|
|
|
Disclaimer The information on this web site is meant to be used as general information. Even though Nieuwkoop Europe B.V. uses sources to compose this web site that are assumed to be reliable, Nieuwkoop Europe B.V. cannot ensure the correctness, completeness and timeliness of the offered information. Nieuwkoop Europe B.V. also cannot guarantee that the web site functions without error or interruption. Please see the disclaimer for a complete overview of the conditions applying to the use of this web site. By viewing this web site and using the offered information in it, you agree to be bound to these conditions. |
1.2 Introduction to Internet Explorer Microsoft Internet Explorer® versie 7 is the web browser recommended by Nieuwkoop Europe B.V. to use this web site. If you choose to use another web browser, the web site will still function correctly in a technical aspect, but you may miss some important layout and style elements. In other words, the web site may not look as good. |
1.3 The basic functions of Internet Explorer Internet Explorer offers the technology to head over to the web to search for interesting sites. Whether you want to visit known sites, or want to explore new, exciting locations, surfing the web becomes as easy as pie with Internet Explorer. |
|
2.1 Frames
The web site is divided into four frames: a left, top, central and bottom frame. The left, top and bottom frame are however fixed, and will remain visible at all times, even though they can show varying information. The central frame will change according to what you click.
|
2.2 The left frame If you are not logged in, the left frame is divided into a login section, product menu section and information section. Logging in is described in §3.1. The product menu is divided into 6 main categories, 'Hydroculture', 'Soilculture', 'Planters', 'Decoration', 'Equipment and materials' and 'Silk plants'. You can open up these main categories to show a large number of product groups. The main category 'Planters' has a separate level 'Material' which you can open up as well to show a large number of product groups under it. Finally, in the information section, you will find a varying display of information. When you log in, the login section is replaced with user data and a new section 'Shopping cart' appears. The §4 'Ordering' explains this further.
|
2.3 The top frame When you are not logged in, the top frame is divided into a language selection, search section (§4) and a horizontal menu bar (§2.4). Even though you are asked to make a language selection the moment you visit our site, you can freely switch between 4 different modern languages at any time. This is useful when you, for instance, want to create a quote in a foreign language. This function is also very useful when you use a bookmark in you favourites to visit our web site.
|
2.4 The horizontal menu bar On the horizontal menu bar, you find a 'Home', 'Information' and 'Contact' button. These 3 buttons are always visible, where the contact form described in §7 is particularly powerful. When you log in, the horizontal menu bar gets 4 new buttons added, 'My Green Lifestyle', 'Shopping cart', 'Downloads' and 'Log out'. The operations of the functions behind the first two buttons is explained in detail in §6. In 'Downloads' you can find a varying offer of current information, from price lists to photos and digital brochures. More information about 'Log out' can be found in §8.
|
2.5 The central frame with content The largest part of your screen is taken up by the central frame with content. This contains the information resulting from your actions on our web site. Especially the tables (§2.6) and the infobox (§2.7) that can appear here, deserve a special explanation.
|
2.6 Tables Throughout the site, tables are used as an important instrument to present the requested data in an orderly manner. Practically all tables offer the option to sort their entries based on the values in the different columns. For instance, you can sort the column 'Your price' ascending or descending. You can sort (A-Z / 1-10) by clicking the column header of the column that you want to use for sorting, in the respective table. If you click again, you sort again, but this time in the opposite direction (Z-A / 10-1).
|
2.7 The infobox In the infobox located at the top right hand side of the central frame when visible, you'll find additional information regarding the information presented in the central frame.
|
2.8 The function bar At the bottom side of the central frame, you will always find the function bar. This bar does not offer additional information, but does offer extra functionality to better read, distribute, share or recall the information. The function button 'Printer friendly version' allows you to print the relevant information in a practical format without being limited by specific printer drivers. The function button 'Send this page' allows you to send an email with a direct link to the page that you are at right now. This way, you can easily share information with colleagues or other interested people. The function button 'Add to favourites' is self-explanatory.
