IBM and Connect3 Systems Partner to Provide Sodimac S.A. with Advertising, Merchandising and Promotion Solution
CONTACT:
Connect3 Systems Inc.
Margaret Austin, 310/739-5798
Marketing and Public Relations
maustin@connect3.com
or
IBM de Chile
Ricardo Valdes, 56-2-200-6774
Solutions Manager, Distribution Sector
rvaldes@cl.ibm.com
South America`s Leading Home Improvement Retailer Integrates Connect3 Solution into their Advertising Planning and Production Workflow.
NEW YORK -- January 13, 2003: Connect3 Systems, Inc., (NRF Booth #144) the leading provider of enterprise retail Advertising, Merchandising and Promotion (AMP) planning and execution solutions announced today, at the National Retail Federation`s 92nd Annual Convention and EXPO, that Sodimac S.A., the largest home improvement retailer in Chile, has implemented the Connect3 Promotion Planning and Production solution. Sodimac is the first joint customer resulting from the partnership between Connect3 and IBM de Chile S.A.C. in South America.
According to Ricardo Valdes, Solution Manager for the Distribution Sector, the synergy between Connect3 and IBM will provide great benefits to South American retailers. He says, "The Connect3 software and their organization will be instrumental to IBM being able to offer a complete solution to automating retail promotional processes. Connect3 has already proven, through their long-term relationships with leading U.S. retailers such as The Home Depot and Best Buy, that they can handle the requirements of even the most aggressive retailers. We look forward to enhancing their offerings through IBM`s unique understanding of both the print and on-line promotions market."
Working in partnership with Connect3 and Sodimac, IBM has completed the specification, design, installation, integration and training phases of their first Connect3 project. Sodimac is in production utilizing the dynamic Connect3 capabilities for managing digital assets, ad copy, prices, historical item performance and enabling flexible ad versioning capabilities. By integrating Connect3 with Sodimac`s JDA-based merchandising system, Sodimac has a promotion workflow that leverages existing item, pricing and inventory information while providing advanced targeting and versioning capabilities available in the Connect3 solution. Gonzalo Labbé, the Marketing Executive Vice President for Sodimac says "The Connect3 system is instrumental in our ability to streamline our production processes by reducing our production time, increasing our ability to target customers and improve our promotional accuracy. We see great benefits for our customers, employees and our stake holders."
Dale Byrne, President and CEO of Connect3 adds, "We feel that the Connect3/IBM relationship and customer partnership with Sodimac will provide great value to leading retailers in Chile and throughout South America. By combining IBM`s knowledge of these retailers` business processes and systems with the Connect3 VELOCITY Performance Series we are able to provide a fast ROI on a key part of their business."
Under the agreement with Connect3, IBM is authorized to sell Connect3 products and provide implementation services and local support to retailers in South America. IBM`s retail group provides integrated solutions to large retail organizations. These solutions include IBM technologies and other third party software capable of leveraging the Connect3 system.
About IBM de Chile S.A.C.
IBM de Chile S.A.C. provides complete retail solutions to retailers throughout Chile and South America through related organizations by combining their detailed understanding of retail workflow and systems with leading technologies from IBM and partners.
About Sodimac S.A.
Sodimac is South America`s leading home improvement retail organization with stores in Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. With more than 50,000 products and services from 30 different countries around the world, Sodimac Homecenter stores provides clients with unmatched selection, highly competitive pricing, and award winning customer service.
About Connect3 Systems:
Connect3 Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of software solutions and services that assist retailers in the planning and execution of their Advertising, Merchandising and Promotion (AMP) processes. The Connect3 VELOCITY Performance Series presents a unified environment in which all participants in the retail enterprise can plan, negotiate, create, manage, execute, reconcile and analyze promotions. Connect3`s software and Professional Services allow merchants across all industry segments to compress the promotions cycle, reuse existing content, and target their item message to increase accuracy, efficiency and profitability.
Customers include Best Buy, The Home Depot, Sports Authority, Ahold USA and other leading merchants. Resellers and Technology Partners include Retek, IBM, American Color, Nurun, AnswerThink, Quark, Xinet and others. For information, visit www.connect3.com or phone 562.741.0380.
© 2003 Connect3 Systems, INC.
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