Onyx and Deloitte Strike Alliance

CRM software vendors are realizing that service providers hold the key to unlocking greater market share. And today, Onyx Software and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu unveiled a global CRM alliance.

The deal calls for the two organization to jointly deliver CRM solutions for companies in a variety of industries and geographies. Initial focus of the agreement will be on the local government and financial service market in the United Kingdom, as well as the healthcare market in the United states. The rollout will continue across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas.

Already the Onyx- Deloitte Touche Tohamatsu relationship is paying off, both companies claim. For instance, a joint bid won a contract with the London Dourough of Brent in the United Kingdom. And three more local government authorities have also signed up. "In today's economy, companies realize the need for CRM is greater than ever, and more importantly, real ROI comes from selecting the right CRM platform and implementing it in the most cost-effective way," stated Chris Digby, global leader of the customer management service line at Deloitte Touche Tohamatsu, in a prepared statement.

Deloitte Touche Tohamatsu cited several reasons for choosing to partner with Onyx. For starters, the software developer's technology promotes rapid implementation, quick speed to business benefits and mature Internet-native technology. Nearly 85 percent of all Onyx implementations are deployed within three months, while the industry average is more than 10 months, a company spokesperson says. And Onyx costs almost 50 percent less to deploy.

More than 100 customers are already up and running on Onyx software, including American Express, Commerce One, Credit Suisse and Prudential Investments. The software promises to connect a customer's sales, marketing and service units with customers, prospects and partners. Onyx will introduce its fourth-generation Internet architecture later this summer.