Press Releases

Press Releases

Prophet 21 ERP Integrated CRM Delivers Real Revenue Returns

For many distributors, using a customer relationship management (CRM) solution in unison with their ERP system requires maintaining two databases and a lot of toggling back and forth between programs.

For Andrew Wright, COO of Mercedes Medical, and many other distributors using Prophet 21® ERP, part of the Activant Distribution Suite™, sales reps use only one database and one screen.

The difference? The Prophet 21 features a fully integrated CRM solution.

"The real-time CRM functionality in Prophet 21 allows me to co-ordinate my sales and marketing efforts," said Wright. "There is synergy there that would be impossible with a two-database system."

Wright especially values how the CRM tools help his inside sales team: "The system allows them to drive through calls and schedule tasks faster because they have easy access to all the available information. After one year, my inside sales representatives are more productive and making more outbound calls. That equals increased sales."

"Three-Pronged Approach"

Activant® takes a three-pronged approach to CRM: The first is sales force automation where a distributor's sales representatives have the lead generation tools to manage their pipelines and up-sell to customers. Distributors can track lead/sales progress by defining opportunities and reporting on their sales reps' pipelines.

The second part of Activant's CRM approach is contact management. This goes beyond maintaining customer addresses and phone numbers to actually tracking customers' buying habits to enable you to anticipate their needs.

Finally, CRM includes marketing capabilities. Tools that allow users to fax and e-mail from the solution, generate lead generation call lists and, most importantly, manage call center activity, enabling distributors to increase their customer base at a minimal cost.

"In today's market it is absolutely critical that distributors are aware of what is in their sales channel and what will have an impact on their business," said Kevin Roach, executive vice president and general manager of Activant. "Effective CRM tools help distributors capitalise on what they have in their pipeline."

"In the past, many distributors relied on the knowledge their sales force had of the customers and prospects they served," continued Roach. "An effective salesperson would proactively give customers information on a product before they even knew they needed it, but visibility into this and other efforts were not there for the executive team of a company. Today, much of that proprietary knowledge is readily available in a distributor's database and recapturing that positive customer-distributor relationship requires a strong CRM tool. That was Activant's goal in developing CRM functionality for Prophet 21."

To find out more about the Prophet 21 software, visit www.activant.co.uk, e-mail uk@activant.com, or call 0845 60 5 60 20

About Activant Solutions

Activant Solutions Inc. is a leading technology provider of business management solutions serving small and medium-sized distributors and specialty retailers. Activant provides customers with industry-specific software, professional services, content, supply chain connectivity, and analytics.

Over 30,000 customer locations use Activant to manage their day-to-day operations. Activant’s systems are designed to help customers increase sales, boost productivity, operate more cost-efficiently, improve inventory turns and enhance trading partner relationships. Headquartered in Livermore, California, Activant has operations in Texas, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.activant.com.

This announcement relating to Activant may contain statements that are forward looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, such as statements concerning trends, future technology or products, or Activant’s execution. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties which could materially affect the company’s results, including, without limitation, market demand for products and technology, the company’s ability to meet that market demand, the integration of Activant’s technology and products with technology and products supplied by others, the integration of Activant’s products into the businesses of its customers, customer acceptance of Activant’s products, and the retention and deployment of skilled Activant service providers. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update or publicly revise any of the forward-looking statements. Please refer to our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2008, which is on file with the Securities Exchange Commission and can be found through the Activant investor relations website at www.activant.com/company/investors, for a full discussion of the risks and other factors.

Note: Activant and the stylized Activant logo design are registered trademark of Activant Solutions Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Press Contact:
Jane Gideon
Incendio International
Tel: 415.682.9292
jane@incendiopr.com