Home
User Guide
The information contained in this section applies to IBM WebSphere Commerce Version 7.0.0.9 and Feautre Pack 8. The documentation also applies to all subsequent releases and modifications until otherwise indicated in new editions.
Operating
IBM Management Center for WebSphere Commerce
The IBM Management Center for WebSphere Commerce, or Management Center, is a suite of tools to support store management, merchandising, and marketing tasks for business users (Sellers, Marketing Managers, Product Managers, Catalog Managers, and others).
Marketing tool
Use the Marketing tool in Management Center to create and manage marketing campaigns and other store content (excluding catalog content). You can use the extensive precision marketing features in the tool to deliver targeted marketing messages to customers.
Working with web and dialog activities
Web and dialog activities are managed by Marketing Managers. They are used to deliver brand or promotional messages to customers through a variety of methods.
Activity building blocks: triggers, targets, and actions
When you build a marketing activity using the Activity Builder, your building blocks are triggers, targets, and actions. These building blocks are represented as icons, or elements, in the palette. You select elements from the palette and place them in a precise order along a flow that represents the marketing activity. It is important that you understand how to use triggers, targets, and actions effectively so that you get the result you want.
Triggers in Dialog activities
Triggers define the event that causes your Dialog activity to start or continue. Use triggers to wait for a customer to do something, for an event to occur, or for a period of time to elapse. To include a trigger in a Dialog activity, drag the trigger from the palette into the activity flow in the Activity Builder.
Trigger: Customer Places Order
Use this trigger in a dialog activity to begin or continue the activity as soon as a customer places an order with your store. This occurs when the customer completes the check-out process and submits the order.

WebSphere Commerce Enterprise

WebSphere Commerce Professional

Trigger: Customer Places Order

Use this trigger in a dialog activity to begin or continue the activity as soon as a customer places an order with your store. This occurs when the customer completes the check-out process and submits the order.

This trigger provides a means to reach out to customers when they place an order, which is usually an indication that they currently have a keen interest in your store. Targeting these customers with marketing materials or promotional offers can encourage them to return to your store and continue shopping.

Example 1

Here is an example of a dialog activity that uses this trigger effectively:

When a customer places an order, issue the customer a coupon for 20% off the next order. To inform the customer of the coupon, send a thank-you email message.

Example of Customer Places Order trigger

Example 2

Here is another example:

When a customer places an order, check whether the customer's purchase history contains catalog entries from the Boys or Girls categories. If so, add the customer to the Customers who buy children's clothing customer segment.

Example of Customer Places Order trigger

You can then target customers in the Customers who buy children's clothing customer segment with relevant promotions and marketing activities.

Note: The previous example dynamically updates a customer segment. When you create the customer segment, you must select the check box labeled Use marketing activities to add or remove customers on the General Properties tab. This check box must be selected for these dynamic updates to take place. For more information, see Action: Add To or Remove From Customer Segment.

Prerequisite for using this trigger

Make sure that your site is configured to support the Management Center marketing features.