Panasonic Employs Channel Intelligence, Inc. for Channel Management Service - Sends Thousands of Leads to Dealers
Channel Buy Links technology brings the `shopping assistant`
concept to Panasonic`s Website
Celebration, FL (July 18, 2002)- Channel Intelligence Inc. announced that
Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company has selected Channel Buy Links to
better support its online dealers and improve customer satisfaction.
"We are pleased to be working with Panasonic, where we made over 1,000
products `Channel Intelligent` in just one week," said Alan Fulmer,
President of Channel Intelligence, Inc. "Their great products and our
break-through technology make a winning team."
"No one knows how to design and build consumer electronics better than
Panasonic," said Fred Towns, Senior Vice President , Sales Group at
Panasonic, "and no one knows better how to work with customers, merchandize
our product, and get that product into the customers hands than our
dealers."
Channel Buy Links technology allows consumers easy access to a dealer`s
Website from Panasonic`s Website with a few clicks of the mouse. By
following a "Buy from an On-line Retailer" link, consumers wishing to
purchase a camcorder, for example, will have an instant listing of on-line
retailers selling that particular Panasonic model. Another click and they`re
on the dealer`s site and that model is on the screen. The mechanism is far
more efficient than the typical "Buy" button, which simply links to a
listing of retailer home pages, helping
manufacturers and retailers increase their sales by providing highly
targeted leads and reducing the number of clicks to close the sale.
The ability to provide "deep links" like this is seen by some experts as
"the next big thing" in e-commerce, where "user-friendly" is a key component
of a site`s success.
"We are excited about this program because we can see real results right
away," said David Chapin, Senior Manager of e-Commerce for Panasonic. "We
have used the Channel Buy Links service for 90 days and in that time period
Panasonic has sent over 214,000 leads to our retailers and the sales results
have been amazing. We are hearing from our channel associates that Channel
Buy Links creates higher conversion rates, higher average tickets and higher
gross sales. The real-time reporting on our channel activities makes it
easy to direct our efforts for maximum effect."
"We think Panasonic and David Chapin really `get it` when it comes to good
channel relations," added Mr. Fulmer.
Panasonic`s retailers noticed the benefits of the new technology
immediately. According to Paul Lipton, Vice President E-Tail/Mail Order,
OneCall, the Channel Buy Links made a marked improvement in sales leads from
the Panasonic Website. "At OneCall we have found it a categorical imperative
to work with those manufacturers that truly support the channel. Panasonic,
with the help of Channel Buy Links, is doing a great job at it. The program
greatly improved the leads we got from Panasonic and increased our Panasonic
sales by 10 times versus the company`s previous lead program and increased
our average ticket. That`s great for everyone-Panasonic, OneCall and the
customers that more easily found the products they wanted."
Channel Buy Links are product-specific links that take consumers from the
information-gathering phase on a consumer goods manufacturer`s Website
directly to the buy page at dealers who carry the product and have it
available in stock. The service is easy to implement for the manufacturer,
and requires no action on the part of the retailer to participate. The
company has already generated more than $248 million of leads for dealers -
a figure which grows by more than $3 million per day.
"Technology continues to transform the relationship between consumers,
retailers and manufacturers," says Bob Segal, principal at Frank Lynn &
Assoc., a leading channel consulting firm. "Companies like Panasonic
recognize that many consumers want to look for detailed product information
at the
manufacturer`s site, but then effortlessly link to the relevant page on a
retailer`s site to complete a transaction."
About Panasonic
Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is a division of Matsushita Electric
Corporation of America, the principal North American subsidiary of
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., (NYSE:MC) of Japan, one of the
world`s largest producers of innovative electronic and electric products for
consumer, business and industrial use. The media can access press releases
via the Panasonic Pressroom at www.panasonic.com/pcecnews.
About Channel Intelligence Inc.
Channel Intelligence Inc. (formerly youknowbest) develops services that
improve the online sales process between manufacturers, dealers, and
consumers. These services allow manufacturers and dealers to capture
incremental sales, reduce shopping cart abandonment, and refine product flow
through the channel, all while improving the online shopping experience for
the customer. Channel Intelligence Inc. is privately held by Aweida
Ventures, New South Ventures, private investors, and management. For more
information, contact: Channel Intelligence Inc., 1180 Celebration Blvd.,
Celebration, FL 34747; phone (321) 559-2398; fax (321) 559-2397;
www.ChannelIntelligence.com.
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