to check on payment status. Or a site that updated QuickBooks data whenever your customer ordered from your web store. Automated transfer of critical business data reduces the chance of error. All exchanges with QuickBooks are done over secure web connections to protect you and your customers.
• Custom Business Management Software - Some businesses want to allow their customer service reps to log into a web application, track interaction with customers, log interaction with vendors, and track the general health of their business. One Robinson Web Design customer uses a custom web application to automatically fax vendors who have inadvertently overcharged them. The record of the fax is stored, and customer service reps have immediate access to customer and vendor histories.

Imagine how your business could operate if only you could find the enabling technology. If you can dream it, get in touch with us to help you make it come true.

So what are you waiting for?

Let's get your site started. Contact us today and we'll talk about your brand new web site.
 

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