Independent Newspapers Ireland launched a 24-hour advertising revenue source with the ClassSpeed Web Order Entry app from Digital Technology International. The app enables consumers to design, preview and purchase classified ads online at any time, with Independent’s PlaceMyAd feature, DTI said.

The implementation, which included an extensive redesign of DTI’s Web Order Entry standard templates, took 12 weeks to complete.

Independent Newspapers’ install marks the first worldwide implementation of Web Order Entry 6.0 on the multi-dimensional CachŽ database, which features advanced Internet capabilities. It is also the first time that a DTI advertising system installation has led with its Web enabled tools, the vendor said.

“There are some important benefits of the DTI system, namely the fact that we are always open to receive ads for both print and Web,” said Gerry Wilde, IT director at the Irish Independent. “This is literally a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week and 365-day-a-year service. We believe that we must provide our customers with the option of booking ads whenever they like, not just when our call center is open. With the roll out of broadband in this country, it will give us the edge to promote our publications via the Web for both private and business customers.”

Template redesign

A redesign of DTI’s standard templates was undertaken, which completely changed the look of the Independent’s pages. Features of the system include integration of live online credit transactions. Also, images are collected, checked, converted in the templates and loaded directly to the database, with multiple formats displayed instantly in the browser, DTI said.

“As the leading Irish newspaper publisher, our digital strategy is geared to ensure that our customers get access to the most relevant, beneficial and secure applications online,” said Mark Lawlor, managing director, Internet Ireland. “The PlaceMyAd service is in an easy-to-use component of a much larger and more powerful digital suite of services that we will be offering our customers over the next 18 months.”

Independent’s Web Order Entry system is live now at http://www.placemyad.ie/webentry.

Independent Newspapers publishes five national newspapers, 11 regional newspapers and a consumer directory. It is also a commercial newspaper printer, newspaper and magazine wholesaler and distributor, and the online news portal.