Week in Review: April 25, 2003
In the news...
Best Software has announced a strategic reorganization designed to consolidate and strengthen its customer and channel-facing programs. The corporate structure has been downsized from six divisions to two, a Mid-Market Division and a Small Business Division. The company says Mid-Market Division will be responsible for the development of the company's CRM solution SalesLogix; ACT! will be handled by the Small Business Division. "We have a successful history of acquiring both new companies and customer bases, and this new organization creates additional flexibility for us to maintain this core strategy so we can continue to adapt to changing markets, both today and in the future," CEO Ron Verni said in a statement. "Pooling our collective resources will enable us to better leverage efficiencies across the company and help drive business results, while presenting one face to our business partners and customers."
Dendrite International announced that it has made a proposal to the board of directors of Synavant, which provides CRM solutions for the pharmaceutical industry, to acquire all of the company's outstanding shares at a cash price of $2.50 per share. Dendrite says this represents almost a 9 percent premium over the $2.30 per share price Cegedim, S.A. has agreed to pay Synavant in their proposed merger.
Exact Software announced that its e-Synergy CRM software now fully integrates with Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics ERP solution. The integrated solution is designed for smaller companies looking for a cost-effective CRM solution that fully integrates into the back office, according to Mike House, product manager for e-Synergy.
Green Beacon Solutions, a CRM consulting and systems integration firm, has been named a Vaultus Gold Partner. Green Beacon says it can now provide wireless and disconnected PDA-based solutions for clients built upon the Vaultus Mobile Application Framework. Green Beacon says it plans to provide a Mobile CRM client for salespeople that will support Microsoft CRM, Clientele, Talisma, and Onyx Software products.
Executive changes...
Salesforce.com this week announced that Craig Ramsey, former vice president of worldwide sales for Siebel Systems, has been elected to Salesforce.com's board of directors.
E.piphany today announced that Fred Anderson, Apple Computer's executive vice president and chief financial officer, has agreed to join E.piphany's board of directors, pending his election at the company's annual meeting on May 30, 2003.