Press releases

Seven Three teams up for success

IT giant Microsoft has selected a Coventry company to help launch a new product later this year.

SevenThree Limited, which specialises in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, has become one of only a handful of UK companies to help Microsoft prepare for the launch of its new CRM software planned for the end of 2003.

CRM software is designed to help businesses monitor closely their dealings with individual clients, making their operations more efficient and helping them hold on to their customers for longer.

Marketing Director Claire McLoughlin said it was SevenThree's reputation as leading CRM suppliers to the construction industry that appealed to Microsoft.

She said the company, based at the University of Warwick Science Park's Business Innovation Centre in Binley, was now expecting to increase turnover by over 20 per cent in the next 12 months.

She said: "We deal with all elements of construction, from materials suppliers to builders and architects, and it is undoubtedly our expertise in that field that has given us the edge.

"CRM software really looks set to take off in a big way now Microsoft are involved. It is aimed squarely at mid-sized businesses, as well as divisions of larger businesses, and allows them to maintain contact with their clients more easily.

"It covers sales, marketing and customer service contacts, and can log complaints and technical inquiries, to make sure every phone call is dealt with through to its conclusion.

"With the marketing muscle of Microsoft and the fact that it looks like, and works with already-established Microsoft products - such as Word and Outook - this product is set to soon become the CRM market leader.

"And we, as SevenThree, now have the chance to become firmly established as the leading player in the construction sector. Whilst Microsoft will eventually sell the product through their existing partners for their other products, our involvement as a launch partner has given us a head start.

Karen Aston, Business Innovation Centre Manager, congratulated SevenThree on its success.

She said: "In many ways SevenThree is an ideal example of what the Innovation Centre is all about.

"SevenThree came here as a rapidly-growing company and we have given it the freedom to move onwards and upwards.

"The set-up here allows companies the elbow-room to concentrate on the important aspects of running a business and developing new clients.

"Now SevenThree's work has caught the eye of one of the world's biggest companies which shows there is no limit to what can be achieved here."

14/10/2003