IndieCommunication: Upgrade “Boarding Groups”

Boarding Passes to Be E-mailed This Week

All IndieCommerce stores should be on the lookout this week for an e-mail with the subject line “IndieCommerce Upgrade: Drupal 7 Group Assignment.” Every store has been assigned to a group for the platform upgrade based on their site development and other factors. Though actual migration dates have not yet been assigned, it is anticipated that Group #1 sites, those that are the most straightforward, will begin in June, followed by migrations for Group #s 2, 3, and 4, and finishing in fall 2014.

Regardless of a store’s group number, booksellers may postpone their site upgrade until 2015; the IndieCommerce team is prepared to migrate store sites when it makes the most sense for each business.

Additionally, stores that “clean up” their sites may be able to jump into an earlier group. Booksellers who would like more information on how to optimize their site for the move should send to an e-mail to [email protected] once they receive their assignment. An IndieCommerce staff member will provide specific details on what can be done to move into an earlier group if the site is eligible.

Team IndieCommerce at BEA

 BEA is just two weeks away, and ABA staff is finalizing this year’s special IndieCommerce programming. The four types of sessions will be offered at a variety of times to accommodate everyone’s busy schedule at BEA:

• State of The Upgrade: Join ABA Technology Director Neil Strandberg for the latest status report on the Drupal 7 migration.
• Preparing Your Site for the Upgrade: The IndieCommerce team will migrate sites with as much or as little content as the store provides.
•  Drupal 7: A Sneak Peek! Join the IndieCommerce team for a guided preview of the new Drupal 7 interface.
•  Choosing a Theme and Redesign 101: The IndieCommerce team will provide guidance on picking a theme and offer tips on design usability, organizing content, and other best practices.

View a full schedule of IndieCommerce programming or sign up for a class here; schedule a one-on-one appointment with IndieCommerce staff at BEA here. The IndieCommerce team will be confirming appointments with members early next week.

The IndieCommerce team will also provide plenty of information on the live sessions for those who will be unable to attend the events in New York.

What’s Happenin’ on D7.indiecommerce.com?

To ensure that members have multiple ways to learn about platform upgrade news, Technology Director Neil Strandberg hosts twice-weekly conference calls that are open to all members. These calls aim to inform store owners, managers, and website support staff about progress on the platform upgrade, as well as provide an opportunity to discuss “next steps” for stores and address any questions.

Conference calls are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. EDT, and all interested parties can sign up using the form on d7.indiecommerce.com. Members are encouraged to log into their account on D7 to utilize the chat function during the call.

As a result of the conference calls, the IndieCommerce team has developed new FAQ items to address topics raised by members. Questions may also be sent at any time to [email protected].

How Are We Doing?

To provide members with the best service possible, the IndieCommerce team is asking booksellers to take a short survey on their upgrade experience thus far. Take the survey here.

This and all past IndieCommerce updates can be found in the archive on BookWeb.org.