smartFOCUS: smartFOCUS to preview new SaaS multi-channel marketing solution at TFM&A 2011

smartFOCUS, (AIM: STF), a global provider of email and multi-channel marketing software, is unveiling its new web-based Software as a Service (SaaS) marketing solution at this year's TFM&A, to be held at Earl's Court in London on 1-2 March 2011.

The new solution, known only by its code name 'Arjuna' until it is made available to the smartFOCUS global user community in the second half of the year, will directly address the many challenges faced by modern direct marketers around the globe, in particular the growing requirement to deploy and evaluate marketing efforts across all channels - including data intensive social media sites.

The name 'Arjuna' is taken from one of the Pandavas heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata and the Sanskrit for 'shining' or 'silver'. Arjuna is a comprehensive revision of smartFOCUS's core analytic and campaign management applications. It will include valuable new features such as integrated workflow management and flexible data loading capabilities that appeal to marketers who want an on-demand SaaS solution. The new suite continues to be underpinned by the company's analytic database, which scales from midmarket to enterprise volumes of data. 

At a time when business data volumes are increasing exponentially Arjuna has been developed to be more scalable and efficient than any multi-channel marketing solution previously available. A flexible web-based interface, common to all smartFOCUS applications, will soon enable marketers to leave their desks and work anywhere - even from their mobile devices. Arjuna will include smartFOCUS's implementation of Microsoft Windows's Identity Foundation, which will give marketers peace of mind that their SaaS data is secure. 
The new common interface, based on Microsoft's Silverlight, underlies Arjuna's strength to provide powerful data analysis through both a drag and drop capability and a rich user experience consistent across all devices and web-based channels. This analysis will be complemented by data visualisation and a train-of-thought process that ensures marketers can easily access data and deliver actionable insight from that data. Arjuna simplifies and enhances campaign management and leverages the Microsoft workflow engine to provide a scalable and powerful campaign management solution. 

New fulfilment channels including digital print and social media platforms will be supported alongside the existing email and offline marketing channels. Arjuna integrates with multiple data sources to ensure robust third-party web analytics capabilities, behavioural analysis and more. Marketers worldwide will benefit from the Arjuna roadmap which includes decision engines to deliver responses to end-customer actions in real-time and full-integration with leading third-party business systems such as Salesforce.com and Microsoft Dynamics.

Arjuna is initially being made available as a SaaS offering that does not place any pressure or demand on client or partner IT resources, but meets service level agreements (SLAs) expected by today's marketers. smartFOCUS marketing service providers will be able to sell Arjuna in a SaaS model or remain in the smartFOCUS traditional in-premise environment. 

Arjuna will also include a series of pre-configured settings for key company growth verticals including online retail, gaming and news media so that marketers in these areas are able to benefit from faster deployment with minimal configuration time. Arjuna will be fully integrated with the smartFOCUS email marketing solution, eChannel. The analysis and campaign management solution will also easily integrate with the company's partner service offerings including data, fulfilment, creative and email marketing. The objective is to be able to respond to marketers' requirements for integration within the entire marketing technology ecosphere, 
Curt Bloom, interim chief executive of smartFOCUS, said: 
"I am excited about the launch of the first ever complete multi-channel SaaS marketing solution which offers marketers the power they need to execute sophisticated campaigns with ease of use and flexibility that SaaS deployment enables. This solution provides marketers the capability to rapidly target, design and execute marketing campaigns without having to manage the peripheral data and application infrastructure associated with traditional analysis and campaign management engines. Beta customer feedback to date has been phenomenal and shows promising results." 

Availability and pricing:

smartFOCUS Arjuna is scheduled for launch in Summer 2011. Pricing will be made available upon the announcement of general market availability. 

About smartFOCUS: 

smartFOCUS is a leading international provider of multi-channel marketing software and services. smartFOCUS's marketing solutions integrate data to deliver the most powerful analysis and customer insight, enabling communication across the entire marketing operation. 

More than 750 companies worldwide rely on smartFOCUS to inspire customers, improve results and transform marketing performance. Clients and partners include AAA, ABN AMRO, Center Parcs, EasyJet, EMI, Equifax, Eurocamp, Harrods, Landal Green Park, lastminute.com, Manchester United FC, QVC, Rabobank, RCI-GVN, Société Générale and Sony Europe. smartFOCUS also provides marketing solutions and expertise to over 150 international news media companies, including USA Today, the New York Times Regional Media Group and the Washington Post.

smartFOCUS provides email and digital marketing with smartMARKETER eChannel, a fully on-demand digital marketing solution that serves each of its customers with email, mobile, social network, landing page, microsite and RSS channel communications. 
smartFOCUS is headquartered in Bristol, U.K., with operations in the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific. 

For more information, visit www.smartFOCUS.com

Media contacts:

Hazel Butters or Duncan Stallard
Prompt Communications on behalf of smartFOCUS
Tel: 020 8996 1653|07780 687813 
smartfocus@prompt-communications.com