[consulting] Affiliate module requirements

[Jenny Hsueh]

Just about to say, in terms of ecommerce/affiliate user experience and 
functionality,  1shoppingcart will be the model that  we would like to 
see Drupal implementation to follow.

I wonder would it be more cost effective that we provide a bridge 
between drupal and 1shoppingcart (or similar commercial services)? 
1shoppingcart services fee is quite reasonable with loads of features 
and stable implementation. In fact, this is the ecommerce/affiliate 
solution  we would recommend to our clients, of course the downside is 
that currently  there is no integration with drupal user accounts.  I 
think the way 1shopping cart works should work especially well if you 
have a network/networks  of related drupal sites, i.e. users can 
purchase goods from different sites and you manage it from one place and 
be able to follow up intelligently, also with tiered affiliate 
features,  each site owner within the "networked" sites can set their 
own commission rate for the products on different sites  (although we 
have not tried  out this scenario yet, but in theory it should work like 
this).

A robust ecommerce and affiliate program  seems pretty involved 
especially in a networked multi-site environment. Personally we don't 
want to take the accountability for ecommerce software integration, a 
bridged solution between Drupal to some stable commercial software will 
be ideal.

Jenny

Alex Rollin wrote:

> Quick additions that come to mind are the following.
>
> I admit these are hefty.  I do not understand how this would operate 
> along with the ecommerce module, really, and I am prepared to be 
> fliexible in case the integration is simply too complex.  These pieces 
> are really here because the customers are looking to replace 1shopping 
> cart so they can use the ecommerce database in addition to intergated 
> mail functions, and these are the features they are looking at replacing.
>
> Multiple Affiliate Programs
> Ability to ban affiliate from one program, but admit to another program.
> Payouts in percentage and fixed dollar amount.
> Different payouts for the same product under different programs.
> 2nd tier affiliate signup tracking. (New affiliates bringing in new 
> affiliates)
> Different payouts on per product basis for 1st and 2nd tier affiliates.
>
> A points system is really important.  To enable additional currencies 
> and different forms of trade, a point system is key.