ANDERLECHT, Belgium, Dec. 3, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Keyware Technologies NV ("Keyware"), (NASDAQ Europe: KEYW) (Other OTC:KEYWF) one of the world's leading providers of multi-platform smart card solutions, today announced that luxury Chocolatier Neuhaus has selected Keyware's Smart-Shopper software for its new customer loyalty program.
The project
During the first stage of the project Neuhaus will test and fine-tune its new customer loyalty program in nine (9) company-owned Neuhaus shops in Belgium. Regular visitors of these shops will receive the chip-powered Neuhaus Royalty Card. Via the card, Neuhaus wants to learn more about its customer's purchase behavior. In return, after each purchase the customers automatically collect points that are transformed into a purchase credit once a certain number of points has been collected. If the first stage proves to be successful, a second stage of the project will involve the rollout of the Neuhaus program over the rest of the shops. In the Benelux, Neuhaus has more than 75 shops. Worldwide, Neuhaus is sold in more than 50 countries.
Objectives
The objective of the program is twofold. In the short term Neuhaus will use the static and transaction data of Royalty Card to generate customer profiles: where do our customers live, what is their profession, what are their hobbies, what is their family structure, what are the characteristics that distinguish between big and small spenders, etc. At the same time the data will be used to send customers information about new collections or special promotions.
Over the long term, Neuhaus wants to use these customer and transaction data to better direct the purchase behavior of its customers and to launch effective marketing programs.
Smart-Shopper
Smart-Shopper is innovative software for customer loyalty services. It allows loyalty managers to develop or adapt their specific loyalty schemes at any moment. Smart-Shopper is set up to run in hybrid card environments and simultaneously supports bar codes, magnetic stripes and chip cards. The software offers an unlimited number of definable parameters and works with a loyalty script language to offer maximum flexibility. Smart-Shopper is available on a broad range of terminals, can be used in combination with electronic payment and is built on international standards for use worldwide. Today, more than seven million people actively use loyalty cards that run on Keyware's Smart-Shopper software.
Chris Buyse, CEO, said: "I'm pleased that once again a highly reputable company has chosen Keyware as a key technology partner. If Neuhaus and Keyware have one thing in common, it is customer care and superior product quality. It is clear that Smart-Shopper is one of the most advanced and rewarding customer loyalty software solutions on the market. It perfectly fits in any business to business or business to consumer sales environment, from simple and mass volume to complicated niche markets. We believe that Smart-Shopper will become the de facto standard for customer loyalty programs, and this deal with Neuhaus confirmed Keyware's leadership position."
About Neuhaus
Neuhaus, listed on Euronext Brussels, produces fresh chocolate since 1857. In 1912, Jean Neuhaus junior, grandson of the company founder, invented the first Belgian filled chocolate, and called it 'praline.' A few years later, his wife created the ballotin, a conic shaped box with flaps, in which all authentic Belgian pralines are since then sold.
Still today, Neuhaus, "Createur chocolatier," makes sure that it perpetuates Tradition, Quality and Prestige of its creations for the most part with traditional production and first-quality ingredients. Neuhaus is worldwide sold in more than 50 countries. In the Benelux, with more than over 75 shops, Neuhaus is market leader in the segment of luxury pralines.
In 2000 Neuhaus was officially recognized as 'Belgian Royal Warrant Holder'.
The company is headquartered in Brussels (Belgium) and presented on line at www.neuhaus.be.
About Keyware
Keyware (NASDAQ Europe: KEYW) is a leading provider of multi-application smart card solutions, for the Customer Loyalty, Event Ticketing, Electronic Payment, e-Identity, Physical Access, Logical Access, Time & Attendance and Alarm Management markets.
Keyware's award-winning technology is sold globally through an extended network of OEMs, system integrators and VARs, and its Professional Services group supports rapid integration to minimize time-to-market. Some significant customers of Keyware include: Avis, Shell, American Express, Chrysler, Citibank, Visa/Eurocard-Mastercard, Belgian National Social Security Card, Belgian National Football League, Diners Club, Cetelem, Mobistar, and Ahold. Keyware has also provided the software for more than ten (10) million health cards and over seven (7) million chip-based loyalty cards. The company is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium and presented on line at www.keyware.com.