ISM Selects 2001 Top 15 CRM Software Packages to Be Featured in the Ninth Edition of The Guide to CRM Automation

Business Wire, Feb 15, 2001

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2001

CRM Industry Software "Oscars" Presented at the DCI CRM Conference &

Exposition in Chicago

Continued, robust growth of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software applications -- with estimated revenue in excess of $5 billion for 2001 -- sets the tone at the 2001 CRM software "Oscars." The announcement of ISM, Inc.'s Top 15 CRM software selections was presented at a special "and the winner is. . ." session at DCI's CRM Conference and Exposition at McCormick Place yesterday evening.

Barton Goldenberg, president of ISM (ismguide.com), the premier CRM market research, analysis and consulting firm, and co-chairman of DCI's CRM conferences worldwide, praised the "red-hot CRM industry and the Top 15 software winners that offer the best, most comprehensive CRM software functionality tested to date."

As CRM companies continue to consolidate and add functionality, new products are entering the Top 15 elite, said Goldenberg. Newcomers to the winner's circle this year are Remedy CRM Solutions Suite, mySAP CRM 2000 and YOUrelate. The complete list of Top 15 software packages, listed in alphabetical order by vendor name, is:

-- Applix, Inc. - Applix iEnterprise v. 8.0 (www.applix.com)

-- Interact Commerce Corporation - SalesLogix 2000 v. 4.02
(www.interactcommerce.com)

-- Nortel Networks - Clarify eFrontOffice v. 10.0 (www.nortelnetworks.com)

-- Oncontact Software Corporation - eCMS (www.oncontact.com)

-- ONYX Software - ONYX 2000 (www.onyx.com)

-- PeopleSoft, Inc. - Vantive Enterprise v. 8.5 (www.peoplesoft.com)

-- Pivotal Corporation - Pivotal eRelationship 2000 (www.pivotal.com)

-- Point Information Systems - e-point 5 (www.pointinfo,com)

-- Remedy Corporation - Remedy CRM Solutions Suite (www.remedy.com)

-- SAP AG - mySAP CRM 2000 (www.sap.com)

-- Siebel Systems, Inc. - Siebel Sales 2000 (www.siebel.com)

-- Staffware (formerly MarketForce Software) - Staffware eCRM v. 8.0
(www.staffware.com)

-- update.com software AG - marketing.manager 4.6 (www.update.com)

-- Worldtrak Corporation - Worldtrak v. 5.0 (www.worldtrak.com)

-- YOUcentric, Inc. - YOUrelate (www.youcentric.com)

ISM, headquartered in Bethesda, Md., selected the Top 15 vendors because of their functional completeness after rigorously testing dozens of packages in its software lab. The winners scored highest in accordance with the 145 selection criteria, including 91 business functions, 36 technical features and 18 user friendliness/support features.

Goldenberg also presented his evaluation of the CRM software trends for 2001, which include continued use of the Web to drive business functionality, such as customer self-service and e-marketing; improved technical capabilities including better user/client-side configuration; and greater user friendliness/support offerings, such as e-training and "my-CRM" portals.

Conference attendees and the Top 15 vendors also participated in a Top 15 reception sponsored by DCI, ISM, SellingPower and CRMCommunity.com.

The Guide to CRM Automation includes a blueprint on how to successfully implement your CRM program, along with reviews of ISM's Top 30 CRM software selections, inclusive of the Top 15. The Guide is available in three versions: user, vendor and consultant. All three versions are available in print and electronic format. For more information or to order The Guide, call 877-ISM-GUIDE or 301-656-8448, or visit www.ismguide.com.

Founded in 1985, ISM is the premier CRM research, market analysis and consulting firm, with a specialty in sales, customer care, marketing automation and e-Business. ISM's clients include: AT&T, Bank of Montreal, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Canon, Deutsche Bank, DHL Worldwide Express, GTE, Hewlett Packard, IBM, International Truck, Johnson & Johnson, Lucent Technologies, McGraw-Hill, Mobil Oil, Nestle, NYSE, Pfizer, Pepsico, Roche, Statndard & Poor's, UK Post Office, US Postal Service and Xerox.