Electronic Software Distribution (ESD)
"Distribution" More Than "Delivery"
In the classical sense distribution means more than delivery, it is in fact repeated deliveries that distinguish a customer self-service center from a delivery portal. In the world of ESD, there is a big difference between distribution and delivery. Electronic Software Distribution is powered by entitlement.
Entitlement
To OMS, distribution means much more than delivery. Delivery is the act of getting the software to its final destination – the end user, whether it is physical or electronic goods. Electronic Software Distribution means creating an automated process for continually keeping your customers up-to-date. The difference starts deep within our solution, where entitlement takes root. Entitlement is matching users and products based upon orders not access control lists. Entitlement can be:
- derived directly from Sales Orders, or
- inherited through accounts, or
- associated through self-registration, or
- created manually by a global administrator.
Entitlement allows the relationship between user and product to be maintained dynamically and in a de-centralized manner. Given the tools (accounts and self-registration) users can self-administrate.
Reducing your customer support effort and associated costs.
Product Chaining
Product Chaining allows product relationships to be established, these in effect create "entitlement rules" which allow entitlement to "service updates" or "product upgrades" to be managed in an effective and automated fashion to those users that have base product entitlement and appropriate validates (effective subscription service, maintenance contact, warranty period etc). This improves sustainability and customer satisfaction.
Updates can be released without chaining initially if required (perhaps early ship program or test sites) then have the chain updated to effect a general release.
Automatic Notification
Using templates and variables, entitlement events for both IPD (initial product delivery) and updates (updates/upgrades) can be automatically sent to account contacts and individual users. The "push" of the message then signifies it is ready for "pull" by the customers whenever they want it.
Entitlement Center Categorization
Additionally, product can be categorized at release time so as to show relationships to base products. When a user signs on their view of the entitlement center groups the products (base and updates) and identifies the category. This makes it much easier for users to find base (product revisions) and updates (service packs or fixes).
Order Physical Copy
Optionally you may decide to allow customers still to order product for physical delivery. By making the Electronic Software Distribution system the primary communications vehicle, customers can see their orders/products and can choose to first attempt to download products before ordering a physical copy.
OMS' Electronic Software Distribution application ACROSS can be deployed under a perpetual license agreement or can be hosted (infrastructure and services) under one of our EntitleNow!™ solutions. You choose the products and services that are right for you.
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