TORONTO, Oct. 29, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. today named 12 finalists for its annual Industry Solution Awards (ISA) at the DCI Sales Force and Automation Conference. The awards are designed to recognize developers of software applications in the customer management markets. Finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges based on their use of Microsoft® technology, specifically the Windows NT Ò Server operating system and the BackOffice Ò family of products, to provide tangible business benefits in customer management markets.
“Growing numbers of customer management vendors are taking advantage of the significant benefits Microsoft BackOffice provides in creating successful sales and support automation solutions,” said Matt Ragen, worldwide group manager for customer management at Microsoft. “We are recognizing these finalists’ ability to create impressive sales, support and service applications using the power and functionality of Microsoft Windows NT Server and the BackOffice suite of applications including Microsoft SQL Server
™
, Microsoft Exchange Server and Systems Management Server.”
According to Bruce Cleveland, Siebel Systems Inc. vice president of marketing, “Developing products based on the Microsoft BackOffice suite affords us many advantages. It allows us to work cooperatively with Microsoft, building on their technological platform expertise while leveraging our experience within the customer management and sales force automation markets. Microsoft BackOffice allows us to build best-of-breed solutions for our customers, with the interoperability they demand.” Siebel Systems is a finalist in the Inside Sales Solution category.
A preliminary judging panel of industry experts and analysts selected finalists in each of four categories. These finalists will demonstrate their solutions at DCI’s Sales Force Automation Conference in Boston Dec. 2-4, 1997, co-sponsored by Sales and Field Force Automation magazine. Winners will be selected after judges view their solutions on site and will be announced in a special ceremony Dec. 4 in Microsoft booth 2604.
ISA Category Descriptions and Finalists
Best Mobile Sales Solution recognizes the best application making direct sales representatives more productive when traveling or visiting customers.
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Pivotal Software Inc.
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SalesKit Software Corp.
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MEI Software Systems Inc.
Best Customer Service and Support Solution recognizes the best use of technology to streamline and automate customer support and help desk hot lines.
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PHD – Professional Help Desk
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Clientele Products Division, Platinum Software Corp.
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Siebel Systems Inc.
Best Inside Sales Solution recognizes the best use of sales automation technology in a call center, inside sales or telemarketing formation.
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ONYX Software Corp.
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Aurum Software Inc.
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Siebel Systems Inc.
Best Service Management Solution awards the best deployment of service management applications in field service and relationship management products for service industries.
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Interface Software Inc.
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Great Plains Software Inc.
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MediaServ Information Architects
Award Winners Selection Committee
The finalist judging panel included Charlie Butler, Sales and Marketing Management magazine; Barry Trailer, Trailer Vavrika Inc.; Susan Aldrich, Patricia Seybold Group; Mike Palma, Frost and Sullivan; Larry Truck, Sales and Field Force Automation magazine; Rich Bohn, Denali Group Inc.; Jim Dickie, Insight Technology Group; and George Brown, Salesworks Systems Inc.
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“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
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