Interelate Delivers Strategic Business Value for Nissan North America With E.piphany CRM Software

Business Wire, Dec 18, 2001

Business Editors & Technology/Automotive Writers

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2001

Leading CRM Services Provider Hosts and Manages E.piphany's E.5(TM)

CRM Solution To Help Automotive Manufacturer Acquire

Customers and Reduce Dealer Response Times

Interelate, Inc., a provider of comprehensive next-generation customer intelligence and campaign management solutions, today announced that Nissan North America, a leading automotive manufacturer, has realized a return on investment with the E.piphany (Nasdaq:EPNY) E.5 CRM solution that Interelate hosts and manages for Nissan. Nissan has realized improvement in acquiring and responding to qualified customers via its online channel.

Interelate deployed E.piphany's real-time customer relationship management (CRM) software for Nissan in September 2000 and was also contracted to provide ongoing analytic and technology management services. Combined with other Nissan marketing efforts, the Interelate-E.piphany channel lead management solution and related services have improved the leading automotive manufacturer's acquisition of qualified customers and has reduced dealer response time. Among other benefits, the solution has generated 4,100 qualified leads from their web site and streamlined the process for getting those leads to local dealerships.

"As part of Nissan's integrated marketing strategy, the Interelate-E.piphany channel lead management solution has helped Nissan gain efficiency in acquiring and responding to qualified customers who register on our web site," said Shari Kourilsky, Manager, eCRM, Nissan. "The solution has improved our ability to identify and respond to high-potential prospects."

Interelate combined best-in-class E.piphany software with the necessary people, processes and technology to deliver to Nissan North America a predictive customer intelligence solution to identify prospects with a high propensity to purchase certain vehicles. The Interelate-E.piphany solution refers prospects to the appropriate dealer while also delivering to the dealer information about customers' vehicle preferences.

"Nissan North America has a compelling product and a reputation for savvy marketing within the automotive industry," said Wade Myers, CEO, Interelate. "Interelate's solutions and services help Global 2000 companies like Nissan market more effectively and improve operational efficiency to better serve their customers and increase sales and profits."

Interelate continues to work closely with Nissan to identify further opportunities to increase sales and marketing efficiencies by leveraging CRM technology.

"We've had tremendous success working with Interelate to address key business requirements and deliver ROI for Nissan North America," said Roger Siboni, CEO, E.piphany. "Today's companies need solid CRM solutions and a tight technology team that's focused on customer satisfaction and delivering tangible results. We're glad we've been able to demonstrate this for Nissan."

About Interelate

Interelate provides outsourced customer intelligence and campaign management solutions for Global 2000 clients in the financial services, travel & leisure, retail and telecommunications/utilities industries. Interelate's turn-key solutions include all the necessary technology and services to acquire, cross-sell and retain profitable customers in exchange for a predictable monthly fee. Interelate combines strategic database marketing and industry expertise with best-in-class packaged CRM software, analytic and modeling tools and relevant third party data to help clients better understand their customers and build highly-personalized, real-time direct marketing offers across all touch points. The result is an increase in sales and profits and improved marketing effectiveness. Headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, the company's European office is located in The Netherlands. Interelate can be reached at (952) 908-8000 or www.interelate.com.

About E.piphany

E.piphany is a leading provider of next-generation customer relationship management software for the Customer Economy. By providing an integrated suite of software solutions, the E.piphany E.5(TM) solution blends web-based analytic and operational CRM to unify all inbound and outbound marketing, sales and service customer interactions. E.piphany E.5 enables a single, enterprise-wide view of each customer to help global businesses better understand and proactively serve customers in real time. With worldwide headquarters in San Mateo, California, E.piphany has regional operations and offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

About Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissandriven.com and www.infiniti.com.