TruServ Selects EasyAsk to Provide Member Businesses Rapid Intranet Search Access to Diverse Products and Information
TruServ Enabling Member Businesses to Offer Higher Levels of Customer Service Through Greater Information Access
MARLBORO, MASS. — November 3, 2004 — EasyAsk, a trusted provider of search and information retrieval solutions, today announced that TruServ Corporation, one of the world`s largest member-owned wholesale hardware cooperatives, has selected the EasyAsk Enterprise 9 platform to provide comprehensive search on its order-processing intranet. TruServ member businesses, including True Value Hardware, will have instant access to products and product information from TruServ`s 65,000 SKU catalog. As a result, TruServ members can now offer their customers higher levels of service due to the ability to rapidly provide the specific products and information they need.
With a focus on providing superior customer service, TruServ needed a more efficient means of ensuring its member stores could provide accurate and timely product information to in-store customers. TruServ chose to implement EasyAsk Enterprise 9 on its order-processing intranet to provide an easy-to-use interface for quickly locating and accessing information from a central clearinghouse of more than 65,000 SKUs. Additionally, Enterprise 9’s superior linguistic processing and filtering capabilities allow TruServ to eliminate null searches due to misspellings in queries or source databases. Through EasyAsk, TruServ members will be able to offer real-time insight into product delivery, product backgrounds and, as needed, appropriate alternatives that meet customer project needs.
"TruServ is committed to providing the highest level of service to our members and their customers," stated Eric Lane, Director of E-Business at TruServ Corporation. "Our order-processing intranet is a key point of contact with our members and, as such, an important component of our service commitment. When looking at search and information retrieval systems for the intranet, we needed a solution that we could quickly implement and easily maintain so that it could provide immediate value for our members. We selected EasyAsk`s Enterprise 9 for its ability to intelligently process complicated search queries and provide the information that enables members to more effectively meet their customers` needs. In addition, EasyAsk’s reputation as supplier of search and navigation solutions for customer-oriented, e-commerce and business industry leaders like Gap, Inc. and Lands` End made them a stand-out among the contenders."
In addition to premium search and navigation features, EasyAsk Enterprise 9 enables TruServ to integrate merchandising and marketing programs into their intranet searches through a full-featured dashboard that incorporates search results analysis. EasyAsk also enables TruServ to direct searches to items that are in stock as well as to present items in a specific order (e.g., highlighting specific manufacturers, lower-turn inventory, higher margin products, etc.).
"The importance of search to a large wholesaler like TruServ and its numerous members from a customer service perspective is invaluable," said Bob Alperin, president and CEO of EasyAsk. "EasyAsk`s extensive experience with B2B eCommerce merchants and enterprise environments made us uniquely qualified to meet the needs of TruServ`s intranet. As part of our ongoing commitment to providing the industry`s easiest and most rapid access to accurate information, we look forward to working with TruServ to continuously improve the value of its intranet to its members and their respective customers."
About TruServ
TruServ Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is one of the world`s largest member-owned wholesale hardware cooperatives with revenue of $2 billion in 2003. The TruServ cooperative includes approximately 6,100 independent retailer locations worldwide operating under the store identities of True Value, Grand Rental Station, Taylor Rental, Party Central, Home & Garden Showplace, Induserve Supply and Commercial Sales. Additional information on TruServ and its retail identities is available at www.truserv.com
About EasyAsk
EasyAsk delivers search and information retrieval solutions that help organizations requiring scaleable, secure, single point access to critical business information and insight, drive sustainable competitive advantage and rewarding customer experiences. Powered by a deep linguistic capability, EasyAsk`s Synchronized Search and Navigation™ platform accesses both structured and unstructured data, intelligently interpreting users` queries to find fast, accurate and complete results. Over 100 industry leading brands including retail, financial services, high technology and manufacturing companies such as Lands’ End, The Gap, E-Loan and Forbes.com rely on EasyAsk for increased effectiveness of their B2C or B2B cross-channel eCommerce efforts. Leading investors include Sigma Partners and Flagship Ventures. EasyAsk is headquartered near Boston with sales and support offices throughout the U.S., and Europe. For more information, please visit our website at www.easyask.com or contact us at 1-800-425-8200.
CONTACT:
Kathy Ruggiero
Vice President, Corporate Marketing
EasyAsk
508.624.8500
kruggiero@easyask.com
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