Category: Marketing & e-commerce (Page 69 of 77)

Input Software, Inc. demonstrated Dynamic Dialogue, a new technology that is designed to redefine how complex business transactions – such as loan applications, mutual fund purchases, insurance claims, and complex product purchases – are conducted on the Web. Input Software’s new XML-based software product DynamicInput, based on Dynamic Dialogue technology, will help solve this problem by replacing today’s static Web forms with personalized, intelligent interactions. DynamicInput creates richer e-commerce customer interactions, which will lower abandon rates and lead to increased sales for e-businesses. DynamicInput moves transaction intelligence out to the customer’s browser. As a result, it provides both personalized content, which ensures the user is only asked questions that make sense in the context of previous answers, as well as personalized presentation formats to meet specific customer or partner needs. For example, first time users will benefit from conversational `question and answer’ formats, while repeat customers with a higher degree of aptitude may prefer form-like styles that allow rapid entry of information. DynamicInput is an extension of Input Software’s InputAccel information capture software, which is used today to connect external information with internal enterprise data systems and Web sites. The beta release of DynamicInput is scheduled for the first quarter of 2000. www.inputsw.com

Informix Corporation announced support in Informix Internet Foundation.2000 for XML. With XML, Internet Foundation.2000 customers will be able to integrate existing data with their new E-commerce applications and efficiently exchange data with their customers, partners, and suppliers. Informix also announced its strategy to support XML across all of its products. Specifically, Informix announced: XML support in Internet Foundation.2000 – Available immediately, XML is supported through the newest version of the Informix Web DataBlade module. Hierarchical XML Data Storage – Allows Internet Foundation.2000 users the ability to import, export, store and query/index XML structures in their native hierarchical format. It provides a unique performance advantage over other approaches to storing XML documents in flat relational tables, where the use of a document’s structures when processing queries is lost. In the first half of the year 2000, Informix will deliver other XML-enabled products, including a server-based workflow engine that supports the communication of XML documents and enables rules to be embedded in documents for exception handling or processing. An XML metadata repository is also in development, which will make metadata uniformly accessible to tools and applications, regardless of the data source. Other XML-related standards like XSL, XML Schema, XML Query Language (XQL), XML Linking, and XML Infoset are planned to be supported as they are finalized by the W3C. Informix also announced its membership in the W3C and OASIS. www.informix.com

Harbinger Corporation announced expansive new corporate-wide initiatives that bring XML to the forefront of its Internet E-Commerce strategy. First, Harbinger will launch an on-network XML translation service via its E-Commerce portal along with an online XML document repository that is being developed by Harbinger for its EC Resource Center (www.harbinger.net). Harbinger also plans to support XML in future releases of its suite of TrustedLink translation software. Finally, Harbinger announced that it has formed an alliance with OnDisplay, an e-business technology leader, to integrate their state-of-the-art XML products into certain of Harbinger’s products. In conjunction with these initiatives, Harbinger is working with international non-profit organizations, including UN/CEFACT and OASIS, to standardize XML business specifications and is supporting other collective efforts such as the Microsoft BizTalk Framework to drive the adoption of XML in Electronic Commerce. Harbinger plans to roll out an on-network XML translation service this December that will be available to customers using harbinger.net. The service, which automatically translates EDI documents to/from XML and will process native XML transactions as well, promises to facilitate translation and mapping in Internet electronic trading, while helping companies speed the implementation of new E-Commerce applications. The on-network service is currently in limited production tests. Harbinger also announced as part of its XML initiatives that it has entered into a significant alliance with OnDisplay. Through the relationship, Harbinger will incorporate OnDisplay’s e-business technology within its overall XML strategy, as well as within its data rationalization and content management offerings through Harbinger’s Catalog Solutions Division. The relationship additionally includes joint marketing and delivery of catalog content solutions by the companies. www.ondisplay.com. www.harbinger.net.

Bluestone Software, Inc. announced its response to the need for a comprehensive e-business solution with the launch of Total-e-Business product suite, an e-business solution that meets the demands of the people responsible for e-business operations, sales, marketing, and finance, while addressing the IS technology mandate for a non-stop, high-performance platform to support mission-critical applications. Total-e-Business combines best-of-breed components for content management, personalization, and e-commerce with Bluestone’s Sapphire/Web application server infrastructure and Bluestone XML Suite integration server -based upon Java Server Page (JSP) and XML standards. To support Web-based commerce activities, Total-e-Business e-commerce components provide the necessary pre-built e-commerce components typically required to sell goods and services over the Web, including catalog capability, shopping cart, search engine, credit card processing, tax calculation, shipping, order checking, and user registration components. The e-commerce components of Total-e-Business are based on a unique JSP and XML framework that allows for rapid integration of existing applications. Total-e-Business also comes with decision support systems to speed and simplify the entire reporting and analysis process. Total-e-Business is scheduled to ship in December 1999. www.bluestone.com

INTERSHOP Communications, Inc. announced its next generation e-business software, INTERSHOP enfinity. INTERSHOP enfinity is a complete XML and Java 2 platform-based, sell-side e-business application that offers the enterprise market advanced selling features, closely integrated with existing business systems, while providing the flexibility to grow with rapidly changing e-commerce business models. The sell-side capabilities of INTERSHOP enfinity range from intelligent marketing functionality in traditional e-commerce Web sites to supporting innovative and emerging business models. These include managing transactions on a network of affiliate Web sites; supporting machine-to-machine transactions; and integrating with vertical and horizontal portals, as well as buy-side networks, such as SAP

Pivotal Corporation announced Pivotal eRelationship 2, a B2B Web solution for increasing revenue by enhancing relationships with customers and business partners, and conducting personalized online commerce. The Pivotal eRelationship 2 solution fuses an advanced eCommerce server-the Pivotal eRelationship CommerceServer – and an intelligent business portal, the Pivotal eRelationship SmartPortal, with Pivotal’s customer relationship management applications to establish an all-Web platform for eBusiness Relationship Management (eBRM). www.pivotal.com.

net.Genesis introduced CartSmarts, a visitor-centric package that enables the segmented analysis of online browsers and buyers. A value-added component to net.Genesis’ net.Analysis solution, CartSmarts identifies online shopping habits, such as abandoned shopping carts and participation in promotions, and distinguishes characteristics between browsers versus buyers, prospective buyers, and first time and repeat buyers. With over 30 automated reports, CartSmarts’ analysis enables e-businesses to more efficiently develop and deliver tailored e-commerce programs, as well as marketing and email campaigns. www.netgen.com

Art Technology Group (ATG) announced that it is shipping an upgrade to its Dynamo product suite. Dynamo 4.5 expands the breadth of ATG’s Internet Customer Relationship Management (ICRM) offerings. Dynamo 4.5 provides infrastructure support for the XML and has been internationalized to accommodate the expanding global e-commerce market. The combination of Java and XML provides companies with an extensible platform that facilitates data access and application integration across and between enterprises. This ease of access and integration means e-businesses can speed up their initial time-to-market and react swiftly to changing market conditions. Customers can exchange information and data using applications from many third party content systems, as well as multiple back-end transaction systems and data sources across the enterprise. Dynamo 4.5 is now available. www.atg.com