This will be a BIG + for DRIV.
Regards, Rick
---------------------------------------------
Tuesday January 25, 9:22 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Digital River Announces New E-business Service
Offerings
New Sell-Side B2B E-Commerce Product Functionality Helps Clients StreamlineChannel Sales,
Automate Business Processes, Improve ROI
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 2000-- Addressing market demand for business-to-business e-commerce
solutions for the enterprise, Digital River, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRIV - news), a global e-commerce outsourcer, today unveiled
two new e-business service offerings. The Company will offer an E-Returns Management and an E-Reseller Network System
to help companies more effectively integrate e-business into their organizations.
``We're seeing a great demand from large corporations who are turning to the Internet to automate many traditional functions of
their business,' said Joel Ronning, chief executive officer, Digital River. ``Sell-side issues like returns management and channel
management are real problems for companies moving to the Web. We've addressed many of these issues by building
e-commerce solutions that increase business efficiencies and help our clients realize a much faster ROI.'
``Many companies have learned costly lessons through technology errors and downtime, making e-commerce outsourcing an
attractive solution,' said Julie Meringer, director of e-commerce outsourcing at Forrester Research. ``At this point, very few, if
any companies are using the Net to its full potential, missing out on revenues and greater efficiencies that can be applied to
standard business practices. In 2000, outsourcing will aid many in reaching that point quickly and cost effectively.'
E-Returns Management System
Digital River's E-Returns Management system is designed to simplify and ease the process of returning products to
manufacturers, distributors, retailers, or fulfillment companies. What was previously a labor-intensive process, the returns
authorization system allows for full and accurate product return automation via the Web. Customers can instantaneously qualify
and track a return or warranty repair, 24 hours a day without having to contact a customer service representative.
For manufacturers, Digital River's E-Returns Management System provides a cost-effective and more efficient way of managing
product returns. With links to ERP applications and other existing business systems, manufacturers can quickly anticipate
returns and replenish product inventories for improved cycle counts and faster customer response. In addition, they can track
customer order status, eliminate errors in the receiving process, and quickly deliver product exchanges. The E-Returns
Management system enables companies to track customer and product and return reason data online versus manually, reducing
unauthorized returns, increasing system accuracy and ultimately, improving customer satisfaction.
``An enterprise process that typically suffers high-levels of inefficiency is product returns,' said Ron Davis, VP of Information
Systems for Fujitsu Computer Products of America. ``By working closely with Digital River, we've been able to move our
return material authorization (RMA) process online. As a result, we are able to provide better customer service and significantly
reduce the time and cost involved in the process.'
E-Reseller Network System
Recognizing the potential conflicts around channel management when integrating an e-business strategy, Digital River's
E-Reseller Network System helps manufacturers maintain sell-side dealer and distributor relationships while expanding its direct
distribution channels. E-Reseller Network System, currently being implemented at 3M deploys a Web interface from 3M to its
distribution channels. The Web interface can be customized to fit the look and feel of each distributor, and merchandising can
be accomplished with a core set of products as well products unique to specific dealers.
``At 3M, we focus heavily on our relationships with our channel partners,' said Donald Breckle, eBusiness Manager for 3M's
Six Industrial Market Divisions. ``By effectively using the Web to support many of our strategic initiatives, we've been
successful in growing our business. At 3M, as is the case for many large corporations, it is a very delicate task to balance the
Internet with our channel partners. As a result of our relationship with Digital River, we're very pleased with our success of the
program. We've turned potential issues of selling on the web, into new forms of sales revenue by enabling our distributors
online. It's a big win for all of us.'
Digital River's E-Returns Management System and the E-Reseller Network System are the first of a series of e-business
solutions the company plans to roll-out over the next 12 months. |
