IBM Delivers Sales Force Automation Solutions for E-business
SuperSELL* improves sales force productivity with remote access to corporate and customer sales information through an easy-to-use web browser interface.
SOMERS, New York (June 09, 1998) – – IBM today announced an industry-leading Web-based sales force automation (SFA) offering that allows a company’s field sales staff to utilize up-to-the-minute information to deliver better service and improve sales.
IBM’s new SuperSELL v. 4, WEB Enterprise Edition SFA offering helps a company’s sales force conduct e-business and better serve customers by integrating Internet technologies and remote connectivity with their traditional sales information sources and legacy applications. Authorized users can remotely access their centralized corporate networks or the Internet/intranets using a standard web browser. Users can share and exchange information such as inventory levels and customer sales history quickly and easily while connected to the network. Additionally, they can opt to download data to a PC or laptop to “surf”, review and update information while disconnected. Since SuperSELL supports robust data synchronization, mobile users can reconnect at any time to send and receive modified information with the corporate server. With SuperSELL, your sales force will never be out of touch.
SuperSELL WEB Edition also provides companies with:
Decreased learning curve for users to become proficient. The advanced functionality of SuperSELL WEB Enterprise Edition is delivered through the look and feel of Web pages, accessed and manipulated within a familiar browser environment. Experienced or novice users who can “surf” the Web will quickly and easily navigate through sales information. The end result is that sales personnel will have more time to focus on customers and sales opportunities.
Flexibility in the installation and use of SuperSELL. These pre-packaged applications are based on object-oriented technologies like Sun Microsystems Java**, Microsoft Active X** and HTML. Thus, companies may use them with little customization or may easily modify the applications to fit particular business needs. Since SuperSELL leverages “open” Web technologies, companies can adapt the application with the SuperSELL toolkit or build their own JavaBeans of functionality to include within the application framework.
e-business ready. SuperSELL provides maximum flexibility for companies, supporting anything from a traditional “thick client” (synchronize all data) to a true “thin client” (browser only access). Since SuperSELL supports both environments (data synchronization and Internet/intranet publishing), firms can decide which data should remain on a secure Web site for on-line access and reporting. Thus, companies can now publish and share this sales information with suppliers, distributors or even customers.
Access to legacy data using standard relational databases from Oracle, Sybase or Informix, IBM DB/2*, Microsoft SQL Server** and other leading server databases. Client database support includes Microsoft Access**, Sybase SQL Anywhere**, Inprise (formerly Borland) dBASE** and more. Companies have the ability to read, write, and transfer data among these data storage systems or among multiple databases on different servers automatically.
In the face of globalization and deregulation, fragmentation of traditional markets, and highly sophisticated and demanding customers, corporations are becoming increasingly aware that effectively managing customer relationships is vital to sustained competitive differentiation. Effectively managing the sales process — understanding and satisfying customer requirements promptly, accurately and completely — is critical to developing customer relationships that lead to repeat business. SuperSELL WEB Enterprise enables companies to access, organize and share vital information, from inside and outside the corporation, and place it at the fingertips of the sales person, manager and executive.
In describing her company’s experience with SuperSELL, Christina Walsh, Manager of Sales Planning, Princess Cruises remarked, “SuperSELL allows our sales organization to make informed decisions on where and how to focus our daily sales efforts. Pro-actively promoting products and services to the right customer base has been absolutely invaluable. SuperSELL Web Enterprise represents the strategic direction of our company — web based application assets that can be shared in an unassisted manner with our targeted customer base.”
“With SuperSELL WEB Enterprise, our customers can provide better service by creating easy-to-use, integrated, browser-based network environments for efficient sharing of strategic information with their sales forces”, said Patrick LaFrankie, SuperSELL Program Manager, IBM Customer Relationship Solutions, IBM Global Services. LaFrankie continued, “Previously, it was more difficult for sales personnel to access, manage and share sales information, such as customer profiles, marketing information and sales histories, information on which they rely to deliver optimal sales performance and service.”
SuperSELL Web Enterprise will be marketed in the United States only, and will become generally available on June 1, 1998. Pricing will vary according to configuration.
IBM Global Services, headquartered in Somers, N.Y., delivers strategic IT solutions that help customers to transform their businesses, improve time to market, and increase shareholder value. With 1997 revenue of approximately $26 billion and 110,000 professionals in 164 countries, IBM Global Services is the world’s largest and most versatile IT services provider. Its capabilities span a complete range, including product support and global network services, as well as consulting, outsourcing, systems integration, and education and training. Visit IBM’s web site at http://www.ibm.com/services .
Source: IBM