Original publication date: July, 2009

WebCATS and eCenter 2.0 Features Coming Soon!

Join us at the ASBDC or APTAC Fall conferences to see the new releases of WebCATS and eCenter Direct in action. We are dedicated to making eCenter Direct an increasingly more powerful tool to help you interface with your clients. The next version of WebCATS is focused on making eCenter more flexible than ever, allowing customization by each center in your network. Here’s a list of the top new features you’ll find in the new releases of WebCATS and eCenter, due out the fourth quarter of 2009:

• eCenter 2.0 is being redesigned from the bottom up in Java with a whole new look and feel to provide a well-organized, user-friendly environment for your clients. All the text on eCenter 2.0 will be customizable within WebCATS on a center-by-center basis, allowing each center within your program to have their own logo and their own introductory text on the site, while still maintaining common functionality and navigation.
  Anywhere eCenter places text on a page, a WebCATS user with center-edit permissions will be able to override the default text with custom information. The override can be a simple rewording of the text, or a complete rewrite which could even include HTML tags, graphics, and other links. (You will need to construct your own proper HTML since WebCATS won’t include an HTML editor/designer but we do offer this FAQ: How do I use HTML to create the public/private notices that display in WebCATS?.
• In addition to changing the text on the eCenter Web site, we will also allow each center within the network to customize the automated e-mail messages that are sent out by either eCenter or by WebCATS. A WebCATS user with center-edit permissions will be able to create custom e-mail templates to be used by eCenter and/or WebCATS for their center.
  These automated e-mail messages won’t be just static messages; in many cases, you will be able to use replaceable parameters. For example, a template may look like this: “Dear [FIRSTNAME], this is in regards to your [INITIAL_OR_FOLLOWUP] counseling performed on [DATE].” The parameters would be filled out by the systems automatically when the message is sent. Each message type will have its own set of replaceable parameters.
• Since eCenter is designed to simplify the life of the counselor, we will also allow the clients to do some of their own data entry. eCenter clients who are logged in will be able to update their own contact and company information. The eCenter home page will have an update option where clients can edit their personal and company information, as well as their password.
• eCenter 2.0 will feature an online library. Centers will be able to customize this library with general resources, training materials, and other center-related documents that may be of interest to their clients. This library can be customized on a center-by-center basis within your network so that the International Trade Center, the Women’s Business Center, and the Procurement Technical Assistance Center can each post their own types of documents for their respective clients.
• In fact, there will essentially be four libraries:
  • The first is the public library that anyone can access—even clients who are not logged in to eCenter. This library is for the anonymous visitor to the eCenter Web site who may not even be a client of your program.
  • The second is the library designed for clients who have logged in to eCenter; it is generic for all eCenter clients within your center.
  • The third library is client specific. Counselors will be able to add attachments to the WebCATS client record that the client will then be able to access from eCenter.
  • The last library is for conference attendees. These attachments can be anything from the conference agenda to course materials to supplemental conference information.
    
• eCenter 2.0 has an updated user interface that includes a comprehensive search option that allows clients to easily identify training events using a wide variety of criteria. Clients will also be able to locate your training events and your offices using Google maps.
• But it is really the survey module in eCenter 2.0 that has been enhanced the most. Over the years, many centers have told us that they want to directly send a link to their clients for training events and, more importantly, for surveys. Furthermore, many centers have asked us for the ability to post and monitor multiple surveys at once such as pre-assessment client surveys, annual satisfaction surveys, conference surveys, and so on. In eCenter 2.0 you will be able to do just that. Each training event and each survey will have its own URL that can be e-mailed to clients. You will be able to monitor exactly who has and who has not yet completed a survey and, of course, see the survey results in WebCATS. And there’s more: not only will you be able to post multiple surveys at the same time, you will also be able to include awards/milestones/investment questions on those surveys.

We really believe that the next release of eCenter and WebCATS will strengthen your ability to connect with your clients and provide you with a common interface that each center within your network can customize to their own needs. If you have any questions or even some additional ideas, please don’t hesitate to share them with us.

© 2012 Softshare, Inc. All rights reserved. This article is part of an archive of Softshare newsletter articles dating back several years. Some of the screenshots, procedures, or information contained within this article may no longer be 100% accurate or relevant, as Softshare's software and services are very fluid. Thank you for your understanding.