What's on the horizon
This page gives a short summary of planned current and future developments at dmClub. Our long-term vision covers first some upgrades to dealer sales tools and the dealer network and then - beginning in 2010 - rollout of a whole new product range. Read on for a glimpse of what's next...
Quicker Dealers (Preview)
dmABS 1.6 C "Quicker Dealers" is focused on making setup and marketing quicker and easer for both beginner and advanced dealers.
- Quick, customisable adverts and easily embeddable sales widgets
- Quicker site creation with customisable resources and wizard
- More wholesaler commission with easy dealer setup
- More efficient marketing
Click here to read more about Quicker Dealers
If your dealership uses our hosted dealership site, you'll get the upgrade automatically. But if you're using the downloadable version of dmABS, click here to get Quicker Dealers.
Associate Distribution Model (Development)
The next release will focus on updating, reshaping and streamlining the dealer network.
- More dealers
- Increase the distribution power
- Building an accelerating dealer base
dmCalls 2 (Candidate)
Once the Associate Distribution Model is established, we will roll out a next-generation dmCalls. In response to customer demand, we'll be including features such as outbound calling, smart caller ID and more.
- Smart, business grade outbound calls
- More customer usag
- Specialist features that add value to your customers
Click here to read more about dmCalls 2
dmPABX...CRM...more...(Candidates)
It doesn't stop at dmCalls. The Apps team is looking at switchboards, CRM tools, at other business applications and - most importantly - at how to integrate these separate elements into one seamless package. The long-term vision is an integrated set of products and services, from hosted or appliance switchboards, through CRM systems to call-handling tools, creating a simple-to-use suite of professional tools aimed at large and small businesses alike.
The road to market - key to terms
As a product or service progresses from idea to commercial reality, we use different terms to classify the 'grade' or stage in the process that it's reached.
Candidate
We are considering this product or feature. At this stage, we'll produce a discussion note, invite feedback about the product from dealers, customers or both, and start fleshing out a plan for the product itself. For dealers, this is a good time to let us know:
- Is this product a good idea? (would you be able/willing to sell it?)
- Which segments of your customer base might like this? Or not?
- How much do you think people would spend on it?
- What features would be useful?
- Would these be standard features, or upgrades available at additional cost?
Development
We've agreed a feature set and are working on a prototype. As soon as it's working roughly as planned we'll release it in 'Skunk Works', giving dealers a chance to comment, add feedback and make suggestions.
Skunk Works
At the Skunk Works stage, we've already started developing the product or feature. If it's very new, or will have a significant impact on dealers, we may invite a limited group of dealers to review the prototype product and make suggestions.
Preview
The product or feature is close to release, but we're putting the finishing touches to it. It's been made commercially available to a limited set of dealers.
General Live (Alpha)
The product is commercially available to everyone, but we're still working on rough edges or potential pitfalls and nuances. When a product is released to this grade we'll specify what the Alpha features are.
General Live (Beta)
The product is working well, but we're still listening closely to see if we need to refine it.
General Live (Gold)
The product or feature has passed its beta phase, and if there were refinements required, they have been done.