Marketing & Sales News

Strategic Alliance Aims to Expand the Reach of NFL Shop and Generate Additional Sales of NFL-Licensed Merchandise

WEST CHESTER, Pa., NEW YORK, and KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., QVC, one of the largest multimedia retailers in the world, in association with the National Football League (NFL) and GSI Commerce Inc.(R)(Nasdaq: GSIC), a leading provider of E-Commerce solutions, have entered into a strategic alliance to create a new, multichannel marketing opportunity for NFL-licensed products.

Under terms of the agreement, QVC will become the NFL's "official television retailer" and will host NFL-themed shows as part of its television programming. The QVC programming will "kick off" with the start of the 2007 football season and include the playoffs and Super Bowl. Leveraging the successful E-Commerce partnership GSI has established with the NFL for operating NFLShop.com, GSI becomes the exclusive provider of NFL-licensed merchandise to QVC. GSI's distribution network will fulfill product orders received from purchases generated from QVC's telecasts and through QVC's Web store.

Utility Customer Information System Solution Keeps Information Flowing Smoothly
Orlando, FL CIS Conference 31 Booth #627 - Mincom, a global software solutions provider to asset-intensive industries, announced today that the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) has selected Mincom Customer Watch to replace its legacy billing and Customer Information system (CIS). This multi-million dollar deal follows on from Mincom's recent acquisition of the Customer Information and billing systems business of US utility solutions developer, Conversant, including its Customer Watch CIS solution.

EBMUD is a publicly owned utility that serves a population of 1.3 million in Alameda and Contra Costa counties on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay. The District supplies water to 29 communities in the East Bay, including Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, and Walnut Creek and provides wastewater treatment services to eight of the cities in its service area. By implementing Mincom Customer Watch, EBMUD will have the latest Technology and real-time access to customer and asset information to improve Customer Service and to better manage its billing and service operations.

Allows residential consumers to better manage energy bills.

Orlando, FLA CIS Conference - Mincom, a leading global software solutions provider to asset intensive industries, announced today that PowerCentsDCTM has selected its AMI-enabled Customer Information system (CIS) software solution for an advanced 'smart' meter project managed by Smart Meter Pilot Program (SMPPI), a non-profit corporation in Washington D.C.

The project, known as PowerCentsDC(TM), is the first of its kind in the electric utility industry to test the response of residential customers to three different pricing options of hourly pricing, critical peak pricing, and critical peak rebates under one program and promises to greatly benefit consumers in the District of Columbia. Under the trial program, residential consumers are able to take advantage of demand-response pricing to better control their electricity charges by choosing to use less power during peak periods.

Showcased at CIS Conference 31 Booth #627

Orlando, FL (CIS Conference) -Mincom, a global software solutions provider to asset-intensive industries, today announced the launch of Mincom Smart Billing, a cost-effective, AMI-enabled solution for dynamic pricing, billing and customer relationship management.

The launch of the new solution offering is in response to the increased deployment of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), or 'smart' metering, which is fundamentally changing the way Customer Information Systems (CIS) must operate.

Mincom Vice President, Stan Royal, said, "Smart metering requires smart billing. Smart meters, smart thermostats and consumer web services are opening a new channel of communication between energy providers and their residential customers for timely usage, pricing and billing information."

J.D. Power Winning Utility Selects SAP to Maintain Outstanding Customer Service and Facilitate Emerging Business Needs

ORLANDO, Fla. - SAP America, Inc., a subsidiary of SAP AG (NYSE: SAP), today announced that E.ON U.S, which owns and operates Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, has selected SAP software to support its Customer Care System (CCS) Project, the utility’s largest ever IT transformation project. The CCS Project will see the replacement of the company’s disparate legacy customer systems to create a strategic foundation for excellence in Customer Service and emerging business needs. E.ON U.S. will use applications from the SAP® for Utilities solution portfolio, aligned around SAP’s enterprise Service Oriented Architecture (Enterprise SOA), to maintain outstanding customer satisfaction and improve the effectiveness of managerial reporting. The announcement was made at the CIS Conference 31, being held in Orlando, Florida, May 21-24.

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. Oracle today announced that Oracle's Siebel Field Service has been positioned in the Leaders Quadrant in this year's Gartner Magic Quadrant 2007 for Field Service Management.1
The Gartner Magic Quadrant provides guidance for organizations that are seeking to purchase, replace or upgrade their field service management solutions. According to Gartner, vendors in the leaders quadrant "demonstrate market strength and have the ability to affect market trends in all categories of the criteria on which they are evaluated, and users of the software feel they are gaining a competitive advantage over others in their industry."

