Customer Relationship Management News

New Generation of CRM Projects Calls for Organization-Wide Perspective and More Flexible and Innovative Software Platforms

INDIANAPOLIS — February 6, 2008 — Consona CRM, a leading provider of total customer management solutions for the enterprise, today announced its sponsorship of a research paper entitled, "Far-sighted Pragmatism: the Third Wave of Customer Management," written by Webster Buchanan Research's Keith Rodgers and David Longworth. The study presents a new approach to total customer management (TCM), combining the early vision of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) with the practicalities of execution needed to generate results in today's CRM initiatives.

Software and Services Company Announces Record Revenue and Customer Satisfaction Levels; Implements Organizational Changes to Prep for Continued Growth in 2008

INDIANAPOLIS — February 19, 2008 — Consona Corporation (Consona), a leading provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and services for the enterprise, today reported record revenue and customer satisfaction levels for the year ended December 31, 2007.

In 2007, Consona delivered a 64 percent increase in total revenue over the previous year. Following a 129 percent increase in revenue between 2005 and 2006 and being named one of the top ten fastest growing software companies by Software Magazine, Consona CEO Jeff Tognoni summed up the company’s financial performance as “industry-leading.”

Winter ’08 Release and New On-Demand Analytic Applications Deliver Actionable Information to Sales, Operations, and Finance Managers

SAN MATEO, Calif.--LucidEra, the leading provider of simple-to-set-up and simple-to-use business analytics-as-a-service for sales, operations, and finance managers today announced LucidEra Winter ‘08, a major upgrade and expansion of its analytic applications. LucidEra Winter ’08 consists of three analytic applications: an enhanced LucidEra Enterprise edition, which combines and enriches transactional data from CRM, spreadsheets, and ERP applications; an expanded LucidEra for Salesforce.com, focusing specifically on Salesforce.com customers; and a new on-demand analytic application for Oracle Order Management customers (see addendum press release).

TAS Select Live! for Account Management Provides ‘Recession Proof’ Sales Growth Solution; Drives Immediate, Sustained Revenue Growth

SEATTLE, Feb. 19, 2008 – The TAS Group, the world leader in on-demand sales effectiveness solutions, today announced TAS Select Live! for Account Management (TSL! AM), the groundbreaking approach to enhancing the sales effectiveness of sales organizations for account management professionals.

TSL! AM represents the first Sales 2.0 solution for account managers. In a globally connected marketplace, where buyers are moving at Internet-speed, sales professional need on-line, on-time, and on-message sales solutions – anytime, anywhere, anyhow. TSL! AM uses the reach of the Internet to make is easier for sales professionals to build account plans, share the information in real-time with other team members and sales management, and leverage the data in corporations’ CRM systems in an easy to use, easy to access system.

VerticalResponse Inc. Whips Businesses in Three Cities into Marketing Shape

San Francisco, CA – February 5, 2008 – VerticalResponse, Inc. (www.verticalresponse.com) today announces a series of Email Marketing Workshops for key vertical markets, to teach small businesses how to maximize their online marketing campaigns. The first takes place in Austin, TX in advance of South by Southwest, where VerticalResponse will present a workshop on how comprehensive email marketing can significantly improve small business. Workshops in Denver, CO and San Francisco, CA will round out the series.

Cincinnati and Jakarta; February 11, 2008 -- Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG), a global leader in relationship management, announced today that PT Hutchison CP Telecommunications (HCPT) has gone live with Convergys’ Infinys [r] Rating and Billing solution. Infinys is integrated with HCPT’s intelligent network providing real time charging and balance management functions for all pre- and post-paid services. HCPT offers innovative and affordable mobile communication services on the GSM network to the Indonesian market and is a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecom International Limited (NYSE: HTX) (SEHK: 2332).

Cincinnati; February 14, 2008 -- Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG), a global leader in relationship management, announced today it has signed a three-year master agreement with a potential value up to $50 million, expanding its relationship with a US-based communications provider, a Fortune 500 company.

Convergys is providing the company’s high-speed Internet customers with live-agent technical support. Convergys began taking customer calls in late January.

Convergys provides innovative solutions that drive more value from our clients’ everyday interactions with their customers and employees. In delivering relationship management solutions, we are able to deploy the optimal mix of live agent and automation (speech and IVR, e-mail and Web self-service), as well as back office support to meet our clients’ performance objectives.

