Emtera Partners With Retek to Bring Mobile Customer Relationship Management to World's Largest Retailers

Business Wire, Jan 15, 2001

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2001

Emtera's m-CRM Solution Enhances Consumers' Shopping Experience

And Boosts Retailers' Business

Emtera Corporation, a new provider of Mobile Customer Relationship Management (m-CRM) solutions, announced today at the National Retail Federation's Annual Conference that it has formed a strategic alliance with Retek Inc. (Nasdaq: RETK), the leading provider of retail business solutions.

Under the terms of the alliance, Retek will leverage Emtera's m-CRM application to expand retailers' connection with their customers - boosting revenues, reducing costs, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty, and improving the understanding of customer buying patterns.

By ensuring the broadest connection with customers, Emtera's m-CRM application, integrated with the Retek infrastructure, helps retailers address some of the key problems associated with in-store shopping and increase their CRM initiatives by allowing shoppers to access detailed product information and reviews while in the store, purchase out-of-stock merchandise, and receive real-time permission-based promotions.

Other m-CRM features include the establishment of "Wish Lists" and "Gift Registries," enabling retailers to better understand their customers' buying habits while providing them with the flexibility to offer instant non-intrusive promotions to spur sales. Emtera's m-CRM application also has a search capability that allows consumers to search a retailer's product catalog based on any combination of product categories, brands, price, promotions, or product specific features.

"Emtera's mobile CRM solution enables traditional retailers to better understand their customers' browsing and purchasing patterns and provide better customer service," said Amir Hudda, CEO and founder of Emtera. "By extending their existing retail channels, retailers can nurture and expand customer satisfaction and loyalty. Emtera's m-CRM application will enable brick-and-mortar retailers to gain a significant competitive advantage by providing the convenience and benefits of an integrated shopping experience."

"We are very excited to expand our infrastructure to the customer through Emtera's Mobile Customer Relationship Management technology" said John Buchanan, CEO of Retek. "Particularly with today's increasingly mobile customer, retailers need to make it as convenient as possible to do business with them. We firmly believe that our alliance with Emtera will help Retek remain on the cutting edge of retail business solutions as we enter into the wireless age."

About Emtera

Emtera is building the first mobile CRM application for large multi-channel retailers who want to improve the customer shopping experience across all channels. The application is targeted at in-store customers and employees and creates a digital dialog between the retailer and the customer. Unlike "shop anytime, anywhere" and mobile price comparison companies, Emtera's products recognize the customer's preference for shopping in stores and are retailer friendly. Emtera Corporation was founded in March, 2000 by Amir Hudda, its President & CEO. Emtera is headquartered in Arlington, VA with a developmental center in Atlanta, GA.

About Retek

Retek Inc. is a leading provider of software solutions and services to the retail industry. Retek's collaborative solutions help retailers and their business partners improve business performance. Many of the world's leading retailers use Retek solutions, including A&P, Tesco, Best Buy, Family Dollar Stores, Eckerd Corp., Kohl's Department Stores, and The Home Shopping Network. For more information, visit http://www.retek.com, or call 1-888-61-RETEK. Retek can be contacted in Europe at 44 20 7872 5795.