Strengthened Software and Services Partnership Bridges Gap Between ERP and CRM
Tempe, Ariz. and INDIANAPOLIS, — Camisa Technologies, Inc., a leader in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and services industry, and Consona ERP, a leading provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software and services for small and midsize discrete manufacturers, have entered a partnership that delivers a strengthened integration between Made2Manage® ERP and Sage SalesLogix, a CRM front-office system from Sage Software.

Camisa Connect, the name for the new integration offering, was developed by experienced integration specialists working directly with current Made2Manage customers. The new partnership formalizes and expands an ongoing relationship between Camisa and Consona that began three years ago when the original integration, targeted toward manufacturers with complex sales, support, and service operations, was built.

Syndmail, Built on Pivotal CRM Platform, Provides Integrated Solution for Sales and Marketing Lead Generation
ATLANTA, HONG KONG, —CDC Software, a wholly owned subsidiary of CDC Corporation (NASDAQ: CHINA) and a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software applications and consulting services, today announced the acquisition of Syndmail, an email marketing and communication solution, from Red Clay Consulting, entirely built using the Pivotal CRM tool set.

This add-on product is designed for companies wanting to execute simple, targeted and effective email campaigns with their Pivotal CRM solution. Customers looking for a solution to manage more complex, multi-channel enterprise marketing campaigns can utilize CDC MarketFirst, an Adaptive marketing automation and lead management solution that is sold as a stand-alone solution and is also fully integrated with Pivotal CRM.

Site Designed to Quickly and Easily Guide Avnet's Partners Through Developing Enterprise Mobility Solutions and Educate Them on Technology and Service Options

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Avnet Technology Solutions, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) and a distributor focused on enterprise computer products and embedded subsystems, today unveiled an online store for enterprise mobility solutions, which can be accessed at www.avnet.com/mobility/. Avnet developed the online store to help independent software vendor (ISV), original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and value-added reseller (VAR) partners efficiently view and purchase enterprise mobility solutions, as well as educate them on a variety of optional accessories and services that will augment customer sales. Featuring enterprise mobility technologies such as barcode scanners, mobile computers, printers, RFID solutions, and wireless networking solutions, the new online store includes real-time inventory information on products from leading manufacturers such as Motorola, Intermec, HandHeld Products and Printronix.

World-Class Retailer Finds Long-Term, Strategic Partner in #1 Retail Software Company

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Abercrombie & Fitch has entered into a strategic partnership with Oracle(r) Retail to create a multi-year deployment plan to enable its strategy for long-term business growth and continued retail leadership, Oracle announced today. As part of the agreement, Abercrombie & Fitch has purchased Oracle Retail's best-in-class merchandising, planning, Supply Chain and stores solutions while also licensing Oracle Technology and back office capabilities.
The retailer's historical approach to information systems relied heavily on legacy systems with the selective deployment of best-of-breed point solutions to address specific needs. Abercrombie & Fitch's executive leadership recognized that in order to sustain and build on the company's market leadership an enterprise approach to its retail systems was required.

New edition addresses customer lifecycle with addition of customer support
Dublin, CA ,FrontRange Solutions, an established global market leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), IT Service Management and Voice applications for the mid-market, today confirmed the availability of GoldMine® Premium Edition (PE). This new edition of the award-winning GoldMine product line (www.goldmine.com) provides a common platform for sales force automation, direct marketing, Customer Service and CRM, which offers small and mid-size businesses with a cohesive approach to the full customer lifecycle.

SAP to Offer Multi-Channel IP-Based Contact Center Solution;

Will Integrate Communication Processes into Customer Service

Vienna, Austria - In a move that will enable companies to streamline and improve the agility of their customer-facing processes, SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today announced the acquisition of Wicom Communications, a leading, privately-held provider of all-IP contact center and enterprise communications software based in Espoo, Finland. The acquisition will enable SAP to offer companies the ability to better integrate communications technologies and business systems so that they can more effectively serve their customers, regardless of how they connect to the business; connecting functions such as customer service, marketing, finance and sales; and making sure that all customer-facing employees wherever they are located have access to the same Relevant knowledge and data. Founded in 1999, Wicom delivers concrete business benefits for approximately 200 contact centers and contact-intensive multi-sited enterprises in 18 countries. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The announcement was made at SAPPHIRE® ’07, SAP’s international customer conference, being held in Vienna, Austria, May 14 – 16.

