Today's board game studios use crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter to fund their projects. These campaigns generate huge amounts of order data, bonus data and tax and accounting data, requiring an advanced tool to manage this information.
ICEberg CMS 5 has the capabilities to be implemented as an advanced pledge manager (PM), and offers a wide range of features to effectively manage campaigns and orders, while supporting the growth of the board game studio.
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Key features of the Pledge Manager
Obsługa Early Birds
One of the challenges of crowdfunding campaigns is handling so-called 'Early Birds' - special offers for the earliest backers. Early Birds data is not automatically included in Kickstarter exports. ICEberg CMS 5 does, however, allow products with a '0' price to be assigned for orders from specific time slots. This solution avoids duplicate products, while allowing additional costs to be charged for subsequent copies of the same items if ordered later in the process.
Stretch Goals
Stretch Goals, or additional campaign goals that augment the content of a core product, are an important element of a Kickstarter campaign. In ICEberg CMS 5, Stretch Goals are integrated as part of existing products, eliminating the need to treat them as separate items. However, the system is ready for the future - for more complex campaigns, Stretch Goals can be managed as separate products, such as apps or add-ons.
Tax and address data management
ICEberg CMS 5 accepts the gross amounts from Kickstarter as the basic financial data. Tax is only calculated after users have completed the data in the pledge manager. This approach allows more flexible management of tax data, which is particularly important in the context of international campaigns. Users can also edit their data, such as the delivery address, which simplifies the order processing process and minimises the risk of errors. However, the process is customisable - the proprietary system that is ICEberg CMS 5 allows many settings and functionalities to be influenced
Bonus Support
Bonus Support - additional user contributions not directly related to the purchase of products - are automatically imported as invisible products. This function ensures data consistency for accounting purposes, while minimising the visibility of these items on invoices. This intuitive solution simplifies the invoicing and customer service process.
Process Automation
Credit and disposal of products
ICEberg CMS 5 introduces the ability to remove products from orders, which automatically converts the amount paid into credits. Credits can be used to purchase other products or for cash refunds.
In the current version of the module, refunds are handled manually, but automatic functions will be available in the next version, which will increase the efficiency of customer service.
Product catalogue management
ICEberg CMS 5 allows products to be assigned to categories such as 'Awards' or 'Add-ons'. Products can be managed in terms of visibility, indexing in Google and separate purchase options. Bulk actions have been implemented to change product parameters, such as tax settings or campaign assignment, making it significantly easier to manage a large number of orders.
Integrations and functionalities
Integration with Kickstarter
Importing data from Kickstarter is a key part of the transition from the Crowd Funding Platform to Pledge Manager. The system automatically compares the data, identifies inconsistencies (e.g. in product names) and allows them to be corrected by using unique IDs instead of names. This approach ensures accurate order mapping.
Backup and data security
Regular data backups and a backup system enable information security. The introduction of more advanced backup schedules has been identified as a priority, especially in the context of intensive crowdfunding campaigns.
Integration with external systems
ICEberg CMS 5 supports integrations with external tools such as Baselinker, but also ERP systems, CRM systems, etc., and also has selected solutions to automate logistics and accounting processes.
User Interface Improvements
The ICEberg CMS 5 interface has been designed with intuitive use in mind. Regular updates and the ability for users to submit comments allow the platform to be adapted to changing needs. This functionality is crucial in any dynamic industry.
Summary
ICEberg CMS 5 is an advanced tool that is ideal as a pledge manager for a board game studio. Support for Early Birds, Stretch Goals, credits and data import with Kickstarter make this system a one-stop solution for crowdfunding campaigns. Automated processes, data management and advanced interface features make it an indispensable tool in the booming world of board games.
ICEberg CMS 5 is a modern and comprehensive crowdfunding campaign management tool that acts as a Pledge Manager (PM). For board game studios, this means not only effective order management, but also full control over campaign configuration, product offerings and customer service. Below, we look at how the system is used and what benefits it offers to both users and owners of Pledge Manager.
Credit and disposal of products
One of the key aspects of ICEberg CMS 5 is the flexibility in managing user orders. The system allows products to be removed from an order, resulting in the automatic conversion of the amount paid into credits. Users can then use these credits to purchase other products or apply for cash refunds.
Initially, refunds will be handled manually, but it is planned to introduce automatic refund procedures, which will significantly streamline the customer service process and reduce the administrative burden on the games studio.
Campaign and product configuration
ICEberg CMS 5 offers a wide range of campaign configurations, adapting to different tax rules and delivery zones depending on campaign characteristics. Key features include:
- Modifying prices at the campaign level - the system allows the prices of products within a campaign to be changed, regardless of list prices.
- Adding products as rewards and add-ons - products can be assigned to campaigns as rewards (Rewards) or add-ons (Add-ons), allowing for flexible offer management.
- Product visibility management - owners can control the publication status and indexing of products in Google, which affects their availability and visibility on the web.
- Configuration of sales options - it is possible to specify whether a product can be purchased separately, as well as setting time limits for promotional offers.
Handling product descriptions and media
To increase the attractiveness of the presented products, ICEberg CMS 5 enables detailed configuration of the content:
- Adding short descriptions - displayed on the product tiles, facilitating quick familiarisation with the offer.
- Detailed product information - presented in the full product preview, allowing users to see product features in detail.
- Optimised images in AVIF format - a modern graphic format allows images to be displayed in high quality with minimal data consumption.
New functionalities and planned improvements
ICEberg CMS 5 is a dynamically developing system, with further enhancements planned in the near future:
- Mass actions on products - Pledge Manager owners will be able to make collective changes to product parameters, such as tax settings.
- Assigning products to multiple campaigns - this feature will avoid duplicating the same items in the system and increase the flexibility of offer management.
- Improvements to add-ons management - global tagging of add-on types is planned, making it easier to organise and control sales.
Korzyści dla użytkowników i Studia Gier (właścicieli Pledge Managera)
For Users:
- Ability to edit orders and use credits flexibly.
- Intuitive interface for order and payment management.
- Improved transparency and control over purchased products.
For Pledge Manager owners:
- Full control over campaign configuration, pricing and product availability.
- Automation of refund processes and product management.
- Ability to optimise sales through better visibility and control of the offer.
Summary
ICEberg CMS 5 is a powerful tool for board game studios to effectively manage campaigns, orders and user interaction. With its flexible configuration, state-of-the-art functionality and planned enhancements, the system is becoming a key component in the implementation of crowdfunding campaigns.
Pledge Manager owners can enjoy greater control over sales and process automation, while users enjoy a convenient and intuitive way to manage their orders. In the future, the development of functionality and the automation of key processes will make ICEberg CMS 5 an even more competitive solution in the crowdfunding campaign management market.
