Palm and Siebel Systems Form Alliance to Deliver Handheld eBusiness Solutions

Strategic Insights -

Palm, Inc., a 3Com Company, and Siebel Systems, Inc. announced a strategic alliance to jointly market and sell handheld eBusiness solutions. This partnership aims to integrate Siebel's eBusiness solutions with Palm's handheld devices, allowing users to synchronize data between Siebel and Palm applications. The solution will be available in Siebel 2000, scheduled for release in the spring.

Key Takeaways:

  • The alliance will enable businesses to streamline the collection of information, improve efficiency of business processes, and ensure the overall accuracy of corporate data through mobile access to up-to-date customer information.
  • The deployment of handheld solutions will enable companies to deliver timely and seamless customer service across multiple points of interaction.
  • Handheld solutions will provide a compelling platform to gather data by mobile workers to fully understand customer buying cycles.
  • The integration of Siebel and Palm applications will empower mobile workers with the information in their Siebel database on any products based on the Palm OS software.
  • The partnership will team to deliver handheld solutions that enable mobile workers, such as field sales and field service professionals, to deliver dramatically higher levels of customer and partner satisfaction.
  • Industry analysts emphasize the need for all businesses to leverage technology to gain a comprehensive view of their customers.
  • Integrated hybrid selling systems will be the dominant driver of revenue growth, customer relationship quality, and selling effectiveness.
  • The partnership is expected to help companies compete more effectively by putting vital customer information in the hands of mobile professionals.

Statistics:

  • Palm, Inc. is the leading provider of personal companion products, including the best-selling Palm III, Palm V, and Palm VII series of handheld computers (IDC, May 1999).
  • 3Com Corporation has over 300 million customer connections worldwide.
  • Siebel Systems is the world's leading provider of eBusiness applications software, providing an integrated family of eBusiness application software to over 4,500 customers.

Sources:

  • 3Com Corporation (www.3com.com)
  • IDC (Information Technology Research and Advisory Firm)
  • IMT Strategies (September 1999 study)
  • IBM (Statement from Stephanie Hahn, General Manager, Customer Relationship Management)
  • Siebel Systems (www.Siebel.com)
  • Palm, Inc. (www.palm.com)