Online Store Represents GSI’s Third for a Zale Corporation Brand

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., – Gordon’s Jewelers has launched its website as a feature-rich online store designed to make online jewelry shopping an engaging and smooth process for its customers. The new webstore (www.gordonsjewelers.com) was designed and is operated by Gordon’s E-Commerce platform partner GSI Commerce Inc. (Nasdaq: GSIC), a leading provider of E-Commerce solutions, as part of GSI’s multiyear agreement with parent Zale Corporation (NYSE: ZLC). The webstore includes parametric search, parametric navigation, and RSS for discounts and other specials. In addition to E-Commerce Technology and support of Gordon’s multichannel initiatives, GSI is currently providing Gordon’s with customer care, drop-shipment management, and affiliate marketing services. For a limited time, Gordon’s will offer a free two-day shipping option through its webstore.

Mobile entertainment provider is extending its enterprise Data Warehouse into marketing to enhance communication with their customers

DAYTON, Ohio – Teradata, a division of NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), announced today that Amp’d Mobile, the pioneer of integrated mobile entertainment targeting youth and young adults, has selected Teradata’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application.

In the first phase of the project, Amp’d Mobile integrated 10 sources of operational data into its enterprise data warehouse. This application will allow the company’s marketing team to enhance customers’ experience with Amp’d Mobile by segmenting customers and creating multichannel campaigns based on customer behavior. Mobile data such as ring tones, games, and videos will soon be available at the subscriber level. Amp’d Mobile plans to integrate handset and Web site information in the future.

Singapore –- Analog Devices Inc. has named Avnet Electronics Marketing, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), as its first pan-Asian distributor. The distribution agreement extends the existing arrangements, which already include China and India, to cover the Asia Pacific region.

'Avnet Electronics Marketing is pleased to have been recognised as Analog Devices' first ever pan-Asian distributor, which echoes our commitment to the region. It also demonstrates that our focus and capability on delivering 'support across the board’ as a global distribution leader is fully acknowledged by our supplier partner,' said Stephen Wong, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing Asia.

Enables partners to address growing market demand for network and endpoint IT security solutions

Sydney, Australia -- Avnet Technology Solutions, a value-added distributor of enterprise computing products, software and services, and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) and SurfControl plc (London:SRF.L), a leading provider of global on-demand, network and endpoint IT security solutions, today announced a new distribution agreement. Under the agreement, Avnet will distribute and provide pre sales services and support for all of SurfControl’s web and e-mail security solutions to value-added reseller partners in Australia and New Zealand. General Manager for Avnet Technology Solutions Australia, Gavin Lawless, noted, “This is a significant opportunity for Avnet Australia as it represents the first agreement of this kind for Avnet in the world with SurfControl. Avnet Technology Solutions is a vital link between the industry’s Premier Technology manufacturers and hundreds of solution providers serving mid-market businesses working with SurfControl will allow us to reinforce this link,” said Lawless. SurfControl’s National Partner Manager Daniel Crnkovich said the distribution deal would give more partners access to SurfControl’s new on-demand web and e-mail security services, MailControl and WebDefense.

New CRM Release Delivers Enhanced Usability, Streamlines Business Processes and Increases Operational Efficiencies

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Oracle today announced the availability of the new CRM applications for Oracle(r) E-Business Suite Release 12. Delivered as part of Oracle's "Applications Unlimited" program, the company's long-term plans to provide continued enhancements to current Oracle Applications, Oracle's new CRM applications optimize the value and cost-of-ownership of CRM by enabling customers to streamline business processes, increase user adoption, provide greater Insight into customer trends and increase operational efficiency.

HOUSTON – SolArc, Inc., a leading provider of supply, trading and risk management solutions for global commodities companies, announced today that Enogex has selected the SolArc RightAngle solution to manage their natural gas liquids supply, transportation and marketing.

“Enogex represents a growing adoption by a majority of energy companies managing their business with a supply, trading and risk management solution,” said Brad Anderson, SolArc’s CEO. “We believe there are significant cash flow and working capital benefits for companies that manage their supply and trading activities with one integrated solution. Enogex will be able to capture these benefits and reduce their IT infrastructure costs that support supply and trading operations.”

