Capgemini News

Based on the latest Microsoft Windows 2000 platform and applications, Infomediary-in-a-Box allows customers to specify their individual situation and responds with tailored information ‘in-a-box’ on the services and products available together with guidance or a recommendation for a best-fit solution. The range of content can be extended by the provider to include data on third party or competitor products and defined by either country or currency zone.

In the financial services sector, Infomediary-in-a-Box has been applied by institutions to tailor products to the customer based on ‘life themes’ including purchasing a first property, early retirement and financing children through university. In addition to providing a product or service recommendation suited to the customer’s individual circumstances at each stage, Infomediary-equipped web sites can suggest complementary combinations of associated financial services, personal account and mortgage equity information. The aim is to allow organisations to provide a valuable financial advice resource which enhances customer relations and increases the opportunities for cross and deep selling. 

Reinoud Karssenberg, senior consultant for Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, said: “Infomediary-in-a-Box is about more than enabling customers and sellers to do business quickly and effectively. By tailoring the service to the individual, organisations can learn about their customers leading to relationships that are far more detailed, long term and lucrative. And by proving themselves indispensable at a critical point in their customer’s life, these organisations increase the chance that customers will return when they need to again turn to a comprehensive service provider.”  

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young has built similar Infomediary-in-a-Box services for recruitment organisations, allowing job hunters to receive an immediate response proposing different job roles or functions. The concept could also be extended to help other traditional industries, such as car manufacturers, develop their customer relationships.

“In the same way that a PC manufacturer should build the device around your lifestyle, the motor manufacturer should build the vehicle around the individual,” said Karssenberg. “This doesn’t just apply to choices about the basic model of a car, or its colour and luxury features. Manufacturers should also tell you how to finance the deal, and provide you with an online history of your car so that you are automatically reminded when the next service is due.”

Infomediary-in-a-Box uses Windows 2000 to take a component-based approach to site architecture, reducing risk and enabling organisations to develop their e-business with a relatively low investment. The theme-based structure makes it possible to start off with one basic component and then add modules after prioritising product groups by their market-importance. 

About Cap Gemini Ernst & Young

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young is one of the largest management and IT consulting firms in the world and is publicly traded on the Paris Bourse. The company offers management and IT consulting services, systems integration, and technology development, design and outsourcing capabilities on a global scale to help traditional businesses and “dot companies” continue to explore growth strategies in the new economy.  The newly formed organisation employs more than 57,000 people worldwide and reports global revenues of 7.7 billion euros (1999). More information about individual service lines, offices and research is available at www.capgemini.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.

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