Korubo blogs

Challenge

Many companies offer Sodexo internet vouchers for their employees on top of the monthly base salary in frame of a cafeteria system. Subscribers of internet and WAP services of Vodafone Hungary should be able to settle monthly bills using these tax-free internet vouchers. Sodexo is a third-party service provider which issues, validates and processes these special type of vouchers by law in accordance to the agreement with Vodafone Hungary.

Solution

Upon request of Vodafone Hungary, Korubo has implemented a new integrated system for Sodexo internet voucher transaction processing. After successful authentication subscribers are able to list outstanding (not paid) invoices and select which should be paid off using Sodexo vouchers. Security is enhanced using captcha solution.

The payment transaction is distributed as the web application should interact with Sodexo/Siro and Vodafone accounting systems. In case any of these applications fail to process the payment transaction the entire process should be invalidated in order to keep each system consistent. Implementation of the distributed transaction processing was the major challenge during the design and implementation phases of this project.

Result

Successful implementation within planned budget and targeted dead-line.

http://www.vodafone.hu/internetutalvany

Challenge

To increase the number of registered users in the opt-in database of Vodafone Hungary. Secondary challenge was to test a new business model by Vodafone Hungary - replace cannibalized sms revenue with media fees from display placements on the landing page.

Solution

Vodafone Hungary provides free SMS sending possibility to their subscribers via a web interface available on www.vodafone.hu portal after a short registration in the opt-in database.

The application provides high level of user experience by implementing a rich set of functions accessible via a web browser in a similar way as accustomed in traditional desktop applications e.g. drag-and-drop functionality, contacts, saved messages and more.

One of the biggest challenges was during the design and implementation the application was the integration with already existing back-end systems. Seven interfaces were defined and realized during the project: SMS Center, Active Directory, System Monitoring, Ad-Server, Data Warehouse among others.

The system is built on Microsoft .NET (ASP.NET, C#) technology and utilizes Javascript/Ajax on the front-end to increase user experience.

Result

Successful implementation within the expected deadline and budget, ten thousands of registered users within the planned promotion period, the application well contributes to the brand image of Vodafone Hungary.

https://secure.vodafone.hu/webSMS/

Challenge

Vodafone Hungary decided to replace the old and static online ordering microsite with a dynamic Online Shop application in order to increase the importance of the online sales channel, increase revenue and provide more professional customer experience.

Changes of the available handsets should be feasible within very short time by product managers using a web administration interface.

Solution

Due to the short available implementation period (within 2 months) we have decided to extend the existing Device Search with an online ordering capability. A new landing page was also introduced to include promoted handset devices in different categories (e.g. promoted mobile devices, promoted handset devices) with easy to use navigation options (e.g. paging of promotions).

User selects the device and initiates ordering. A wizard using a couple of steps helps to gather the necessary ordering details (name, address, personal details). The system is integrated with back-end systems for automated order processing.

The application always sends email notifications to Vodafone employees involved in the order processing.

In order to analyze statistics and user behavior the system collects the orders in a data warehouse database.

Result

Substantially decreased times in case of placing new devices into the Online Shop, increased number of orders and increased revenue.

Challenge

During one of Vodafone’s campaigns “Rózsa and Robin” in 2008, more than twenty thousand prepaid SIM cards were distributed among prospects of Vodafone Hungary. In order to be able to use these SIM cards users should complete an activation process, which was handled via the call center operator previously. However activating this amount of SIM cards would overload the call center which should be avoided by implementing an online interface supporting the activation process.

Solution

Korubo implemented a new web application supporting self-service activation without involving call center operators into the process. Users are able to enter personal details using a several step form wizard.

Collected data are transferred immediately into a back-end contract management system and the new contract is created automatically. Couple of minutes after the successful activation the SIM card is ready to use and the contract is prepared for printing and signing off.

Result

Large majority of users preferred activation via web interface which released the call center from overloading.

As a further merit, not just new SIM card owners but call-center operators themselves started using this application because the activation became more simple than the previous manual process so this development also contributed to the optimization of the internal processes of Vodafone Hungary.

https://secure.vodafone.hu/instant/

Challenge

For Vodafone customers it becomes more and more difficult to find the best handset from the growing number of devices due to the complexity of technical attributes of the available telephone handsets.

From that background arose the need to provide users with an intuitive, easy-to-use Device Search application preferably by implementing a Rich Internet Application (RIA).

