New: WineDirect & Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

If you are a Google Analytics user, you may have observed that Google Analytics 4 will replace Universal Analytics. As of July 1, 2023, Universal Analytics properties will no longer handle data. However, you can still access your Universal Analytics reports for a limited time after July 1, 2023. Note that incoming data will only be directed to Google Analytics 4 properties.

New Google Analytics 4 Integration

We are excited to introduce the new WineDirect integration for Google Analytics 4 (GA4). WineDirect integration for GA4 is now live and enabled by default for all wineries. With this integration, you can seamlessly connect your WineDirect account with GA4, allowing you to track and analyze key metrics related to your winery. By leveraging the power of GA4, you will gain deeper insights into customer behavior, marketing effectiveness, and overall performance.

 

Setup

We have prepared a comprehensive step-by-step guide to get started with the WineDirect integration. You can find this guide on the WineDirect documentation site, which provides detailed instructions on how to set up and configure the integration to ensure smooth data flow between WineDirect and GA4.

ADDITIONAL CONTEXT

Check out this blog from our friends at WineGlass Marketing about updating your Google Analytics.

Support

We value your feedback and are committed to continuously improving our services. If you have any questions, suggestions, or issues during the integration process, please don't hesitate to contact our dedicated support team at support@winedirect.com. We are here to assist you every step of the way.

New: Zeamster Payment Gateway Enhancements

Update 5/9/2023: We ran into issues deploying Zeamster Enhancements and have rolled back the changes. We are reviewing it and will let clients know before we rerelease it. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

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As part of our commitment to continually improving the winery experience, we are excited to announce enhancements to the Zeamster (Fortis) payment gateway. We have reprogrammed the entire payments integration to improve transaction reliability for WineDirect clients. This massive overhaul will bring new behavior, such as Zeamster credential validation, multi-merchant functionality, and added account sections (location/product transaction) on POS. We've made several improvements and fixes to the payment processing system.

Here are the key benefits:

• Orders are now easier to manage in SiteAdmin
• The EMV and VivoPay terminals now process payments more efficiently, which means faster transactions and less data sent
• We've added new features to prevent duplicate orders and to keep track of transactions more accurately
• The overall Javascript logic has been improved

And here are the bugs we've fixed:

• Duplicate and missing orders have been eliminated
• We can now retrieve the proper Location ID
• Camera capture for purchases now works correctly
• EMV terminal timeout messaging fixed

We plan to deploy Zeamster refactoring ____ and it will be automatically enabled. There may be some manual configuration for some wineries. There will be instructions in the application.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Use Zeamster (Fortis) as your default gateway

Not yet using Zeamster/WineDirect Payments? Sign up here.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at support@winedirect.com.

Update: Temecula Valley Wine & Agricultural Heritage District Tax

On April 1, 2021, a hybrid tax was implemented for all wineries within the Temecula Valley Wine & Agricultural Heritage District (TVWAHD). This five-year term stipulates that 1% of all gross sales be funneled into advertising for the valley.

If your winery is based in the Temecula region, you must collect the TVWAHD tax. We have recently enhanced our application to allow the collection of this tax. This tax will be applied on top of other applicable taxes. In addition, the TVWAHD itself is subject to sale tax. Please see the instructions below on how to enable it.

How to Enable TVWAHD Tax:

• Start by logging into the admin panel and clicking on Settings > Website Settings. Click on the Store tab and expand the “State Profile” section to access the following screen:

• Add “TVWAHD” and select the “Is TVWAHD?” checkbox 
• Then, navigate to Store > State Profile and select California. Click Edit in the Wines section and set the tax rate for the TVWAHD 

• Customers will now see this tax applied when they checkout their order 

If you have any questions, please get in touch with support@winedirect.com.

We're Upgrading Your Support Experience

We are excited to announce enhancements to your support experience at WineDirect! With the new support tools, you can expect a seamless and fast support experience. Your inquiries will be routed directly to the best person available to assist, providing you with quick and accurate solutions.

Key Benefits:

• Streamlined user experience 
• Centralized hub for all support interactions
• Faster resolution time since our team can collaborate seamlessly

The new support tools bring you the convenience of getting help right where you need it - directly within the WineDirect platform. To get started now, simply click on the pink chat bubble in the bottom-right corner of this page. Keep your eyes peeled on the WineDirect Administration Panel, as well, as we will be rolling this feature out to wineries in the coming days.

As part of this upgrade, access to the legacy ticketing system will be discontinued. Archived tickets will remain accessible to clients through March 1st, 2023. Should you wish to back up the details of any support tickets, simply access the legacy support portal from the WineDirect Administration Panel: Click Support>View All Cases>Click on any case 'Detail' button and screenshot the relevant information.

We are confident that this upgrade will bring you a more efficient and satisfying support experience, and we can't wait for you to try it out. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at support@winedirect.com.

New Feature: Stronger Password Policy for Winery Customers

Online security continues to be a top concern for wineries. WineDirect is always looking at the latest security trends to keep wineries and their customers safe.

We are excited to announce our new, more secure password policy for your winery customers. Having a strong and unique password can drastically help protect them against malicious attempts. New passwords must:

• Be at least 12 characters long.
• Contain letters, numbers and special characters (~!@#$%^&*_-+=`|\(){}[]:;"'<>,.?/)

This update will only affect new passwords created for new users or users who change their password or edit their profile; current passwords will not be affected.