Cincinnati; February 19, 2008 -- Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG), a global leader in relationship management, announces the election of Thomas L. Monahan III to its Board of Directors effective February 19, 2008. Philip A. Odeen, non-executive Chairman of the Board of Convergys, made the announcement following a Board meeting held today.

Monahan, 40, became Chairman of the Corporate Executive Board (NASDAQ: EXBD) on January 1, 2008, and has served as CEO of that company since July 1, 2005.

The Corporate Executive Board is a leading provider of best practices research, performance data and analysis, and decision support tools to more than 3,700 major corporations in more than 50 countries globally, including more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500.

Cincinnati; February 20, 2008 - Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG), a global leader in relationship management, announced today the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals’ (IAOP) has selected Convergys as one of the world’s best outsourcing service providers.

The IAOP named Convergys to its annual ranking of the World’s Best Outsourcing Service Providers - The Global Outsourcing 100. The list includes the biggest and best companies from around the world that provide the full Spectrum of outsourcing services.

“We are honored to be named to this select list of global outsourcing companies," said Dave Dougherty, Convergys’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “This recognition demonstrates how well our focus on relationship management is resonating in the marketplace. With our relationship management strategy, Convergys provides business impacting solutions for our clients, helping them drive greater value from their customer relationships.”

Pivotal CRM to Be Deployed to More than 1,000 Users at CAASCO
HONG KONG, ATLANTA, February 11, 2008—CDC Software, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CDC Corporation and a provider of industry-specific enterprise software and services, announced today that the Canadian Automobile Association, South Central Ontario (CAASCO), which is the largest of nine clubs in the CAA Federation, has selected CDC Software's Pivotal CRM to provide exceptional Customer Service based on their individual needs.

The decision was made after an eight-month investigative process that was undertaken by CAASCO to increase and sustain membership levels, market the association's products and services to its diverse membership base and meet its vision of delivering first-class quality service and unparalleled member satisfaction.

Pivotal CRM for Homebuilding and Real Estate 5.9 is now generally available

ORLANDO, FL, 2008 INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS SHOW®, February 13, 2008—CDC Software, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CDC Corporation and a provider of industry-specific enterprise software and services, today announced the general availability of Pivotal CRM for Home Building and Real Estate 5.9, a major new product version that is intended to help builders increase revenue and margins on home options, while significantly reducing the cost and effort of integration with common back-end systems. Pivotal CRM for Home Building and Real Estate is an industry-specific Customer Relationship Management system (CRM) designed to help building and real estate firms manage relationships throughout the customer lifecycle. This comprehensive solution helps manage front office functions, including marketing automation, lead management, sales automation, quoting and contracting, surveying, and customer care.

Top 10 retail banking trends for contact centers
Bellevue, WA – Feb. 12, 2008 – Talisma® Corporation (www.talisma.com), the leading Customer Interaction Management (CIM) software solution provider, today announced the release of a critical white paper that explores ten of the leading trends impacting retail banking contact centers. The white paper explains how banks can successfully use contact center Technology to outperform their competition.

The white paper, “Banking in the 21st Century: 10 Trends to Leverage in the Retail Banking Contact Center” addresses many important trends including:

Customer Interaction Management leader completes another record-setting year
Bellevue, WA – Feb. 20, 2008 – Talisma® Corporation (www.talisma.com), the leading Customer Interaction Management (CIM) software solution provider, today announced that is has achieved record annual revenue, recording 53% growth in the fourth quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2006. Talisma also enters 2008 with the highest bookings backlog in company history.

Earlier in the year, Talisma released CIM 8.0, the industry leading Customer Service suite for interaction management that includes email, chat, VoIP, phone, collaboration, and Web self-service. CIM 8.0 incorporated numerous enhancements that help companies increase revenue and improve customer service, including greatly expanded proactive capabilities in both Talisma Chatand Talisma VoIP.

Boca Raton, Florida - Aplicor, Inc., a global provider of on-demand CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) hosted business software applications, today was named one of the top 12 green IT companies in IDG's Computerworld top Green-IT Companies for 2008. Computerworld recognized Aplicor for demonstrating leadership and innovation to reduce energy consumption in IT data centers and leverage Technology to conserve energy and lower carbon emissions.

