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Siemens Selects Firepond SalesPerformer to Reduce Cost of Sales and Improve ProductivityFirepond Sales Configuration System Outpaces Multiple CompetitorsMINNEAPOLIS, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 2002--Firepond (Nasdaq: FIRE - News), a leading provider of enterprise software that optimizes the process of converting leads into accurate orders, today announced that Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., has become the latest manufacturer to adopt the Firepond SalesPerformer(TM) sales configuration system. Firepond's SalesPerformer Configurator will help Siemens reduce its total cost of sales and maintain its industry-leading customer satisfaction ratings by delivering greater flexibility in the creation of customer-specific product solutions and by improving critical information flow between sales and engineering. Technology Solutions Company (Nasdaq: TSCC - News) is leading the system deployment to users across North America, which began last month. "At Siemens, we decided to deploy Firepond's configurator as a means to improve field office efficiencies," said Tom Johanson, Manager Application Libraries, Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. "Our sales and operations people today do a great job of responding to our customers' needs, but we wanted to give them a system that was more flexible and allowed them to easily create new configurations to respond to the many requests we get from building design engineers around the world. After a thorough review of the vendor landscape, Firepond was the clear choice. We considered building it ourselves, but the Firepond system met all of our criteria and will dramatically accelerate our time to deployment." Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., is the North American affiliate of Zurich-based Siemens Building Technologies AG, the leading single-source provider of cost-effective facility performance solutions for the comfort, life safety, security, energy efficiency and operation of some of the most technically advanced buildings in the world. In North America, Siemens Building Technologies employs 8,500 professionals and provides local service from more than 400 locations coast-to-coast. Worldwide, Siemens Building Technologies employs 33,000 and serves customers in more than 125 countries. Driving Down Cost of Sales In early 2002, Siemens Building Technologies launched an internal initiative to identify a technology solution to improve field productivity on major building projects. The company had determined that a small improvement in sales and operations productivity could save the company millions, further enhancing their already impressive competitiveness. To help identify a suitable solution, and help determine whether they should build or buy it, Siemens engaged in a rigorous review process. The company evaluated several vendors and determined that Firepond was the most capable of meeting its requirements. "In such a competitive market, we're pleased to have earned the trust of a company with the industry presence of Siemens," stated Klaus Besier, Firepond Chairman and CEO. "For the past 100 years, Siemens has been delivering building automation products to some of the world's most famous buildings. At Firepond, we have our own proud 20-year heritage of delivering software systems to some of the world's most important manufacturing companies. Today, we are excited to help Siemens meet two of their primary business objectives - driving down hard on its total cost of sales and maintaining high customer satisfaction. We look forward to a lasting and fruitful partnership." About Firepond, Inc. Firepond, Inc. (www.firepond.com) is a leading provider of intelligent front-office software systems that help companies more profitably turn leads into orders - whether they sell through a direct sales force, an indirect channel network or via the web. The company's SalesPerformer system guides sales people, channel partners and customers through the entire "lead-to-order" business process - delivering lead management, needs analysis, product and pricing configuration, proposal and quote generation and order capture. Companies that manufacture complex goods or maintain complex distribution networks can realize a high return on their investment in Firepond's SalesPerformer by dramatically reducing the cost of sales through improved order accuracy and shortened sales cycles. For manufacturers, Firepond's "lead-to-order" systems reduce reliance on expensive engineering resources during the sales process to configure a product that best meets customer requirements. For insurers, Firepond's "prospect-to-customer" systems accelerate sales cycles, improve broker loyalty and simplify the renewals process. By leveraging a single intelligence engine to drive the entire process across multiple sales channels, Firepond further reduces total cost of ownership. Firepond's global blue-chip customer base includes ABB, Compaq, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Freightliner, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey, John Deere, Renault VI, SBLI Mutual Life, Sikorsky Aircraft Company and Steelcase International. Portions of this release contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. We wish to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results indicated by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: difficulties with the implementation and integration of Firepond products; economic and other factors affecting the demand for e-business sales and service solutions; market acceptance of Firepond's SalesPerformer and eServicePerformer Suites and their components in chosen vertical industries; potential changes to announced financial results based upon information generated in the company's internal investigation announced on May 31, 2002; uncertainty, costs, and potential damages associated with material litigation; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; quarterly fluctuations in operating results attributable to the timing and amount of orders for our products and services; our ability to keep pace with changing product requirements; difficulties and financial burdens associated with acquisitions; and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our form 10-K filed in January, copies of which may be obtained through the SEC's website at. www.sec.gov. Firepond and Firepond product names are trademarks of Firepond, Inc. All other product or company names are the properties of their respective owners. Editorial Contact: Eric Snow Firepond, Inc. (U.S.) (781) 487-8441 eric.snow@firepond.com top of page |
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