Big Picture launches eClerk
Big Picture Technologies Inc - BPI
Shares issued 16,294,250
2000-03-21 close $6.20
Wednesday Mar 22 2000
Mr. Michael Anthony reports
Big Picture Technologies has officially launched eClerk, a unique
Internet customer and sales support product designed for
e-commerce-enabled small- and medium-sized businesses. eClerk
permits a merchant to initiate live text chat dialogue with multiple
customers simultaneously while they browse the site. With eClerk,
merchants introduce the human element in their Web stores and provide
pro-active e-commerce sales support and live customer service. Very
aggressively priced and marketed almost exclusively through the
software channel, eClerk is poised to capture e-service market share
as the first offering of its kind targeted at small- and medium-sized
businesses.
eClerk addresses a phase of e-business that has been largely ignored
until now -- it staffs the electronic store with live personnel. Michael
Anthony, president and chief executive officer, explains: "On-line
vendors have repeatedly reported that two out of every three browsers
abandon their virtual shopping carts without making a purchase. While
the Internet has made selling possible to on-line browsers, it hasn't
facilitated customer service or improved the sales closure rate." Most
e-commerce merchants rely on traditional E-mail support as their only
customer service tool, but this method has failed to deliver results.
"Customers don't want to wait for customer service," said Mr. Anthony.
"Receiving an E-mail response days after requesting help is
unacceptable. eClerk lets merchants reach out to their customers,
initiating service and providing solutions in real-time. eClerk turns
browsers into buyers," declared Mr. Anthony.
Gregg Gross, Big Picture vice-president of sales, was enthusiastic
about the release, stating, "We feel this is the best tool for growing
businesses which need Web site sales support and customer service."
With its aggressive price point, eClerk has generated excitement
throughout the channel. "Our channel partners are fully aware that eClerk
answers a huge market demand in the exploding category of e-service
and it is priced at up to one-10th the cost of other solutions!" added Mr.
Gross. eClerk's strategic route to market will target prominent
distributors, value-added resellers and retailers via the traditional
software channel. According to International Data Corporation,
spending for e-support solutions (tools designed to deliver customer
care for any customer, anytime, anywhere) will jump dramatically from
under $2-billion in 1998 to over $14-billion in 2003.
Big Picture's product strategy is formulated around the principle that
e-business must be affordable and accessible to growing enterprises.
"Our goal is to produce a line of Internet software products that mirrors
the phases of business in physical retail management. Those who use
Big Picture's line of products travel through three stages to achieve
success on-line," stated Mr. Anthony. "The physical retail experience
sees a merchant first picking a shop location and building a store; the
on-line merchant accomplishes this with eMerchant pro, a complete
e-commerce Web site solution that builds a virtual storefront. Then the
merchant staffs their store with skilled sales personnel in order to
generate sales; eClerk facilitates on-line service and live assistance,
while Smart Site serves to optimize the electronic store. Finally,
products/services must be marketed to prospective clientele.
Mr. Anthony revealed that a new Big Picture product will be introduced
later this year, aimed at driving on-line business to the electronic
storefront and completing the third phase of successful e-commerce
business. "We plan to market our products individually and as
completely integrated Internet solutions that address the phases of
e-commerce we have identified," concluded Mr. Anthony, adding that
further additions to the line would be announced later this year. |