In response to the award notification, Aplicor CEO, Chuck Schaeffer, said "Aplicor's GREEN Technology initiatives, collaboration with other environmentally conscience Technology companies and policy suggestions to our legislators are an integral part of our corporate culture and shared values. These efforts are part of a journey which extends well beyond the normal business performance metrics. We couldn't be any more excited than to be designated with an award which speaks to our fundamental beliefs and promotes a cause we highly value."

From the fundraising powerhouses in the Ron Paul and Mitt Romney presidential campaigns to congressional candidates and political advocacy organizations, salesforce.com's Campaignforce is transforming politics with next generation Internet technology

SAN FRANCISCO - February 4, 2008 - Salesforce.com [NYSE: CRM], the market and Technology leader in Software-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service, today announced that nearly 30 political campaigns and advocacy groups have standardized on Campaignforce: Salesforce for Political Campaigns to revolutionize how they manage their operations. From the Ron Paul and Mitt Romney presidential campaigns to Senator John Kerry, Rep. Michael McCaul in Texas, and the Indiana Republican Party, Democratic and Republican political campaigns and advocacy groups large and small, national and local are using Software-as-a-Service from Salesforce.com to bring the benefits of next generation Internet Technology to their organizations.

Intelligent Enterprise selected Salesforce.com as the Editor's Choice Award for the third year in a row for establishing the Software-as-a-Service industry

SAN FRANCISCO - February 7, 2008 - Salesforce.com [NYSE: CRM], the market and Technology leader in Software-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service, today announced that it has received a 2008 Editors' Choice Award and was named to the "Intelligent Enterprise Dozen," by CMP's Intelligent Enterprise. In naming its Award recipients, Intelligent Enterprise described Salesforce.com as "the David in an IT industry full of Goliaths," and went on to say the company had "given rise to the SaaS market almost single-handedly, whacking SAP and Oracle with a few rocks in the process." The publication also remarked that Salesforce.com "is showing the IT world what SaaS can and should be, and the entire industry has taken notice."

Featuring New Salesforce Content and Salesforce Ideas Collaboration Applications

Salesforce Spring '08 marks CRM leader's expansion to become a multi-application and multi-category leader

Multi-application leadership: Salesforce Spring '08 helps enterprises harness the innovation of web communities with Salesforce Content and Salesforce Ideas

Multi-category leadership - Force.com Development-as-a-Service is live, bringing the world's first on-demand developer tools and services to the Force.com developer community

SAN FRANCISCO - February 11, 2008 - Salesforce.com [NYSE: CRM], the market and Technology leader in Software-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service, today announced that Salesforce Spring '08 is live to more than one million Salesforce.com subscribers. Salesforce Spring '08 extends salesforce.com's CRM leadership to become a multi-application leader with breakthrough innovations for its two newest applications - Salesforce Content and Salesforce Ideas. The 25th generation release also marks salesforce.com's evolution to become a multi-category company with Force.com Development-as-a-Service now live, bringing the world's first on-demand developer tools and services to the Salesforce.com community.

Accenture selected as business planning and implementation partner

Salesforce.com Platform-as-a-Service enables Accenture to build new custom applications entirely on demand

AMSTERDAM - February 12, 2008 - Salesforce.com [NYSE: CRM], the market and Technology leader in Software-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service, today announced that Priority Telecom, a division of UPC Broadband, the Netherlands, has chosen to deploy multiple applications from Software-as-a-Service leader salesforce.com, with Accenture as its business planning and implementation partner. Leveraging the entire suite of Salesforce Software-as-a-Service CRM applications, Priority Telecom expects to gain a 360-degree view into its customer interactions throughout its marketing, sales and Customer Service departments.

More than 200 nonprofit representatives to join the Salesforce.com Foundation in New York City for free day of training on how Technology can accelerate their social change missions

Visionaries from Donorschoose.org, Endeavor.org, the Global Coalition for HIV/AIDS, iMentor, Kiva.org the Nonprofit Technology Network, Rockefeller Foundation and United Nations to share their innovative strategies for success

3,000 innovative nonprofits around the world are now using donated licenses of Salesforce to revolutionize their organizations as part of salesforce.com's 1/1/1 integrated philanthropy model

2008-01-30 -- Commence Corporation is a leading provider of Customer Relationship Management solutions. The company's products are designed to provide growing businesses with flexible solutions that leverage the Web to offer an integrated platform for managing sales execution and customer service. Commence supports several thousand customers through a worldwide distribution network, with outlets in North and South America, Europe and Asia