Here is where the new password policy is live and where it is planned to be implemented next.

Phase One (currently live):

• Front-end websites
• Forgot password
• Edit profile

Phase Two (ETA: Q1 2023):

• Point-of-Sale (POS)

Please check our security documentation for more information about WineDirect's security measures.

Update: WineDirect Platform Stability - December 2022

The 2022 Holidays were busy for wineries. WineDirect is delighted to report almost zero downtime across all our applications! Our commitment to platform stability has never been stronger as we understand how crucial continuous uptime is for your winery. From your website to point of sale, having reliable connectivity is critical for the day-to-day activities you rely on to sell DTC.

We are pleased to provide the following summary report on application uptime for December 2022:

“For wineries, the holiday season is the most critical time of year. Our engineering team and automated systems enabled our clients to get through this busy season without downtime, even during peak hours. We remain dedicated to constructing a strong and dependable platform for all wineries.” 

- Edwin Lo, WineDirect Product Owner

Thank you for trusting us with your DTC operations. Check out the WineDirect Status page for the latest up-to-date system status.

New: Strong Cyber Weekend Results for 2022

The post-Thanksgiving weekend is such a key time for wineries, with everyone pulling together to reach their sales goals while providing a great experience for consumers. Despite challenging market conditions, your hard work paid off. While sales declined compared to last years' post pandemic spending sprees, same-store sales across all DTC channels increased +6% compared to 2020 and a strong +20% compared to pre-pandemic 2019. 

 

WineDirect Platform Stability: Black Friday Through Cyber Monday

Our Classic platform performance also continued to be a standout - our continuing commitment to enhancing our architecture has resulted in lightning-fast transaction speed and stability, even in the face of extremely high demand.

These enhancements are just the beginning of what's in store as we count down the days until All-New WineDirect is available for all wineries in early 2023. We are incredibly grateful to have you join us for this next step forward. 🥂 

You're Protected - OpenSSL Security Vulnerability

Here at WineDirect, providing a secure platform for wineries and their clients is a top priority. We have recently become aware of possible vulnerability issues with OpenSSL. OpenSSL is one of the most widely used technologies that allows information technology systems to communicate securely.

There is no risk for WineDirect clients. In less than 24 hours, we have finished reviewing all services and can confirm we are 100% in the clear. This includes all platforms such as fulfillment, ecommerce, etc.

We will continue to monitor the situation and share updates promptly. We appreciate your support in achieving our shared objective of top-notch performance across our whole platform. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to hello@winedirect.com.

 

Thank you, Kalani Keala Chief Information & Security Officer, CISO Kalani.Keala@winedirect.com

WineDirect Point-of-Sale App Now Compatible With iOS 16 and iPadOS 16

After extensive testing, we're delighted to announce that WineDirect's Point-of-Sale App is fully compatible with iOS 16 and iPad OS 16. Once you've reviewed the following requirements, feel free to update your tasting room devices.

Please double-check your specific device's compatibility by reviewing Apple's compatibility pages to guarantee a smooth transfer. Before installing, ensure your device(s) are compatible with iOS 16. The latest OS may not work with some older machines. Here is the current list of compatible devices.

iOS 16 compatible devices:

iPhone 14	iPhone 12 Pro Max	iPhone 8
iPhone 14 Plus	iPhone 1	iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro	iPhone 11 Pro	iPhone SE (3rd generation)
iPhone 13	iPhone 11 Pro Max	iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPhone 13 mini	iPhone XS
iPhone 13 Pro	iPhone XS Max
iPhone 13 Pro Max	iPhone XR
iPhone 12	iPhone X

 

iPadOS 16 compatible devices:

iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)	iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)	iPad (6th generation)
iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)	iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)	iPad (5th generation)
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)	iPad Pro 10.5-inch	iPad mini (6th generation)
iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)	iPad Pro 9.7-inch	iPad mini (5th generation)
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)	iPad (10th generation)	iPad Air (5th generation)
iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)	iPad (9th generation)	iPad Air (4th generation)
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)	iPad (8th generation)	iPad Air (3rd generation)
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)	iPad (7th generation)

New: Additional Security Features

Online security is a top concern for wineries. WineDirect is leading the charge for having one of the industry's most secure ecommerce solutions and is continuously looking to improve the platform experience for wineries and customers.

We are happy to announce two new additional security features to help your wineries against malicious attacks when it comes to the backend (Auth0) of your store:

• Brute-force Protection – Helps safeguard against a single IP address attacking a single user account. When the same IP address tries and fails multiple times (for example, 10 times) to log in as the same user, brute-force protection: sends an email to the winery and blocks the suspicious IP from logging in as that user
• Breached Password Detection – It helps detect if a specific user's credentials were included in a major public security breach and will notify the winery and block that user from signing in

These features are already automatically enabled for all WineDirect stores. You will be notified by email if there are any malicious attacks with someone trying to log into your store.

As The Winery's Champion, it's crucial that we do everything possible to provide a seamless and safe checkout experience for wineries. We will continuously review and frequently evolve security policies, practices, and infrastructure. Thank you for your ongoing support!