Siebel Systems has closed one of its biggest deals ever
with Hewlett-Packard.
The compnay's CRM software will become the core system HP uses
to link its sales, marketing and call centre operations with its
partner network. HP will install a total of 16,000 CRM seats,
according to a Siebel spokeswoman.
Not only will this give the company a single view of a customer,
but it will also eliminate the expense of maintaining the existing
CRM systems, HP said.
"We estimate that the Siebel deployment will return IT savings
in the range of tens of millions of dollars," Mike Overly,
vice-president for customer operations of HP's global operation,
said.
"Siebel eBusiness Applications provide an integrated platform
enabling HP to drive operational efficiencies, while also making it
easier for our customers to do business with us."
The eBusiness applications will be a key to HP's CRM efforts to
consolidate its direct and indirect sales channels, which include
thousands of direct sales representatives, marketing professionals,
contact centre representatives and hundreds of thousands of partner
resellers around the world.
The company has already installed Siebel sales software for its
direct sales force.
HP will also use Siebel Partner Relationship Management to
manage its global network of business partners and boost
business-planning and joint sales and marketing operations.
Marc L Songini writes for Computerworld