Nearly twenty
years ago Huck and Brisske, llc, based in Wheaton, IL selected Commence CRM. According to Heinz Brisske, 'Initially, we really liked the customizability of the program. As a law firm, there weren't many programs out there that could accomplish all of what we could do with Commence, and the fact that the program allowed us to synchronize everyone's computer in real time was a tremendous benefit.-

Many small and mid-sized businesses (SMB) have taken notice of Commence Corporation (www.commence.com), a provider of on-premise and hosted web-based solutions designed specifically for this businesses sector. The company is gaining momentum and marketshare with Commence On-Demand, a suite of CRM (customer relationship management) applications that is deployed as software as a service (SaaS).
System Support Solutions, Inc., President, Peter Schoon, recently noted, "I firmly believe that companies stubbornly hanging onto expensive, antiquated methods of doing business, will go away little by little. The ones that fight home-officing, telecommuting, web collaterals delivery, one-number phone services (desk/cell), and maintain the large expensive staff levels will soon figure out it's not the way to go. Commence CRM fits the "lean/mean/machine" model where ten do the work of 20 or 30, work smarter not harder, and accomplish more / make more money individually as well as for the enterprise."

Many small and mid-sized businesses (SMB) have taken notice of Commence Corporation (www.commence.com), a provider of on-premise and hosted web-based solutions designed specifically for this businesses sector. The company is gaining momentum and marketshare with Commence On-Demand, a suite of CRM (customer relationship management) applications that is deployed as software as a service (SaaS).

E. Clifford Treat, vice-president of Development
for The Talon Group, escrow and title services, first experienced Commence CRM with his own company in 1995. According to Treat, 'The Talon Group has been a Commence user since 1999. The initial need for the Commence Technology solutions for Treat's own company, followed a careful examination of a wide range of solutions (ACT!) Maximizer, among others-'We required the ability to support a national (and later International sales force). None of the other solutions possessed both the customizability and ability to support a geographically dispersed workforce anywhere near as well as Commence was able to do.' Similarly, Talon required the customization by business people rather than programmers as well as the ability to integrate changes 'on the fly' while people were using the system.

Many small and mid-sized businesses (SMB) and VARs (Value added resellers) have taken notice of Commence Corporation (www.commence.com), a provider of on-premise and hosted web-based solutions designed specifically for this businesses sector. The company is gaining momentum and marketshare with Commence On-Demand, a suite of CRM (customer relationship management) applications that is deployed as software as a service (SaaS).

Xtell-SFB Solutions for Business owner, George Coletta has been using Commence CRM for a decade now. What prompted the initial need for the Commence Technology solutions was the ability to easily and confidently build a customized application based on the business requirements as opposed to trying to fit a business requirement into an “out of the box” product.

The Global Leader in On-Demand Customer Service Software Partners with Colorado Based SaaS Innovator

VIENNA, VA – February 7, 2008 – Parature, the global leader in on-demand Customer Service software, announced today a reseller partnership agreement with Absolute Performance Inc. (API). API will be a reseller of Parature Customer Service™ software to their fast growing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) enablement business.

“As the global leader in on-demand Customer Service software, we are delighted to announce this partnership with API,” stated Duke Chung, Parature CEO and President. “Parature is the fastest growing customer support and Help Desk software company in the United States and our reseller partnerships are a natural progression of our growth plans. This relationship will help us to expand our sales and service capabilities to continue setting the standard for support teams worldwide, providing the smartest, most efficient way for organizations to support their customers.”

Parature Customer Service™ Software for Gaming Supports More than 50 Million Players the World Over

VIENNA, VA – February 14, 2008 – Parature, the global leader in on-demand Customer Service software, announced today that Mark Barlet, Parature Quality Assurance Manager will be speaking at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) Wednesday, February 20th at 4:00pm and Thursday, February 21st at 9:00am and 4:00pm. GDC is the world’s largest professionals-only game industry event and is the essential forum for learning, inspiration, and networking for the creators of computer, console, handheld, mobile, and online games. It attracts over 16,000 attendees, and is the primary forum where programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, business decision-makers and others involved in the development of interactive games gather to exchange ideas and shape the future of the industry. The event will be held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA February 18-22, 2008.