A critical first decision was deciding on which set of systems would be built by the in-house technical team. The second step was to identify key suppliers of specialized products and services that would provide the foundation upon which the team would build. In order to select the best suppliers, CheckOut first outlined their criteria. These criteria are based on the business vision summarized in Figure 1. Provide a total entertainment experience where visitors can explore entertainment interests, interact with celebrities, and buy related merchandise.
Offer features to attract, retain, and build lasting relationships with entertainment consumers.
Develop an established base of frequent site visitors within four months of launch. Accept, maintain, and manage vast amounts of content, e-commerce product, and community services. Provide a flexible, scalable platform that accommodates rapid growth, market changes, and technological advances. The following criteria guided their decisions. Select components that are readily customized and integrated.