Stock will be $30.00 by month end....
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 4, 1999--
Cambridge Wires Leading European Airline for the Future with an Online
Knowledge Management System for its Sales and Marketing Departments,
Plus a Self-Serve HR Web Site
Cambridge Technology Partners (Massachusetts), Inc. (NASDAQ:CATP.O)
(Cambridge), an international management consulting and systems
integration firm, today announced the rollout of an Intranet-based
knowledge management solution for Swissair's sales and marketing teams
as well as a self-service human resources Intranet site for all
employees. This rollout marks the second major milestone in the
Cambridge/Swissair partnership, following Cambridge's work on the
successful launch of Swissair's Website this past summer (see June 23,
1998 press release, "Swissair Launches Next-Generation Web Site" at
www.ctp.com). In less than 12 months, the Cambridge/Swissair team has
completed three major Internet initiatives.
Two Knowledge Management Systems Up and Running in Eighteen Weeks
On December 14th, the scheduled project delivery date, Cambridge
and Swissair rolled out as planned Phase One of the finished system.
Swissair now has two major Intranet solutions up and running: a
knowledge management system for its more than 1,000 sales personnel
(accompanied by a gradual worldwide rollout of new PCs and browser
upgrades in 1999), and a human resources Intranet ultimately available
to all 7,800 employees in its 130 offices worldwide. The project was
designed and developed by the Cambridge/Swissair team in just eighteen
weeks. Twelve weeks into the development of this global
knowledge-sharing system, the Cambridge/Swissair team rolled out
"quick wins." Cambridge's "quick wins" philosophy is speeding an
implementation of fully operational modules so clients can begin
realizing business value sooner.
"We recognize the Internet's ability to improve the customer
experience and our business overall," said Urs Wiesner, Project
Manager at Swissair. "Working with Cambridge as our strategic Web
partner will help enable us to stay ahead of the competition and
ensure success for the company and our customers into the next
century. With Cambridge's robust Internet expertise and focus on
business value, they have proven to be very valuable to us already."
Benefits of Swissair's Knowledge Management Solution
Swissair's Intranet is expected to increase sales revenues and
enable more efficient use of the sales staff's time and energies. The
Intranet provides them with marketing plans and sales data and offers
collaborative workspaces, discussion groups, and best practice
libraries. With a significant decrease in administrative tasks, the
sales team will be able to spend more time focused on servicing
clients.
Adding to the Intranet's expected return on investment, a custom
push module called Sales Ticker allows salespeople to post urgent
bulletins about unfilled plane seats and then enlist their colleagues'
help worldwide to fill those seats.
By providing an effective knowledge management tool to Swissair's
sales team, the airline anticipates the following business benefits:
-- Increased business opportunities: users have a better ability to
identify and act on business opportunities.
-- Reduced number of lost sales: by providing immediate push data
to sales representatives and managers concerning sales gaps or special
sales promotions, lost sales opportunities will be eliminated.
-- Empowered end-users: each salesperson's own work processes can
be improved with the Intranet tools available--for instance, users can
review others' best practices.
-- Enhanced knowledge and performance of each employee: the
Intranet provides the sales team with more efficient access to timely,
accurate information.
"Utilizing Intranet technologies to maximize your company's
knowledge - the collected experience, expertise, and information of
your organization - is the key to success in the information age,"
said Kirk Klasson, Cambridge's director of Knowledge Management
Solutions. "For Swissair, Cambridge's knowledge management solutions
will help the airline harness its knowledge and use it to drive
greater revenues and profits, faster growth, and lasting competitive
advantage."
Swissair's Sales and Human Resources Intranets
Swissair's sales team primarily targets corporate accounts and
travel agents. The sales and marketing portion of the Intranet
includes statistics and data, sales leads and incentives, customer
feedback, partner site links, marketing plans and information, and
product news.
The human resources Intranet site features HR news, expense
forms, training and other development opportunities, job listings, and
information including organizational charts, policies and procedures,
and maps and directions for various offices. The HR Intranet has been
rolled out to 3,000 Swissair employees and eventually the entire
Swissair organization (approximately 7,800 staff) will have access. As
much of Swissair's workforce are mobile users, non-networked staff
will be given Intranet access in the near future, either via desktop
access or via kiosks located at the homebase for flying staff.
Phase Two of the Intranet
Cambridge will continue to work with Swissair on its Intranet in
1999. After processing the initial feedback on the sites,
functionality reassessment and Phase Two of the project are estimated
to begin in February. Cambridge is currently in the process of
developing feedback surveys for the Intranet that will send comments
directly to the project team, so that it may begin formulating
recommendations immediately.
The Cambridge Team
Cambridge leveraged the expertise of its Interactive Solutions
service line and Cambridge Management Consulting (CMC) division for
its work with Swissair's knowledge management solution. Using
Cambridge's CoRad (customer oriented rapid application deployment)
methodology, the Interactive Solutions group's cognitive team worked
in sync with the creative team to design the Intranet to meet the
demands of its end-users, while the technical experts developed the
Intranet's infrastructure. As behavioral change and a company's
culture are key to a successful knowledge management solution, CMC
played an integral role with process innovation, business renewal and
change management.
Technical tools including Lotus Notes, Java, PhotoShop,
Illustrator and NetObjects Fusion were used in developing the
Intranet, and Lotus Domino was used as the platform upon which
Cambridge built a customized front-end application.
About Swissair
Founded in 1931, Swissair (www.swissair.com) is part of the
SAirGroup (http://www.sairgroup.com).
About Cambridge Technology Partners
Cambridge Technology Partners is a new breed of consulting and
systems integration firm. Since its founding in 1991, the company has
applied its unique core values to the consulting and application
development markets to fundamentally reinvent the way business and
technology solutions are delivered. Working within a
fixed-time/fixed-price model, Cambridge's services span management
consulting, process innovation, custom and package software deployment
(including ERP applications), networking, and training to rapidly
deliver end-to-end business systems that create immediate bottom-line
impact for its clients. Cambridge has 53 offices and more than 4,300
employees worldwide. Cambridge on the Web: ctp.com.
--30--mb/bos*
CONTACT: Cambridge Technology Partners
Veronica Fergot
Public Relations
(617) 679-5428
vfergo@ctp.com
or
Cambridge Technology Partners
Donna Lavoie
Investor Relations
(617) 679-5376
dlavoi02@ctp.com
KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMED COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS
INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INTERNET TRAVEL/AIRLINES
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