|
2.9 The bottom frame The bottom frame gives direct access to general and web site specific conditions.
|
|
3.1 User name and password Our web site is secured. You log in using a user name and password. User name and password are strictly personal! If you do not yet have a user name or password, you can request these through one of our employees. Logging in is done as follows:
| 1) |
Type your 'User name' and 'Password' into the 'Login' section of the left frame. |
2) |
Next, click the 'Ok' button. |
|
3.2 Authentication Web sites become more and more personal. For Nieuwkoop Europe B.V., it is an important task to deal with this responsibly. Taking possible function differentiations within your organisation into account, our clients can choose between several levels of authentication. If you have authentication level 1, you have full access to the financial part of our web site, My Green Lifestyle® (§6). If you have authentication level 0, however, you do not have access to My Green Lifestyle®. Please contact us, if you would rather like to have a tailor-made authorization level where you compose the relevant parts within the section My Green Lifestyle® (§6) yourself. Of course you can also choose to completely block access for individual employees. Only authentication requests approved by members of the board of directors or board representation of our clients are processed. |
3.3 Lost user name or password If you already have a user name and password, but lost either of the two, you can request them immediately by:
| 1) |
In the 'Login' section of the left frame, click 'Password forgotten' |
| 2) |
Fill in either your user name or your e-mail address |
| 3) |
Click the button 'Receive password' |
| 4) |
Your login data will be sent to you immediately in email |
|
|
4.1 Search engine operation With a range of more than 10,000 products, and a multitude of names, materials, shapes and sizes, finding a product is not an easy job. Nieuwkoop Europe B.V. puts you in control through both a simple and advanced search function. By carefully selecting and filling in the search fields, you determine the criteria of your search. You combine type of product, product name, size and price, and the search engine will display relevant results. The search function allows you to set 'conditions' to the information you request. This way you can indicate you want a product from a certain main category, or one containing a certain term in its description or variety. By executing several selections, you can search in a targeted way. For example, you can easily search for synthetic planters with a diameter smaller than 50cm and a height of at least 80cm. Additionally you can set limits to a maximum or minimum price, or even set your own custom price range.
|
4.2 Search The simple search function in the search section of the top frame allows you to easily search for a term found in the description field of our product database. If you are looking for 'Veitchia merrillii', start your search with 'Veit' preferably, to prevent getting no results at all because of a typing error. If you are looking for 'Scindapsis', using the search term 'Scin' suffices.
| 1) |
Type the term you want to search for into the 'Search' field in the top frame and click the 'Search' button |
| 2) |
The results are now shown in the central frame |
|
4.3 Advanced search If you want to perform an advanced search, and want to make combinations and search ranges as described in §4.1, the simple search is too limited, and you should use 'Advanced search'. You can make selections based on the following values: 'Main category', 'Category', 'Sub category', 'Description', 'Variety', 'Pot size', 'Diameter' ,'Length', 'Width', 'Height', and if you are logged in, also 'Price'.Only after you have made a selection for 'Main category', selections are shown for 'Category'. If you select 'Planters' as 'Main category', options are shown for 'Sub category'. By the way, you can also choose to only make a selection based on 'Diameter' or 'Price'.
| 1) |
Click 'Advanced search' directly under 'Search' in the top frame |
| 2) |
Make the selections you want to make on the page 'Advanced search' that is shown now |
| 3) |
Click the 'Search' button at the bottom of the page |
| 4) |
The central frame now shows the results |
|
|
5.1 The ordering proces At Nieuwkoop Europe B.V. like no other we understand the power of doing business in person. Still, processing web based orders has some clear advantages. Not only does it prevent doing double work, it also gives you all relevant information to the ordering process. During this process, you can make extensive use of the intelligent search functions as described in §4. By placing a web order, the personal contact does not decrease. On the contrary, after you have placed your order, one of our employees will always contact you personally. This way, specific aspects of your order can immediately be addressed. If needed, the order can be extended in a personal talk with you. You cannot place orders if you are not logged in!
