PARTNERSHIPS
PARK DISTRICTS, FOREST PRESERVES AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS
WORKING TOGETHER WITH CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS TO BUILD OUR COMMUNITIES
BY TERESA FORTHOFER
Whether or not your organization currently has a presence on the World
Wide Web, one thing is clear: customers, future customers and associates,
are now, or will soon be looking for you there.
Every day more customers and competitors are using the Internet to go
far beyond just establishing a presence. They share information, communicate with customers, take orders, and thereby increase their revenues.
We live in an era in which convenience is a key
requirement in our daily lives. People seem to have
extremely busy lifestyles and are turning to the Internet for timesaving assistance. The Web has become a valid purchasing channel for consumers and
sites have evolved from just providing static information for surfers, to an interactive venue in which
users purchase goods, register for events, classes, seminars, conferences, and much more.
When we think of online sales or "e-commerce"
we tend to think of online stores, such as
Amazon-com, that sell books, music, apparel, travel,
and electronics. But don't forger online registration.
Although park and recreation agencies do not sell
"goods," we do sell specialized services, classes, and
events. We, too, are a part of e-commerce.
By providing online registration the principle remains the same: we are
selling to the community and providing convenience. Catalogs, brochures,
and mailings get misplaced and they are expensive to produce and distribute. Registration business hours are limited.
It's simple. Why not put this information on the Web for a fraction of
the cost and give the customer what they want? Online registration allows
your customers to register when they want to, not just when you want
them to.
The Community House of Hinsdale has successfully ventured into
cyberspace by taking the same approach as retailers in selling our programs
and events via the Internet at www.thecommunityhouse.org. By
providing this service to our community we have increased registration to
24 hours a day, seven days a week!
To bring our organization to the Web, The Community House has
partnered with Computer Continuity Center (or C3), using PlanNet
online registration tools. PlanNet, developed by C3, employs emerging
technologies to meet the demands of organizations
seeking to improve productivity and the quality of
their services.
By implementing online registration, we've addressed the need to increase registration process automation and reduce labor intensive procedures.
PlanNet establishes a solution that leverages common
existing job skills and can easily integrate with current
database driven systems, client management software
and accounting systems.
The Community House Website witnessed close
to 1,500 hits and sales that totaled more than $4,000
in the first month! We have streamlined our entire
registration process with our interactive catalog by
putting extensive information at users fingertips in
an engaging, clearly organized way.
"The money we spend every year on printing brochures, sending out
brochures, handling and processing registration compared to the minimal
cost to implement PlanNet didn't even compare," says Judy Hauch, financial administrator for The Community House.
"It was a simple decision."
It has been a smooth transition for the staff at The Community House
to adjust to using PlanNet.
"The administrative side of PlanNet is so user-friendly we have adopted
it as our only registration system," says Jennifer Mensik, The Community House program director.
10 / Illinois Parks and Recreation
E-COMMERCE IS NOT JUST FOR THE AMAZON.COMS
"Not only are we accepting online registration, but administering our
own site without any programming knowledge.
"Its amazing! With PlanNet we can track program information, financial records, registration history, database information, and class lists that
are updated to the minute."
Phone calls and emails come in daily and community members love our
new site. They appreciate the convenience and enjoy the new feature, a
photo album.
In a recent study when consumers were asked to rate the most important factor when deciding to purchase online, more than 50 percent
rated convenience as the number factor. The other top rated important
issues for online success were ease of use (navigation), currency (material is
updated frequently) and security. The Community House Website tackles all of these issues with flying colors and staff love it, too.
Due to the success of our online registration, in the future the Community House hopes to move toward mostly Internet based registration
including a computer in the lobby for walk in registrants. By doing this
we will save a considerable amount of time and money. For now. The
Community House will continue to accept registration via phone, fax,
mail and walk-in, but in time we hope to increase the number of online
registrants to reduce the number of mailings in return lowering our registration costs.
TERESA FORTHOFER
Computer Continuity Center (or C3) is a Chicago-based Web development firm specializing in online
catalogs and online registration. PlanNet, developed by C3. is unique in that one fool is required for building,
editing and maintaining your online registration site as well as check orders and store participant forms. To
learn more about PlanNet, visit www.plan-net, net
July / August 1999 / 11E-Commerce Is Not Just for the Amazon.coms
The Community House of Hinsdale, through a partnership with a technology firm,
introduced online registration and made $4,000 in the first month
is the executive director of The Community House-Hinsdale, a nonprofit organization providing exciting new
learning experiences, counseling support, recreation and volunteer opportunities for all the residents of Burr
Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Westmont and Willowbrook. To learn
more about The Community House, visit www.thecommunityhouse.org