Saab Standardizes on Siebel eBusiness Applications
SAN MATEO, Calif.--June 12, 2001--Siebel Systems, Inc. , the world's leading provider of eBusiness applications software, today announced that Saab, the leading Swedish car manufacturer, has standardized on Siebel eBusiness Applications. By enabling the company's sales, service and dealer organizations to seamlessly share customer information, Siebel eAutomotive, a version of Siebel eBusiness Applications specifically tailored for the automotive industry, will enable Saab to significantly enhance its ability to acquire, service and retain customers worldwide.
Saab's dealers have traditionally owned the relationship with each customer in every car market worldwide. Due to the emergence of the Internet as a research tool and purchase channel, continuing automotive industry consolidation, and an increasingly sophisticated customer base, Saab recognized the need for improved collaboration with its dealers to achieve a complete understanding of their customers. By implementing Siebel eAutomotive globally, Saab is creating a single, comprehensive view of the customer. This approach will enable the company to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty by improving the customer ownership experience, increase sales, execute tailored marketing campaigns and reduce technology costs.
With Siebel eAutomotive, Saab's customers will be able to communicate with the company through whichever channel is most convenient to them -- including the Internet, over the telephone, or face-to-face with a dealer -- concerning a broad range of sales and service inquiries. By managing all aspects of the customer relationship, including vehicle information, vehicle configuration, dealer location, vehicle service, and related merchandise information, Siebel eAutomotive enables both Saab and its dealers to increase vehicle sales and service revenue, and vehicle merchandise sales, while reducing overall costs and increasing productivity.
Using Siebel eDealer, a module of Siebel eAutomotive, Saab will maintain seamless communication with each of its dealers through the Internet, assign leads from marketing campaigns to the appropriate dealers, and manage these leads to ensure closure -- improving customer acquisition and retention. Using Siebel eCustomer, an additional component of Siebel eAutomotive, customers will communicate with their local dealer through the Internet concerning a host of issues, including arranging a test-drive, scheduling service or inquiring about an existing order. This approach will significantly improve Saab's understanding of its customers and their needs, enhancing customer and dealer relationships, while maximizing vehicle sales, service and merchandise revenues.
"Vehicle customers today expect unprecedented service. To prosper, Saab must make it as easy as possible for each and every customer to do business with us -- and that means building closer relationships with customers and dealers," says Katja Widlund, CRM Manager, Saab Automotive. "Using Siebel eAutomotive, we are integrating all our channels of communication to provide customers with a richly rewarding experience. The approach not only enhances Saab's ability to sell more vehicles, and improve customer satisfaction, it also strengthens our relationships with dealers -- including collaborative marketing, lead generation and service administration."