An Algorithmic User Choosen Base Package?

David Roberts

I was wondering about the possibility of creating an algorithmic customisable Base Package interface for the Logos website.

Where there are predefined possibilities created by Logos, if a user would click on a starter package, they'd get a certain amount of points to spend on resources. Adding resources not created by Logos would obviously cost more points, and the resources from various publishers would each have their own value system. The first page would show possible Datasets, then you proceed to Interactive Media etc. but basically if there was an algorithmic ordering system, once programmed, all Logos would have to do is sit back while users created the Base Package that best meets their needs. Users would see how some resources eat up their allotted points faster than others and could preview the order before proceeding. Users could spend a lot of time working out precisely what best meets their needs, but no human time at Logos would be taken up dealing with the customers because it would essentially be A.I.

I'm asking about this because I have a pastor friend who would really benefit from this.
Best regards,
David R.

Justin Gatlin

I do think this would be very nice. If it existed,  I would definitely take advantage of it and try to use it to sell other people on the software.  A couple of difficulties.  One,  this is a major programming project (even if you could somehow automate the conversion from price/publisher/public domain status ) to assign a point value.  Faithlife would need a strong incentive to do this.  Two,  I don't think they have one.  I cannot imagine this driving up sales on base packages enough to compensate for the fact that part of the point of base packages is to (cynically) sell you royalty free resources you don't need to create an overall higher discount/(positively) connect you with resources to make connections you don't even know about yet. The,  there are certainly special contract terms required for the lower price per unit in base packages. To negotiate these with the entire catalogue might be difficult.  To restrict the "choose your own" to the items already in base packages might take away some of the sweetness. Last,  custom packages may be an issue for dynamic pricing exploitation.  When I've got more time than money, I might go and (already owning a higher base package) create a package including all books I already own except the one I really intend to buy, to get the one new book at a steep discount. I don't know how up could really prevent that,  except to introduce an arbitrary minimum price and reject already owned books once that is attained. 

I think a modification of your idea which may be more workable is a create your own pathway that goes by category. After you pick price level: First screen: are you interested in commentaries,  theology,  liturgy, history or original language tools? Second screen: Great. We will help you build a base package, customized to your Bible Study needs, with a wealth of commentaries.  Since you chose the Gold Level(change), start out by selecting ten devotional commentaries from the list below. 

That way,  you can make the list from the resources on the denominational base package, still get some customization and avoid a lot of the work,  since things are already categorized by type.