ABA E-Commerce Solution Extends Beta Test

The ABA E-Commerce Solution's beta test of its new open-source platform has been extended, and its release is now scheduled for sometime in early 2009.

Over the last year, the ABA E-Commerce Solution has been migrating to Drupal, a content management system that will provide more robust administrative tools, greater system stability, and the ability to roll out new features more quickly.

A beta test of the new product kicked off in late August with tentative plans to conclude testing in mid- to late-September. However, while the technology held up very well through the beta test, E-Commerce staff also discovered a training gap.

"The new system gives users much more granular control over their websites, but many may find that the learning curve to use the myriad tools to affect that control is steep," said Len Vlahos, chief program officer for ABA. "This has been true for our staff and for the booksellers who have been beta testing."

ABA's goal is to have between 12 to 24 stores participating in the extended beta, Vlahos reported. "We'll use this time to create fulsome training materials -- including narrated videos on using specific features -- and will hone our other training materials." Sometime early next year, the E-Commerce Solution will exit beta testing and will begin the migration of all participants to the new platform.

Questions about the migration should be addressed to ABA E-Commerce Solution Director Ricky Leung at [email protected].