|
5.2 The shopping cart When you are logged in, you can add products to your 'Shopping cart' from all the tables that are displayed to you, when you are using either the product menu or the search functions. You do this as follows:
| 1) |
Type the number of products that you want in the column 'Amount' that you will find at the right hand side of each product table
|
| 2) |
Click the 'Order' button at the bottom of this page |
| 3) |
In the left frame, you will see the amounts and sub total increased in the section 'Shopping cart' |
| 4) |
If you want to change or complete your order, you can do this by clicking the 'Shopping cart' button in the horizontal menu bar in the top frame |
| 5) |
If you want to remove a product, you click the waste basket icon at the right hand side of the order row in question. You can also choose to change amounts. In that case, change the amounts and confirm this change by pressing the 'Update' button at the bottom of the page |
| 6) |
You can continue your shopping by clicking the 'Continue shopping' button, by performing a new search, or by using the product menu |
| 7) |
When you are done ordering, press the 'Complete order' button. With this, you can go through the 5 ordering steps described in the next paragraph. You can simplify the check-out when you enter a reference in the 'Reference' field and/or leave comments for our sales department by using the 'Order comment' field. It is not compulsory to fill in these latter fields |
| 8) |
By clicking the product code on an order row, you are presented with product details and are given a number of product suggestions |
|
5.3 The ordering steps When you are done 'shopping' you can choose to confirm it by finishing it, see §5.2 point 7. This means that you add all the necessary details to the order needed to deliver it, by going through a number of ordering steps. By confirming the order in the last step, you finalise the order with us in the same way you would when sending us an order by fax or email. If you decide not to finalise the order, it is enough to simply not follow through with the steps described below to cancel the order. Your order will also immediately be cancelled if you log out without going through the ordering steps. We stress here that placing an order only leads to an actual commitment of pay if it is definitely going to be delivered, after there has been contact with our sales department. The payment step as seen on many other web sites is therefore not present.
|
5.4 Step 1 Checking 'Your data'
| 1) |
Check all information in the sections 'Client data' and 'Contact' for correctness, and make modifications if needed. |
| 2) |
Click the 'Next' button to go to step 2. If the data in step 1 is incomplete, you will be notified with a message. |
|
5.5 Step 2 Supplying the 'Shipping address'
| 1) |
Check all the information in the section 'Current address' for correctness, or choose a 'Different address'. |
| 2) |
If you choose 'Different address', you can choose to use a different, already known address, or supply a completely new address. If you want to search for an already known address, check the box 'Existing'. If you choose to use a completely new address, please type it in. |
| 3) |
Click the 'Next' button to go to step 3 or click 'Back' to go back to step 2. |
|
5.6 Step 3 Supplying the 'Billing address'
| 1) |
Check all the information in the section 'Current address' for correctness or choose a 'Different address' by manually filling in the fields. |
| 2) |
Click the 'Next' button to go to step 4 or click 'Back' to go back to step 3. |
|
5.7 Step 4 The 'Overview'
| 1) |
Once more check all data in the presented overview. If you want, you can check the details of the order rows by clicking the product code. |
| 2) |
Click the 'Order' button to actually place your order or click 'Back' to return to step 4. |
|
5.8 Step 5 When you completed step 4, you will automatically arrive at step 5. Step 5 confirms the successful placement of your order.
|
|
6.1 Introduction to My Green Lifestyle® The name says much about the personal character of this section. From now on you will be fully informed about all transactions in progress and you gain control over your own client data. You will be completely informed about all products ordered, either the traditional way or through the web. You will be 100% informed about the size and status of payments and pending payments. Clarity saves time and frustration, and brings parties closer together. |
6.2 Client data This page gives you control over your own client data, and allows you to easily check if the data as known with us are correct. If you change data in your file, these will be automatically processed in our administration. This way, you can make changes to data of all contacts that have access to the web site. From that moment on, changes will be used immediately in our business processing.
| 1) |
Log in with your user name and password |
| 2) |
When you have logged in successfully, your personal and company name will appear in the left vertical menu bar, and extra options will be added to the horizontal menu bar at the top |
| 3) |
In the horizontal menu bar, click 'My Green Lifestyle®' |
| 4) |
Once again, extra options appear in the horizontal menu bar at the top, and by default you will end up at the page 'Client data' |
| 5) |
At this page, you can view or change your company data and your own personal data. When you have changed data, you can save these changes by clicking the 'Save' button at the bottom of the page |
| 6) |
If you want to return to this page from a different one, just click the 'My Green Lifestyle®' button in the horizontal menu bar again |
| 7) |
When you want to view, change, add or delete fixed (shipping)addresses, click on 'Change addresses' in the menu bar present at the page 'Client data' |
| 8) |
If you want to save changes as mentioned under point 7, either click the 'Save' or 'Delete' button respectively at the bottom of the page |
| 9) |
When you want to view, change, add or delete fixed contact data, click on 'Change contacts' in the menu bar present at the page 'Client data'. You only have access to the contacts that are allowed on the web site |
| 10) |
If you want to save changes as mentioned under point 9, either click the 'Save' or 'Delete' button respectively at the bottom of the page |
|
6.3 Web orders Of course you want to keep tabs on the status and through it, the processing of an order after you have placed it. You get this control at the 'Web orders' page. Orders that were placed by our sales department in the traditional way (fax, email or by phone) are discussed in the next paragraph.
