New Synygy Service Guarantees Successful Implementation of Even the Most Complicated Incentive Compensation Plans

Business Wire, Sept 19, 2000

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

BALA CYNWYD, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2000

IC Optimizer(TM) service provides companies a no-risk approach to

implementing incentive compensation management systems

Synygy Inc., The Incentive Compensation Company(TM), today announced its new IC Optimizer(TM) service, which guarantees the successful implementation of Synygy's industry-leading IC Expert 8 incentive compensation management software.

The unique IC Optimizer service recognizes the difficulty that companies have in implementing complex software solutions and includes six months of plan co-management as part of the implementation.

As the only software company that provides plan management services, Synygy is able to transfer best practices and knowledge about effective plan management during this period. At the same time, Synygy works with the client to improve business processes and optimize the system for speed and accuracy based on needs that can be uncovered only once the system is put into production.

"We've been implementing incentive compensation software for a decade," explained Mark Stiffler, president and CEO of Synygy, "and getting the software running is only a very small part of what it takes to successfully deploy a new incentive compensation management system. It is impossible to uncover all of a client's requirements in the implementation phase. All sorts of data validation and process improvement issues come up only after months of use. IC Optimizer ensures that our clients will overcome these inevitable roadblocks."

"The strength of Synygy's range of services and support options for managing incentive compensation programs is unequaled in the industry today," said Katherine Jones of the Aberdeen Group. Jones is one of the leading analysts tracking the growing market for incentive compensation management software and services.

Training, Software Upgrades, and Plan Changes Included

IC Optimizer includes full training of plan administrative staff, who attend the same two-week "boot camp" as all new Synygy consultants. This training involves more than just how to use the software; it also teaches the client plan administrators how to manage the entire incentive compensation process more effectively.

Clients send as many people as they want to the training program, which is held in Synygy offices in Philadelphia and Phoenix.

With no up-front fees to purchase software, IC Expert is the most cost effective incentive compensation management solution available. In addition, the IC Expert 8 software license and support fee includes all software upgrades. This involves Synygy consultants installing and rigorously testing the upgrade for each client to ensure that all facets of the implementation still function properly.

The software license and support fee also includes an allocation for Synygy plan maintenance services, enabling clients to call on Synygy to help make changes to the compensation plans, should they desire. "IC plans change all the time," commented Stiffler. "Some of our clients change their IC plan every month. Changing a plan is never an easy process, no matter what sort of software is used. Our clients know they can call on us to assist them in quickly implementing the new plan."

Pricing and Availability

Synygy's IC Optimizer service is available today, as is the IC Expert 8 software. Pricing for the IC Expert 8 software and IC Optimizer service varies according to the number of plan participants and the complexity of the incentive compensation plan. There is no up-front cost for the IC Expert 8 software. The implementation fee to configure the software begins at $100,000.

The annual licensing and maintenance fee starts at $40,000, which includes all training, upgrades, and an allocation for ongoing plan maintenance and change management services.

About Synygy

Synygy Inc.(R) (www.synygy.com), The Incentive Compensation Company(TM), is the largest provider of incentive compensation software and services. Synygy's IC Expert(TM) software has been used to implement and manage more incentive compensation plans for more plan participants for more of the world's largest corporations than any other solution.

Synygy created the incentive compensation management industry in 1991 and has helped its customers turn their incentive compensation plans into a source of strategic advantage. Based in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, Synygy's success and rapid growth have been recognized on the Inc. 500 for the past three years and on the Philadelphia Business Journal's Philly 100 for the past five years.

Synygy, IC Expert, IC Optimizer, and The Incentive Compensation Company are trademarks or registered trademarks of Synygy, Inc.