Local Macromedia distributor and Web enablement specialist, Dax Data, says leading companies, including Sony and Hummer, are using Macromedia Flash MX to deliver better online buying experiences.
Dax Data MD, Jeremy Matthews, says product `configurators` bring a visual element to online purchasing decisions, allowing the user to do everything from optimising home theatres based on actual room dimensions, to customising vehicles based on individual preferences.
"Macromedia Flash applications can drive customer satisfaction and retention by pushing online shopping beyond what is even available in a traditional retail environment," says Matthews. "The ability to create interactivity without requiring a full page refresh and the ability to link to external images for easier site maintenance are also key benefits for our developers.
"In addition, support for components in Macromedia Flash MX enables developers like Sony and Hummer to more easily include common interface components used in product configurators such as smart combo boxes, advanced calendars, colour pickers and simple menus."
Sony`s product configurator, available at http://www.sonystyle.com/, allows visitors to the site to recreate their existing room layout and then suggests how to optimally configure that room with a WEGA Theatre system with surround sound that fits their budget. The reasoning behind this move concerned consumer preconceptions around product complexity, which were proving to be a barrier to home theatre purchase. "Sony consequently decided to use Macromedia Flash MX to collapse that barrier," explains Matthews.
HUMMER, the manufacturer of the HUMMER H1 and H2 off-road vehicles, uses Macromedia Flash to enable potential buyers to see the various configurations available for their specific vehicles including body style, exterior colour and additional customisations. Macromedia Flash produced a more engaging experience for visitors to the Web site (http://www.hummer.com/), according to the company.
Macromedia Flash MX is available as part of Macromedia Studio MX, which has been adopted by more than 250 000 customers since its introduction in June, making it the most successful offering in the Macromedia stable.
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Incorporated in September 1989, Dax Data has offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg, is an IBM business partner, a Microsoft solution provider and holds local distribution rights for Macromedia, NetManage, MGI, Tango/04, DataMirror and Graphon products. The company has an extensive skills-base for these products, assisting southern African enterprises to tackle complex host-to-any connectivity issues, Internet-based delivery mechanisms and data replication solutions.
Dax Data and its partners offer value-added services around the Web-enablement of business applications - in effect, helping customers to maximise their investment in legacy systems by making the data, information and applications they contain available across multiple back-end and client technologies.
Macromedia
Macromedia is passionate about what the Web can be. Its award-winning products empower designers and developers to efficiently create and deliver the most engaging experiences on the Web, and enable innovative Internet business applications. Headquartered in San Francisco, Macromedia has more than 1 400 employees worldwide and is available on the Internet at www.macromedia.com.
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