IRP Specifications

IRP Specifications Overview

IRP functionality Overview

• 3 Sales Channels Combined Seamless EPOS, Internet, Telesales
• All or any of the sales channels may be used
• Multi-location Stock Control
• Fully audited secure server based system
• No software installations required - fully managed service with secure administration operating from any allowed PC over the internet.

The IRP Internet Site Short Specification List

• The entire system from the ground up is focused on the maximisation of sales and revenue.
• Integration is technically possible to and from any system through the IRP integration interfaces.
• Very simple user interface engineered for optimal sales.
• All of any of the IRP features can be turned on or off at any time.
• Fully customisable interface to ensure unique branding of any site.
• Shopping by Category, Brand or Search.
• Contains search and advanced search.
• The bottom level components consist of Stock Items. Stock Items can then be broken down into Attributes within Categories of attributes. This allows the absolute description of a product.
• Has ability to compare products.
• Categories can be built into families at any level and constructed in any required manner.
• 4 Languages - English, French, German and Spanish. As many of these can be used as a customer requires.
• 13 Currencies updated periodically from the Bank of England exchange rates.
• Has Customer Review, Question, and ChatApplet interfaces for customer interaction and sales leads.
• All text / data on the site is updateable - nothing is "hardcoded".
• Contains Wishlist, MyAccount and Order Tracking functionality.
• Contains advanced predictive algorithms for presenting likely sales leads.
• Allows multiple pictures.
• Has batch image processing to automatically create any other images such as thumbnails.
• Calculates all VAT and tax dependent on country and category.
• Has advanced shipping options to allow all chosen configurations
• Allows inc Tax or ex Tax pricing
• Homepage selection or auto-creation based on any chosen criteria.
• The IRP contains an advanced administration section with fully configurable permissions for each section.
• The IRP is proven and runs some of the UK's largest E-Commerce sites.

This is a shortlist, for further answers to the available functionality - please contact us.

Technology Overview - The Software Technologies And Architecture Used in the IRP

The commercial version of the IRP platform took 3 years to develop by a dedicated team from an academic background led by former Queen's University lecturer Dr Simon Loughlin.

The IRP platform is a server platform built on the Microsoft.net framework. The IRP platform uses a server based database as the container for all the information (the IRP's Database). The IRP is built in 6 layers using the latest Object Orientated language C#.

The layers communicate with the layer below in the following manner: Interface Layer --> Interface Logic --> Business Logic --> DataLogic Layer --> Data Query Layer --> Data Layer.

These layers are then compiled down into 8 simple dll's (components) that run the IRP platform. The structure of the software ensures that the platform is very stable and very scalable allowing it to operate at very high traffic and transaction volumes.

It also means that it is very simple for Export Technologies to build in the future enhancements as one layer will not affect anything but the layer above. It is the ideal way to build software.


Multiple Sales Channel Explained

The 3 IRP Sales Software Channels All that is required to run the IRP is an internet connection, a computer, and a web browser. The rest of the IRP system runs on our servers as a managed service. It is as simple as it can be and support is available from the dedicated support team.

The IRP links in 3 potential key sales channels - these all talk to the IRP Database through the same layers explained above. This central source of information means that the stock system is always live and that the IRP Customer remains in complete control of their sales channels. Different customers have different requirements and a customer may use 1, 2, or all three of these.

1) The Internet - Your customers purchase through your IRP Website
2) Retail Shops - Your shop outlets run the "IRP RetailLink" as your EPOS software.
3) Telephone mail order - Your telesales team sell using the "IRP Telesales Link" By tying these together the IRP creates a simplicity at the core of operations.

SALES CHANNELS

1) THE INTERNET

The IRP Website is sales focused, intuitive and packed with subtle sales enhancing features. The Interface is completely customisable for any website so that your branding remains very strong. The internet site is built for true international retail. If you begin to consider what this means in a classic retail sense, it is selling products to someone who speaks a different language or operates in a different currency. The platform has to overcome the trust barriers and enable the shipping complexities. At its core the IRP platform addresses these issues and has a huge amount of functionality to drive sales. The internet site enables an international customer sales database by enabling 4 different language options, 14 different currencies with complete control over the shipping to any region and allowances for all tax situations. The IRP also focuses on the movements and sales patterns of different users to organise into the most optimal way of selling to each. The growth of the sites using the IRP prove the platforms ability to sell. Among other awards it has won 4 Hitwise awards at the time of writing in March 2006. Hitwise judges sites by traffic and is the industry recognised measure of how successful a site is.

2) RETAIL SHOPS

The shop outlets run our Epos system - the IRP RetailLink. This is a secure PC based terminal that operates as a shop EPOS system. In the background it is talking to the IRP database so that any items ordered are debited correctly. The EPOS system will still work seamlessly if your internet connection is temporarily down.

3) TELEPHONE MAIL ORDER

The IRP Telesales link is a simple browser based application that allows your telesales people take orders over the phone. This allows you to carry on with classic telesales mail order. The simplicity of the 3 IRP sales channels talking to a common "datasource" means that all of a company's operations can work together in real time harmony.

Award Winning Sites

The IRP has been the platform running websites involved in numerous awards including 4 Hitwise awards.