New CRM Player Takes the Field

Arcidea LLC announced its official start of business today taking aim to "eliminate CRM confusion and increase the number of successful CRM implementation."

Built upon IBM's Lotus Domino platform and closely aligned with Lotus Knowledge Management products, Arcidea's eight-application product set is divided into two suites: CRM and collaborative business management (CBM). The privately held company's CRM suite includes basic applications for sales force automation, customer service, marketing management, and e-commerce. While its CBM suite takes a back-office approach, including applications for human resources, project management, office automation, and help desk functionalities.

"Our product set addresses the full breadth of all that can encompass true CRM and beyond," Thomas Dixon Jr., president of the Atlanta-based company, says. "But what's critical are the consulting services that are foundational to all our products. Blueprinting, impact studies, and process re-engineering are the real differentiators among any business software implementation. Here is where we clear up what CRM is for each customer and our people know how to perform these services better than anyone."

Out of the gate, Arcidea will focus on five vertical markets--manufacturing, medical supply, energy, financial services, and transportation--that the newly appointed executive team is familiar with, according to Andrew Graves, Arcidea's vice president of customer services. "We understand what's going on in these markets. Not only do we have experience in developing applications for these markets, we have real experience in the industries themselves. We've been there. We know the battles they fight and we know how to help them win."

In additions to Graves, who has nine years of experience, and Dixon,a 16-year business practices veteran, Arcidea launched with Donald Rigby, whose 20 years of marketing experience include call-center operations and brand management, as vice president of sales; and Vice President of Marketing and strategy Charles Letbetter, who has experience with start-ups and international business.