NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - January 11, 2010) - Embracing mobile handheld devices such as
smartphones as a critical touchpoint in enabling cross-channel excellence,
Sterling Commerce, an AT&T
Inc company, announced today that it has extended several of its key
product capabilities to the Apple® iPhone® with the introduction of new
mobile applications. Two new Sterling Commerce
mobile
applications -- Sterling Store Associate Mobile and Sterling Mobile
Store Channel -- will be demonstrated at the National Retail Federation
Convention and Expo (NRF) at booth #2203.
These new applications enable anytime, anywhere access to capabilities of
key Sterling Commerce offerings as part of the company's strategy to extend
its collaborative applications and integration solutions to mobile devices.
Its first mobile applications work with Sterling Selling and Fulfillment
Suite, the company's applications suite for orchestrating the entire
inquiry-to-cash process, including order capture/management,
logistics management and
supply chain visibility.
"It's only a matter of time before most people will have some sort of
smartphone, similar to the way cell phones eventually became ubiquitous,"
said Bob Irwin, president and CEO of Sterling Commerce, "and the compelling
user interface of the iPhone makes it the perfect venue for us to explore
'The Art of the Possible' by showing companies things they might not have
even thought of doing or knew they could do with our solutions. We are
excited to introduce our new mobile offerings at NRF because retailers are
facing the greatest demand right now to make mobile devices the 'fourth
channel,' on top of in-store, Web and call center sales channels."
By offering access to the company's powerful
order management capabilities from a
mobile device, the new mobile applications help retailers enhance the
cross-channel shopping experience and improve their ability to save the
sale. The new Sterling Store Associate Mobile and Sterling Mobile Store
Channel applications work with Sterling Order Management and enable
consumers to:
-- Get the products they want when facing an out-of-stock situation --
Sterling Store Associate Mobile enables store associates to be more
effective in meeting consumer needs by finding and reserving available-to-
promise inventory and completing the sale from the mobile device,
minimizing customer wait time and inconvenience when stock is not
immediately available. The new mobile application extends access to the
capabilities of recently announced Sterling Always In Stock to the iPhone.
(see release at
http://www.sterlingcommerce.com/about/news/Storage/20091026Sterling+Commerc
e+Solves+Retailers+Out-of-Stock+Dilemma.htm)
-- Shop via their mobile device through a mobile store front -- Sterling
Mobile Store Channel provides mobile commerce capabilities for retailers to
build and deploy a mobile store presence that enables consumers to browse
available products, find inventory, select their fulfillment method, and
order and pay for products all from their mobile handheld device.
"Just as the Internet and e-commerce emerged as key elements of buying and
selling more than decade ago, mobile capabilities and m-commerce are just
another wave in how retailers and consumers can and want to leverage new
technology in doing business," said Jim Bengier, global industry executive,
Retail, at Sterling Commerce. "With a customer list that includes eight of
the world's top ten retailers, Sterling Commerce understands the key
cross-channel challenges retailers face. These new mobile applications
demonstrate our continued innovation in helping retailers deliver value in
managing and executing their
cross-channel
experience accurately, securely, and more efficiently than their
competitors."
According to an independent report, "For eBusinesses and retailers, one
clear benefit of mobile applications is how they can provide unprecedented
opportunities for cross-channel interaction; they can be the conduit that
ties the channels together, linking them through consumers' mobile
devices," wrote Brian K. Walker, senior analyst, eBusiness & Channel
Strategy ("Is The Time Right To Build A Mobile App?," Forrester Research,
Inc., October 2009).
About Sterling Commerce
Sterling Commerce, an AT&T Inc (
NYSE:
T) company, helps companies optimize
and transform their
Business Collaboration Network to
accelerate revenues and reduce costs. Sterling Commerce provides more than
30,000 customers worldwide
applications and
integration solutions to connect, communicate and collaborate
inside and outside their enterprise. More information can be found at
www.sterlingcommerce.com.
Contact Information: For more information, contact:
Julie Redard
Sterling Commerce
(978) 513-6386
Julie_Redard@stercomm.com
Jamie Leicht
Fleishman-Hillard
(619) 237-7711
jamiemarie.leicht@fleishman.com