Online Tech and uRefer Sign SaaS Hosting Agreement: URefer, a referral marketing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, has signed an agreement with Ann Arbor's Online Tech Inc. to host its SaaS referral platform in Online Tech's SAS-70 certified data centers. URefer is one of the fastest growing referral software platforms on the market. Since the uRefer service went live in late 2007, the company has signed dozens of brand name customers, including Fifth Third Bank, Sierra Club, DirectBuy, and Scotts Lawn Service, all looking for the sales and marketing edge that referral programs can deliver.Underlying uRefer's unique offering is the Software-as-a-Service engine that eliminates up-front licensing fees, server hardware purchases, and the bureaucratic obstacles involved in deploying new software through in-house IT teams. URefer's Web-based engine runs on managed dedicated servers hosted at Online Tech's data centers. URefer was founded by Ann Arbor entrepreneur and venture capitalist Dick Beedon. As part of the agreement, Online Tech is delivering the entire SaaS hosting platform including fully managed hardware servers, 24x7 monitoring, operating system upgrades and complete management of any server issue that might arise. Each of uRefer's servers are housed in one of Online Tech's Tier 3 data centers designed to anticipate every potential power or network failures to eliminate the risk of any outage. As a part of Online Tech's disaster recovery services, each server is backed up to a second data center more than 50 miles away across Online Tech's private fiber network. URefer helps companies create a network of "commission only" sales and marketing agents that refer leads and drive brand awareness. While most companies have a small network that generate referrals, companies are typically very poor at leveraging and growing this network. It has been too difficult to create and manage. URefer gives companies the tools, technology and expertise to motivate and activate a company's customers, employees, partners, prospects and other potential affiliates into delivering consistent and reliable leads.
Fry Inc. redesigns Godiva site: The Ann Arbor e-commerce consultant Fry Inc. Tuesday announced a re-design for longtime client Godiva Chocolatier. This holiday season will be the 16th that Godiva has worked with Fry for e-commerce strategy. The redesigned Godiva.com lends a delicious new dimension to the company’s online experience -- from the aesthetic of the site’s design to its deliciously expanded range of chocolate products. In addition to a stylish, more modern design, the site will introduce a new, undeniably indulgent selection of baked goods such as brownies and cupcakes. Fry modernized the layout and creative design, updating and streamlining the site navigation and taxonomy. In addition, the team re-approached the creative direction for photography, creating richer chocolate imagery to stimulate user’s appetites as they browse the site’s pages. The site’s most significant chocolate addition, launching November 1st, is the creation of the “Bakery Shop” featuring an indulgent selection of baked goods and gift baskets available exclusively on Godiva.com. The redesigned site includes an expanded navigation that highlights the breadth of available products. Product pages have been enhanced to show more chocolate images, greater product detail, and visibility into the chocolate pieces inside each box. The “Share” feature on every page allows customers to forward Godiva favorites to friends, family, and associates through Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, or via email. All of these enhancements are supported by a new, streamlined checkout process that allows customers to make their purchases quickly and easily.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
