We are excited to share new Connex Florida platform updates coming March 30, 2022!
Connex Florida will soon offer a fully updated user interface designed to make it even easier for manufacturers to connect with in-state suppliers, access the national Connex Marketplace, and attract more local and national attention to their capabilities. Please see the below FAQs to help answer any questions you may have.
If you have further questions, please contact Connex@FloridaMakes.com.
FAQs
What updates are included in the new user interface?
Prior to this update, manufacturers have been able to access suppliers within Connex Florida through the state level platform but expanding search results to national suppliers required access to a separate platform known as the Manufacturers Marketplace. We have been working closely with the platform developers to combine the two platforms to provide a better experience for Connex Florida users. The new single platform, known as Connex Marketplace, includes a new layout that will offer manufacturers who use both systems seamless navigation between state and national searches while allowing them to only update one profile.
Will the New Version Have a Different Name?
Within our state, Connex Florida will still be provided as the cloud-based, Industry 4.0 platform, to connect all Florida manufacturers and suppliers into a single, accurate, searchable supply-chain database. If you are accessing Connex Florida from outside of the state, or your business has locations outside of Florida, you may see the platform referred to as “CONNEX Marketplace” or one of the many other state instance names such as Connex Florida, Connex Kansas, or Connex Michigan.
What New Features Will be Included & How Will They Benefit My Business?
Initial Connex Florida and CONNEX Marketplace updates will include new and improved features such as:
- Improved user interface with easier and more intuitive navigation
- For manufacturers using both Connex Florida and the national Connex Marketplace, supplier searches will be combined into one single platform.
- Manufacturers using both Connex Florida and the national Connex Marketplace will only need to enter their data into one location to automatically have it populated into the other.
- Access to see and respond to listings in other states all within a single platform (*with national access subscription)
When Will I See the Updated Version?
These updates will go live in Connex Florida and the Connex Marketplace platform on March 30, 2022.Will There be Any Downtime or Outages?
Yes. It is anticipated that the current system will be down for two (2) days on March 28th and 29th prior to the new system going live on March 30th. There will also be a new data freeze beginning on March 18th where updates to your profile will not be saved as we transition the platform to its new interface.What Do I Need to Do to Prepare for the Update?
Nothing! Your account and data will automatically transfer to the new platform. Current subscriptions will not be affected, including promotions and free trials that you may have subscribed to.Will there be any changes to the login process/my login information?
Yes, to reduce issues related to having multiple users with similar names across a nationally integrated platform, users will now use their email address as a username. Because Connex Florida highly values the security of your data, we cannot access your encrypted password. As we transfer data into the updated Connex Florida you and your team members will need to set new passwords to access the updated platform. Simply login to Connex Florida on March 30th using your email as your username and follow the prompts to create a new password.Will there be any additional costs associated with the updated platform?
No. Connex Florida remains free to Florida manufacturers. If you had previously subscribed to the national Manufacturers Marketplace ($500), your access will remain intact in the updated Connex Marketplace.Will My Current Discount Codes Still Work with the New Platform?
Yes, if you subscribed to the national Manufacturers Marketplace during a state promotion or using a discount code, your discount will remain intact throughout the life of the promotion.What does it mean that national and state platforms will be combined?
Prior to this update, manufacturers have been able to access suppliers within Connex Florida through the state level platform but expanding search results to national suppliers required access to a separate platform known as the Manufacturers Marketplace. We have been working closely with the platform developers to combine the two platforms to provide a better experience for Connex Florida users. The new single platform, known as Connex Marketplace, includes a new layout that will offer manufacturers who use both systems seamless navigation between state and national searches while allowing them to only update one profile.
The new combined user interface will make it easier for users to seamlessly search both the state and national databases.
Will there be more updates to Connex Florida and the Connex Marketplace?
Yes! However, because our developers are combining our local Connex Florida with the Connex Marketplace in a new user interface this update will allow for greater scalability of the platform and new features to be added without experiencing future downtime or outages.
Will I still be able to expand my supplier search to the national database in the updated system?
Yes, because the platform has been updated to seamlessly integrate both state and national access, if your organization has subscribed to national access, you will see both state and national suppliers in your Search results relevant to the search parameters you have included. If you are not subscribed to the national functionality of the Connex Marketplace, you will only see results from within the Connex Florida system.