| 1) |
See step 1 through 4 of §6.2 |
| 2) |
Click 'Web orders' in the bottom horizontal menu bar |
| 3) |
On this page, you will be shown all orders placed through our site |
| 4) |
An important piece of information in the on-line ordering process is the 'Status'. The different statuses are explained in detail under the table on this page. The latest on-line orders are always shown at the top. If desired, you can select orders by status with the selection box |
| 5) |
If you want to view the contents of an on-line order, click the associated row in the table. The page will now show all data relevant to this order |
| 6) |
If you want to re-use certain rows from an existing (historical) order, select the desired rows by placing a checkmark, and click 'Re-use order' at the bottom of the page |
| 7) |
If you want to view a specific row in an existing (historical) order in detail, click the product code or the product shown on the row in question. Click 'Back' to return to the previous screen |
|
6.4 All orders Orders placed by you in a traditional way (fax, email and by phone) and have been entered by our sales department, can also be viewed.
| 1) |
See step 1 through 4 of §6.2 |
| 2) |
Click 'All orders' in the bottom horizontal menu bar |
| 3) |
On this page, you will be shown all known orders placed by you |
| 4) |
An important piece of information in this table is the Yes/No status in the column labelled 'Processed'. Orders with the status 'No' have not yet been processed. Only when an order has been delivered completely, it receives the status 'Yes', completely processed |
| 5) |
If you want to view the contents of an order, click the associated row in the table. The page will now show all data relevant to this order. You will be shown the amounts ordered as well as the amounts we have delivered. Only when the delivered amount is equal to the ordered amount, that row has been fully processed. If all rows are fully processed, the order receives the status 'Yes' in the column processed |
| 6) |
You can sort by columns by clicking on a column heading. If you click again, the sorting will take place again, but in reverse order. This way, you can easily search by criteria that are convenient for you |
| 7) |
If you want to view a specific row in an existing (historical) order in detail, click the product code or the product shown on the row in question. Click 'Back' to return to the previous screen |
|
6.5 Pending Payments Good information about the financial processing of your orders is essential for your own financial administration.
| 1) |
See step 1 through 4 of §6.2 |
| 2) |
Click 'Pending payments' in the bottom horizontal menu bar |
| 3) |
On this page you will see an overview of the status of all your pending payments, including age, based on your standard payment terms. The system will of course take special payment terms into account that have been made for a specific order and deviate from the standard payment terms. |
| 4) |
You can sort by columns by clicking on a column heading. If you click again, the sorting will take place again, but in reverse order. This way, you can easily search by criteria that are convenient for you |
|
|
7.1 The contact form The contact form is a useful tool to get in touch with one of our employees. When you use the contact form, you in fact send an email through one of our own servers. This email is then delivered to one of our employees. If you are logged in, an additional advantage is that all fields are filled in automatically, and you can concentrate on the content of the message. If you are not logged in, you have to fill in a number of required fields, because otherwise we will not be able to determine the originator of the message.
| 1) |
Click the 'Contact' button on the horizontal menu bar |
| 2) |
To speed up the processing of your request, you can indicate the type of question you have in the section 'Request type'. |
| 3) |
At least fill in the required fields of the form. If you are logged in, all fields have already been filled in automatically and you can skip this step |
| 4) |
After you have stated your question in the section 'Your question', you can send your message by clicking the button 'Send'. If you want to start over with a blank screen, click the 'Clear' button |
|
|
8.1 Logging out manually If you are done with your work on our site, you can log out. By logging out you prevent unauthorised colleagues from using the web sited under your name.
| 1) |
Click the 'Log out' button on the horizontal menu bar |
|
8.2 Logging out through a 'session time-out' If you are called away from your work at our web site, you will be logged out automatically if you do not actively use the web site for a period of 20 minutes. This is a result of the so-called 'session time-out'. This 'session time-out' prevents unauthorised colleagues from using the site under your name, as well as preventing unnecessary load on our servers.
|