QNTS - this one looks good, keep an eye on it. SEC filing.
September 10, 1999
QUINTUS CORP (QNTS)
S-1 Filing (SEC form S1)
We provide a comprehensive e-Customer Relationship Management or eCRM solution to manage customer interactions and
deliver consistent customer service across multiple communication channels, including the Internet, email and advanced
telephony systems. Our Quintus eContact software suite includes customer relationship management applications that address
the needs of sales and service, consumer relations, technical support and human resources contact centers and a sophisticated
routing engine to manage customer interactions. eContact enables companies to handle high volumes of customer interactions,
increase the efficiency of contact center resources and leverage cross-selling and up-selling opportunities.
Customer service is increasingly critical to attracting and retaining customers. Many companies are re-orienting their businesses
to be more responsive to customer needs and are focusing on customer satisfaction as a means of differentiation. In addition,
the emergence of the Internet as a major platform for communication and commerce has increased competition for customers
and reduced the importance of traditional competitive advantages such as price, location, availability and access. International
Data Corporation estimates that the number of customers buying goods and services over the Internet worldwide will grow
from approximately 30.8 million in 1998 to 182.6 million in 2003 and that the value of these purchases will increase from $50.4
billion to $1.3 trillion over the same period.
The Internet enables customers and companies to interact in more ways than ever before. In addition to traditional,
telephone-based communications, customers and companies can now interact through email, Web chat and Web self-service.
The Gartner Group estimates that approximately 25% of all customer interactions will take place over the Internet via email or
Web communications by 2001. As a result of the growing number of communication channels, companies are struggling to
handle the volume and variety of customer interactions. Customers increasingly expect to be able to interact with companies
through whichever channel best suits their needs and are likely to use a combination of communication channels. For example, a
customer may request product literature via email, review marketing materials or fill in an application on the Web, call to receive
more detailed information or assistance, send a signed form by fax, and check the status of an order online. We believe a
significant market opportunity exists for solutions that integrate a broad range of communication channels and manage the entire
customer interaction lifecycle.
The Quintus eContact software suite provides a platform for the personalization, routing and management of customer
interactions. Our eContact suite enables consistent customer service through the use of common workflows and business rules,
shared customer profile information, uniform cross-selling and up-selling strategies, and consolidated management and reporting
functions.
The Quintus eContact suite includes:
- eContact engine, the foundation of our eContact suite, provides advanced routing, tracking, management and reporting
functionality, and consolidates all relevant customer information into a common data repository.
- Channel applications enable companies to manage customer interactions across multiple communication channels, including
the Internet, email and advanced telephony systems.
- Business applications address the needs of sales and service, consumer relations, technical support and human resources
contact centers and are tightly integrated with our eContact engine.
In addition, we provide professional services, customer service management, technical support and educational services to
facilitate successful customer implementations.
Our objective is to be the leading provider of eCRM software solutions. Key elements of our strategy include maintaining and
extending our technology leadership, broadening our direct and indirect distribution channels, targeting Global 1000 and leading
Internet-based companies, and developing and expanding strategic relationships.
We sell our products through a direct sales force in North America and indirectly through resellers and distribution partners
worldwide. We have over 250 customers across many industries including financial services, telecommunications and consumer
products. Our customers include Anheuser-Busch, Citigroup, First Union Bank, Lucent Technologies, Procter & Gamble, Sun
Microsystems and United Airlines.
ACQUISITION OF ACUITY
On September 10, 1999, we entered into an agreement to acquire Acuity, a provider of software products to manage
Internet-based customer interactions. We are currently integrating Acuity's WebCenter and WebACD products into our
Quintus eContact suite in order to provide a more comprehensive eCRM solution. The acquisition is structured as a merger in
which Acuity will become our wholly-owned subsidiary and the stockholders of Acuity will become our stockholders. The total
number of our shares to be issued plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of options and warrants we will assume in
connection with the acquisition will equal 18% of our fully-diluted capitalization immediately following the acquisition. The
closing of the merger is subject to regulatory approval and the approval of Acuity's stockholders. We expect to close this
acquisition prior to the effectiveness of this offering. |
