Denver April 2, 2002 InfoNow Corp., a provider of enterprise channel management solutions, this week rolled out version 5.1 of its Enterprise Channel Management software, which enables channel-focused companies to launch and maintain e-commerce storefronts with external partners.
InfoNow's Multi-Channel E-Commerce suite provides the ability to track customer purchases and partner activity, such as which partner made the sale, at what price, to whom and with what frequency. An online ordering system tracks this data, which integrates into customer relationship management (CRM) and partner profiling systems.
The solution provider said that since not all individuals who visit a commerce-enabled Web site are looking to purchase products, its system helps educate customers on products and can direct customers to the correct channel partner for personal follow-up.
"This represents a new thinking in B2B e-commerce," said Michael Johnson, CEO at InfoNow. "It is not just about storefronts, but also about helping buyers through the sales process with the ease and convenience of the Internet."
The newest release of InfoNow's software also features a Multi-Channel Management Platform that allows companies to create and maintain a profile system to track specific information on partners, such as certification levels and past sales history and customer buying patterns.
The software also creates a dynamic cataloging environment in which distributors can include specialized pricing, promotional offers and payment options for certain customers to best meet specific market and end-customer needs. The technology can include complementary products from multiple manufacturers, which InfoNow said can foster cross-selling and up-selling opportunities while allowing channel partners to manage multiple manufacturers and their own products within one catalog.
"By creating a catalog that is cascading, any changes made to the manufacturer's catalog in relation to price, product line continuation, etc. filter down to distributor catalogs, and even to custom catalogs created by distributors for their end customers," explained Don Kark, chief technology officer at InfoNow.
InfoNow's Multi-Channel Platform 5.1 is available as a licensed software application and now includes the Multi-Channel E-Commerce Suite. InfoNow also provides professional and managed services to its clients.
InfoNow Promotes Multi-tier Cataloging
Updated online channel management solution tracks customer, partner activity
April 2, 2002
