Extending its reach into the custom applications market; SAS Institute accents consulting, announces plans to double staff

Business Wire, Nov 13, 1995

CARY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 1995--As part of its goal of helping users develop custom applications, SAS Institute today announced plans to more than double its U.S. consulting staff by year's end.

At the beginning of this year, SAS Institute's consulting subsidiary -- SAS Consulting Services Inc., in Rockville, Md. -- employed 27 developers and project managers. As of Dec. 1, this subsidiary will be absorbed into SAS Institute, and additional consulting staff will be added. By the end of 1995, the consulting staff, working out of the company's 26 regional offices, will have grown to about 70 employees. And if demand for consulting services meets expectations, about 140 consultants will be on board the end of '96.

"More customers are demanding our undivided attention in meeting their needs for custom-designed applications," said Claire McCullough, manager of strategic planning and implementation for SAS Institute's Professional Services Division. "Bringing SAS Consulting Services into SAS Institute and then increasing our consulting services staff allows us to streamline the consulting process for customers and provide them with a full service. From initial evaluation of their computing needs, in-depth analysis and selection and implementation of the most appropriate software, customers will receive personalized assistance each step of the way. It's the latest example of the extent to which the Institute will go to please customers."

Sometimes, however, a customer's needs extend beyond the Institute's consulting resources. In these cases, the customer will be referred to a system integrator, such as Computer Sciences Corp. SAS Institute recently signed an agreement with CSC that establishes the company as a premier independent provider of SAS software and consulting expertise.

In other cases, customers will be referred to a growing list of companies in the Institute's new Quality Partner Program. The program is designed to assist and support third-party organizations whose primary business is providing consulting services using the SAS System. Among other things, companies in the program must meet training requirements, provide at least three customer references, and have annual revenues of less than $5 million.

With 1994 revenues of $482 million, SAS Institute Inc. (Cary, N.C.) is the world's largest privately held independent software company. Since its incorporation in 1976, SAS Institute has consistently led the major software vendors in percentage of revenue reinvested in research and development (31 percent in 1994, or about $150 million.)

SAS Institute's five market initiatives form the core of its development and marketing efforts, reflecting strengths of the company and its flagship product, the SAS System an integrated suite of information delivery software for business decision making. These areas are Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence, Application Development, Analytic and Technical, and Business Solutions. Currently, about 29,000 businesses, government agencies and universities worldwide are using the SAS System.

SAS is a registered trademark of SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. All other tradenames referenced are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: SAS Institute Inc., Cary

Beverly Brown Liles or Miranda Drake, 919/677-8000

Fax: (919) 677-8123

Email: sasmda@unx.sas.com

or

The Weber Group

Mirena Reilly or Patty Williams, 617/661-7900