Ford of Europe Goes Live With FirePond-Powered Internet Site for Transit Vans; Ford Offers Vehicle Configuration On The Web in Four Countries
25 September 2000
Ford of Europe Goes Live With FirePond-Powered Internet Site for Transit Vans; Ford Offers Vehicle Configuration On The Web in Four Countries
WALTHAM, Mass. and LONDON--Sept. 25, 2000--FirePond , the leading global provider of integrated e-business solutions for multi-channel selling, today announced that Ford of Europe has successfully deployed FirePond Commerce to support the online marketing of its new Ford Transit product line. The FirePond-driven Ford Transit Web site has now gone live in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and France.Ford Europe initiated its e-business project to support the launch of its new Transit vans and has delivered an innovative solution that integrates a powerful new Internet channel with its strong existing dealer relationships. Following surveys among its dealers and customers, Ford Europe determined that customers wanted an advanced, consultative online tool to research personalized vehicle information prior to making a purchase decision in a dealership. Ford evaluated a number of options, ranging from in-house development to packaged solutions, and selected FirePond, based on its international capabilities, and the ability to align a consultative Internet buying experience with existing Transit branding on the Ford Transit site.
FirePond Commerce and the FirePond Business Rule Engine, FirePond's industry leading sales configurator for Internet selling, power the `Transit Configurator' on the Ford site, enabling visitors to `virtually' build, design and specify a new Ford Transit to meet their individual requirements in a matter of minutes. Users are guided through the vehicle configuration process with a series of structured questions based on the intended usage of the vehicle and the options required, enabling the system to perform a complete customer driven needs analysis. Based on the answers to these questions the system then recommends the ideal vehicle for their needs. The user can then select a Ford Transit dealer in their local area to secure the purchase.
By integrating the FirePond solution into Ford's existing Internet strategy, the company is able to offer an online configurator for the commercial vehicle market, while reinforcing its traditional dealer-based selling channel. Ford chose the FirePond technology because of its scalability and multi-lingual functionality. Initial response from Ford's customers has been very positive and the company plans to expand the offering significantly as the rollout continues.
"By giving users the ability to design their own Transit online, Ford is clearly focused on transforming the brand experience for their customers through innovative Internet initiatives," said Graham Williams, FirePond's senior vice president and managing director of Europe and Asia operations. "Users can now quickly and efficiently determine their requirements, consider the options, and make informed buying decisions prior to executing purchase transactions in a dealership. Equally behind the scenes, we are ensuring that Ford is able to capture invaluable information about their customers' preferences and requirements which will ultimately result in an even better service."
Visit the UK site at www.fordvans.co.uk - click on Information and then Transit Configurator.
About Ford
Ford Motor Company (www.ford.com) is the world's leading truck manufacturer and the second largest manufacturer of cars and trucks combined. Worldwide revenues in 1999 exceeded $162 billion with net income at a record $7.2 billion. More than 20,000 dealers serve customers in more than 200 markets. Ford's automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, Th!nk, and Volvo. Other major businesses include Ford Credit and Hertz.
About FirePond
Headquartered in Waltham, Mass., FirePond (www.firepond.com) is the leading global provider of integrated e-business solutions focused on multi-channel sales success. Our award winning technology and sales process expertise enable companies to exceed revenue goals and increase margins by taking control of every selling interaction.
The FirePond Application Suite enables companies to standardize their enterprise e-business sales strategies on a single Internet-based solution, by applying consistent, consultative selling practices across all sales channels simultaneously. Capturing real-time customer information from automated selling interactions, companies can coordinate immediate, intelligent responses to every revenue opportunity.
Some of the world's most successful companies use FirePond solutions to help them sell and distribute their complex products and services, including Freightliner, ABB, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Renault, Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Compaq, Ricoh Europe and Hitachi Construction Machinery.
FirePond and FirePond products are trademarks of FirePond, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other product or company names are the properties of their respective owners.
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 implementing the software, quarterly fluctuations in operating results attributable to the timing and amount of orders for our products and services, market acceptance of our FirePond Application Suite and its components, our ability to keep pace with changing product requirements and factors affecting the demand for e-business sales and marketing solutions, and those factors contained in the section titled Risk Factors beginning on page 4 of our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-90911) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.