Amdocs ClarifyCRM Raises CRM Standards with Architecture Co-existence.

Business & Technology Editors

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 2002

From thick to thin, Amdocs delivers an easy

implementation process and a flexible upgrade plan on a

standards-based architecture

Amdocs (NYSE: DOX), the world's leading provider of CRM, billing and order management systems to the communications industry, today announced the release of the new architecture of the Amdocs ClarifyCRM offering.

This advanced architecture is Internet enabled and will co-exist with customers' existing infrastructure and client/server applications, allowing operators to support both traditional "thick" applications and new browser based equivalents within the same application environment, acting on a common view of the customer. Amdocs is the only CRM vendor to provide customers with an efficient way to gradually migrate individual agents or divisions to a web-based environment on an as-needed basis, saving both cost and migration complexity. In addition, this release includes multiple enhancements focused on customer usability and performance for improved user productivity, superior customer service and increased profitability.

"We are seeing a number of vendors announce thin clients that require their customers to completely re-architect their application platform in order to take advantage of this new technology. We want our customers to leverage thin client capabilities, without the need to overhaul their entire infrastructure," said Peter Hurst, Vice President of Marketing and Alliances at Amdocs ClarifyCRM Division. "Amdocs ClarifyCRM's co-existence strategy is unique in the CRM market, and is another proof-point of Amdocs' commitment to working with our most valuable asset, our customers, to preserve the integrity of their investments in these mission-critical systems."

Co-existence Strategy

Amdocs ClarifyCRM delivers an advanced architecture that enables unique co-existence between thin and thick clients. This strategy offers significant benefits to both existing customers and companies considering a CRM solution. Because not all customers are ready for complete thin client architecture, this release offers customers the ability to migrate to the thin client on their own timelines, without the hassle of restructuring their entire IT environment. In addition, Amdocs ClarifyCRM's flexibility allows customers to upgrade their applications through a modular approach to minimize downtime, reduce deployment and decrease maintenance.

Sunrise, a brand of TDC Switzerland AG, the second largest telecommunications provider in Switzerland, believes Amdocs ClarifyCRM's advanced architecture brings together the best of both worlds. "Amdocs ClarifyCRM's co-existence strategy lets us take advantage of the inherent speed and flexible user interface of the thick client in our high volume call centers. At the same time, we plan to benefit from the ease of deployment and zero maintenance of thin client web applications and maintain our significant enterprise CRM suite investments," said Andreas Bangnowski, Director IT CRM Systems, TDC Switzerland AG. "With this new architecture, Amdocs shows it really understands our business."

Over 1,000 companies use Amdocs ClarifyCRM because of its superior scalability, flexibility and the industry's most powerful workflow engine across sales and service applications, with a single view of the customer. Now, any customer who implements these award winning solutions in their enterprise can take advantage of new features, as their business requires, without disrupting users of other modules.

H&R Block, which has standardized on Amdocs ClarifyCRM solutions, participated in the beta program for Amdocs ClarifyCRM thin client sales application. H&R Block uses Amdocs ClarifyCRM to allow its tax professionals to refer interested clients to its financial advisors division for additional services. In 2001 (2000 tax year), H&R Block tax professionals referred well over a million clients to its financial advisors using Amdocs ClarifyCRM in conjunction with internal systems. In 2002 (2001 tax year), H&R Block anticipates the systems will handle over a 40% increase in referral traffic. Recognizing the need for improved eSales and eService customer care, H&R Block required a thin client CRM solution that would provide a faster, more efficient way to conduct business for associates, including the third of their field organization that uses dial-up connections.

"Amdocs ClarifyCRM's co-existence strategy and thin client functionality enables cost, time and resource savings, enabling our sales and support teams to immediately experience new value from this release," said John Thompson, AVP, E-Business Strategy for H&R Block Financial Advisors.

Standards Based Architecture

In addition to its unique co-existence strategy, Amdocs ClarifyCRM features the most open and extensible architecture among major CRM vendors. By employing industry standard programming languages such as Java and XML, and recognized standards like J2EE, customers are able to avoid deploying their applications using costly proprietary programming languages. Customers can take advantage of the large pool of resources that work in these languages and the extensive body of knowledge and tools available in them. This release of Amdocs ClarifyCRM also introduces refinements in user interface and usability. Applications are designed to work the way users do, enabling personnel to complete tasks more quickly and efficiently, resulting in increased productivity and employee satisfaction. And as a combined suite, sharing a common database, Amdocs ClarifyCRM products are designed to easily work together, enabling customers to provide superior services to their customers, at every customer touch point - from the call center to the support organization to field service and field sales. With Amdocs ClarifyCRM v10.1, businesses can focus on building customer satisfaction and leveraging customer loyalty to increase revenue and profitability.

About Amdocs

Amdocs is the world's leading provider of CRM, billing and order management systems to the communications industry. Amdocs has an unparalleled success record in project delivery of its mission-critical products. With human resources of more than 9,050 information systems professionals, Amdocs supports a global customer base. For more information visit our Web site at www.amdocs.com .