Technology Marketing Corporation Honors Epicor for Proven Success in Delivering Effective Customer Relationship Management Solutions

IRVINE, Calif., — Epicor Software Corporation (NASDAQ: EPIC), a leading provider of enterprise business software solutions for the midmarket and divisions of the Global 1000, announced today that it has been awarded the CRM Excellence award from Customer Inter@ction Solutions magazine for the fifth year.

Technology Marketing Corporation’s (TMC®) Customer Interaction Solutions® magazine (www.cismag.com) implemented the CRM Excellence Awards eight years ago as a way of recognizing the companies that have proven to be true CRM partners to their clients.

NetSuite, Inc., the leader in on-demand business management software, announced today that its product NetSuite was selected by ISM Inc., Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and eCustomer strategic advisors, as a Real Time CRM Software Award winner for 2007.For more information about NetSuite's awards please visit : www.netsuite.com/awards.

The Real Time CRM Awards were introduced last year in response to the dramatic impact real-time CRM applications have on the way customer-facing personnel work. To identify the 2007 winners, ISM's Software Lab staff tested the real-time capabilities of many software applications against nine criteria, three additional criteria from last year.

NCR Copient and Teradata applications provide closed-loop solution to improve delivery of offers to shoppers at the checkout

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer, a family-owned chain of 177 superstores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, has deployed a new marketing tool that optimizes delivery of individualized promotional offers to Meijer customers.

Provided by NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) and Teradata, a division of NCR, the Enterprise Offer Management solution includes NCR's Copient Logix software and Teradata Customer Relationship Management (CRM), an analytical software portfolio.

PHOENIX -- Electronic components distributor Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), and Weidmuller, a leading manufacturer of industrial electronics and electrical connection technology, today announce a new distribution agreement. Under the new pact, Avnet will distribute Weidmuller's customer-oriented product portfolio of control and automation connectivity solutions including PCB and DIN terminal blocks and electronic interface products in North America.

Weidmuller's products are designed and developed to simplify wiring installations, speed assembly and ease maintenance. This is accomplished with modular electrical components that lower manufacturing costs. 'By teaming with Avnet our customers benefit from their world class Logistics and technical support services complimented by Weidmuller's innovative solutions,' said Brian Schofner, president of Weidmuller North America. 'Combining the two establishes an unprecedented ability to deliver products and services to meet the emerging needs of our customers consistently around the world.'

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Oracle's Siebel CRM On Demand today was named a "Leader" in the latest Forrester Wave Evaluation: Sales Force Automation Suites, Q2 April 2007. It achieved status as a leader based on its quick time-to-value, strong usability and low upfront costs. Status as a Leader was contingent upon Siebel CRM On Demand performance across approximately 136 criteria in the sales force automation sector. Forrester also names all of Oracle's CRM Suites as "A Leader" in this recent report see - http://www.oracle.com/corporate/press/2007_may/forrester-sfa-07.html
As the use of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is becoming mainstream, organizations are increasingly seeking software such as Oracle's Siebel CRM On Demand. According to the report, "Siebel CRM On Demand provides strong support for automating sales processes in an easy-to-use, low risk, quick deployment SaaS model. Additionally, firms can operate the Siebel CRM On Demand solution as part of a hybrid strategy that includes Siebel on-premise or other Oracle products, and migrate from SaaS to on-premise without having to switch vendors."

Expands Hosting Services to Over 5,000 Locations Worldwide

Milwaukee, WI and Orlando, FL - RedPrairie Corporation, a world leading consumer driven optimization company, announced today that it is offering in-house hosting services for its StorePerform Workbench solution. The hosting option enables companies to deploy the store execution management application more quickly, with lower up-front capital expense and reduced IT personnel needs to support the application. The on-demand hosted model places tier-one store execution management capabilities within the reach of smaller retailers and offers an alternative, cost-effective solution for larger companies.

Data warehouse-driven relationship management portfolio provides enterprise-class analytics and sophisticated customer contact Technology

DAYTON, Ohio — Teradata, a division of NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), the global leader in data warehouse-driven enterprise analytics, announced today that UK-based Norwich Union, an Aviva company and the world's fifth-largest insurance group, has selected Teradata to provide the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software required to manage its Customer Value Management (CVM) Program.

Norwich Union selected Teradata CRM modules Communication Manager and Communication Director as well as Teradata Professional Services and the Financial Services Logical Data Model. This agreement extends the existing relationship with Teradata that recently developed the data warehousing platform to support Norwich Union's innovative and rapidly growing "Pay As You Drive" insurance product initiative.