In a “traditional” product search application the result is displayed after filling in search criteria in several wizard steps. Sometimes the result set is empty and the user doesn’t know which criteria needs to be adjusted.

Solution

In order to avoid the above issue and to create an elevated level of User Experience a new search concept is introduced in this application. By opening the application the search results (in our case handset devices) are displayed without filtering. On the right hand side of the screen search criteria are displayed: price range or device type selector among others. As soon as the user changes the search condition the result list reflects it accordingly, using seamless transition animation between phases (also known as “Cinematic” User Experience). The user can experience immediately how changes of a certain search condition influences the result.

https://secure.vodafone.hu/keszulekek/keszulek_kereso/keszulek_kereso_hu.aspx

Devices are stored in a back-end database, device list is generated dynamically based on database content. Administrators of the application - without technical background knowledge - are able to add new devices to the list or modify device attributes.

The front-end functionality utilizes OpenLaszlo technology while the back-end is built on Microsoft .NET (ASP.NET, C#) technology.

Results

This application is considered as one of the most successful apps of Vodafone Hungary and is the most visited section of www.vodafone.hu portal due to ease of use and excellent user experience. Not even Vodafone’s customers but subscribers of concurrent operators are using very often this application, too.

The application is also integrated with a back-end data Warehouse Solution called “The Online Offering System” as well, which is considered an important tool in retention management, and provides offers based on previous customer behavior and other important factors (such as market segment characteristics and user lifecycle status) for authenticated users.

Challenge

Provide a low-cost, innovative and interesting solution to support ordering of specific products. Use audience of frequented media portals to gain visitors to mini-webshop.

Solution

Korubo has implemented a new creative e-commerce idea called “Bannerstore”. The purpose of Bannerstore is to provide the functionality of a mini web shop in place of a banner advertisement, which allows visitors to order the product/service within the banner without clicking away from the original content page, without visiting the site of the offering company.

The opening page of the banner displays the most important attributes of the product: name, image and discounted price.

The implemented banner has several layers, visitors get further detailed information about the product by clicking on displayed tabs (product info, advantages, terms and conditions, etc.).

The banner also takes the visitor through all essential steps during product configuration / checkout: In case the visitor wants to order the offer, the Order tab makes it possible by starting a 5-step wizard. The orders are transferred into a back-end database and a back-end email service can notify immediately the responsible employee, who initiates the order processing.

Result

The solution exploited high traffic of portals where the app was placed. Conversion results were over expectations. Based on the implemented solution a re-useable product was developed, which can be used for different kind of products after a short customization of the look-and-feel and content.

Check out the working prototype here

Challenge

Provide a portal solution for a startup organization focusing on mobile advertising related news and articles. Contributors of the portal should be able to create new content or update existing content without technical assistance.

Solution

Korubo selected one of the most popular open-source CMS system (WordPress). After branding and graphical design the implementation started. Only built-in functions of WorldPress were utilized without customization, which made a very short implementation period possible.

Many web 2.0 features are available on the site, user generated content (UGC), content tagging, tag clouds and RSS among others.

Result

The selected CMS system lives up to expectations, hundreds of news, articles, interviews, articles, job posts are published during the last two years. The site has become one of the leading sources of industry information. Budget and timeframe was absolutely minimal.

http://www.mobiadnews.com/

Challenge

Implementation of a social network portal for communities living in the same residential park and to support all maintenance processes.

Solution

Prestige XRM developed by Korubo implements on one hand the problem reporting and problem resolution processes, on the other hand strengthens the residential community via a social networking portal.

This portal is considered as an important tool for building community within the residence because lot of information can be published via the portal, the residents have basic information about their neighbors, etc.

Problem reporting and resolution is considered as one of the most important processes of the residence’s community, the reporter of the problem should be able to track the resolution process, check the expected deadline of the resolution.

Reporting an issue is as simple as filling out an online form including several fields by describing and categorizing the issue. Photos can be attached to the issue as well. After submitting the form a trouble ticket is generated and the responsible employees of the facility management team are notified in email immediately about the new ticket so they can act accordingly.

Members of the facility management team are able to list all outstanding or closed tickets, review details, change status of the ticket, attach new photo or add comment or resolution details to the ticket.

Several built in reports support the control of the issue resolution processes.

Result

Paper based reporting and resolution process is replaced with a new digitized workflow, shorter resolution time contributes significantly to the satisfaction of home owners.

http://www.myprestige.hu/