Awarded Patent For Technology that Dynamically Links Customer Information Throughout the Enterprise.Business/Technology Editors WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2000 Recognized for Innovation of its Multi-channel, Interactive Selling Solutions FirePond (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : FIRE), the leading global provider of integrated e-business solutions for multi-channel selling, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted the company a patent for its unique technology that automates complex multi-channel selling processes and delivers real-time customer information throughout the enterprise. This patent underscores FirePond's established leadership and continued innovation as the pioneer in Internet-based interactive selling methods and technology. This broad patent (US patent no. 6,067,525) covers the proprietary systems and methods that enable the automation of complex selling tasks within the FirePond Application Suite, and the ability to link real-time customer information across multiple channels. For example, a customer lead generated from a sales interaction on a FirePond-enabled commerce site can be automatically routed to the appropriate sales representative, update the representative's contact database and calendar automatically, notify and invite response from the factory or fulfillment ful·fill also ful·fil tr.v. ful·filled, ful·fill·ing, ful·fills also ful·fils 1. To bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises. 2. system, as well as continually update a sales forecast Sales forecast A key input to a firm's financial planning process. External sales forecasts are based on historical experience, statistical analysis, and consideration of various macroeconomic factors. as the deal nears closing. "FirePond's patented technology delivers on Yankee's position that selling on the Internet, or any other channel, will be most effective where efforts are combined with other selling and service channels to maximize benefit for the customer," said Sheryl Kingstone, analyst at The Yankee Group (the Yankee Group, Boston, MA, www.yankeegroup.com) A major market research, analysis and consulting firm founded in 1970 by Howard Anderson. It provides general consulting and strategic planning in the computer and communications field. . "FirePond's unique approach enables a consistent selling process and common view of the customer across all sales channels, allowing companies to strengthen ties with customers." The existing integration of sales information across all channels with the FirePond Application Suite can help companies eliminate costly and ineffective point-to-point software integration. For instance, leading CRM (Customer Relationship Management) An integrated information system that is used to plan, schedule and control the presales and postsales activities in an organization. companies currently require customers to seek point-to-point integration between an opportunity management system, an e-business system and a sales configurator. In the FirePond system all selling technology is tightly integrated, thus users need only integrate one sales system to enterprise technology often referred to as "back-office" systems. By capturing detailed customer profiles from interactive transactions occurring across diverse selling channels, companies are able to capture a common view of their customers' buying behaviors, emerging demand preferences, and transaction activity. This common view feeds enterprise processes and strategies that encourage long-term customer retention. The patented Integrated Computerized Sales Force Automation Automating the sales activities within an organization. A comprehensive SFA package provides such functions as contact management, note and information sharing, quick proposal and presentation generation, product configurators, calendars and to-do lists. System is comprised of numerous subsystems that correspond to phases of the sales process A sales process is a systematic approach for performing product or service sales. The reasons for having a sales process include seller and buyer risk management, achieving standardized customer interaction in sales and scalable revenue generation. , coupled to an event manager, which recognizes that an event has occurred, determines the context, and automatically initiates an operation in another subsystem A unit or device that is part of a larger system. For example, a disk subsystem is a part of a computer system. A bus is a part of the computer. A subsystem usually refers to hardware, but it may be used to describe software. (i.e., opportunity management, fulfillment or ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) An integrated information system that serves all departments within an enterprise. Evolving out of the manufacturing industry, ERP implies the use of packaged software rather than proprietary software written by or for one customer. systems) based on designated rules. This patent recognizes the forward-looking nature of FirePond's systems and methods, and provides the company with exclusive rights to use these technologies to deliver business value to its customers. "FirePond is on the technology forefront, providing solutions that allow the world's leading companies to sell more, sell better and sell faster through all of their channels," said Klaus Besier, Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of FirePond. "This patent represents the innovation that continually emerges from our development organization, which is focused on providing the world-class companies we serve with the advanced technology they need to gain advantage in a fast-moving, competitive environment." This patent adds to FirePond's existing portfolio of 9 issued patents in the areas of interactive, web-based selling technology, product configuration and sales channel integration. This extensive patent portfolio demonstrates FirePond's commitment to deliver exclusive, customer-valued functionality in the FirePond Application Suite. About FirePond Headquartered in Waltham, Mass., FirePond (www.firepond.com) is the leading global provider of integrated e-business solutions focused on multi-channel sales success. Our award winning technology and sales process expertise enable companies to exceed revenue goals and increase margins by taking control of every selling interaction. The FirePond Application Suite enables companies to standardize stan·dard·ize v. 1. To cause to conform to a standard. 2. To evaluate by comparing with a standard. their enterprise e-business sales strategies on a single Internet-based solution, by applying consistent, consultative selling Consultative selling emphasizes customer needs and meeting those needs with solutions combining products and/or services. A consultative salesperson typically provides detailed instruction or advice on which solution best meets these needs. practices across all sales channels simultaneously. Capturing real-time customer information from automated selling interactions, companies can coordinate immediate, intelligent responses to every revenue opportunity. Some of the world's most successful companies use FirePond solutions to help them sell and distribute their complex products and services, including Freightliner, ABB n. 1. Among weavers, yarn for the warp. Hence, Noun 1. ABB - an urban hit squad and guerrilla group of the Communist Party in the Philippines; formed in the 1980s , Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. of Minnesota, Renault, Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Compaq, Ricoh Europe and Hitachi Construction Machinery. FirePond and FirePond products are trademarks of FirePond, Inc. in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and/or other countries. All other product or company names are the properties of their respective owners. Portions of this release contain forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. regarding future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. We wish to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results indicated by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: continuous innovation to sustain technology leadership, difficulties implementing the software, quarterly fluctuations in operating results attributable to the timing and amount of orders for our products and services, market acceptance of our FirePond Application Suite and its components, our ability to keep pace with changing product requirements and factors affecting the demand for e-business sales and marketing solutions, and those factors contained in the section titled Risk Factors beginning on page 4 of our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-90911) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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