Press Release
January 5, 2005
Pyxis Provides Essex Corporation with Integrated Wireless Acess to Critical Sales Data
Highlights Pyxis’ Ability to Integrate with Salesforce.com for Financial Professionals
Waltham, Massachusetts - Pyxis®, a leading provider of innovative wireless software that promotes asset growth for the investment industry, announced today that Essex Corporation, a subsidiary of Manulife Financial, implemented mWholesaler® as their mobile sales solution. mWholesaler is one of many wireless financial applications that comprise Pyxis’ mPlatform® Solutions suite. Used in conjunction with the BlackBerry® wireless solution from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq:RIMM; TSX:RIM), mWholesaler provides remote access to the Company’s existing systems, such as vital sales, CRM and enterprise data.
A key factor in Essex’ decision to purchase mWholesaler was Pyxis’ ability to integrate and deliver information from Essex’ Salesforce.com CRM database. Pyxis now has multiple implementations integrated with Salesforce.com’s CRM databases. Pyxis’ flexibility in working with different CRM and online software packages makes it the optimal mobile sales solution in the financial services industry.
Essex is one of the largest and oldest national wholesalers of annuities, mutual funds and life insurance. Essex provides products and services to over 200 banks, with clients ranging in size from $70 million to over $120 billion. The firm has 33 wholesalers spread across the United States, creating a challenge for wholesalers to be connected with client and corporate information in the field. Essex chose mWholesaler to bridge the communication gap by complementing existing technology and internal sales resources with better access to sales statistics and reporting tools for sales managers.
“We wanted to give our sales reps the best tool available to help them better manage the sales process and improve their sales,” said Tim Stoddard, National Sales Director, Essex Corporation. “mWholesaler and BlackBerry provide the ability for sales reps to get their jobs done without being tied to our main office. All the information they need is at their fingertips at all times. They can now spend more time on improving their sales instead of on their administrative responsibilities.”
"BlackBerry is an exceptional platform for mobile CRM applications, providing the security, flexibility and manageability necessary for an effective deployment in the field,” said Mark Guibert, Vice President of Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. “Together, mWholesaler and BlackBerry are helping Essex Corporation empower their sales teams and optimize workflow."
By combining mWholesaler with the company’s Salesforce.com CRM database, the Essex field sales force has industry-tailored wireless and offline access to sales reports, email, and calendar information. Mobile sales reps have read/write access to the information needed to improve sales and better manage the sales process. Additionally, internal sales staff, previously spending time supporting inquiries from the sales team, are free to work on increasing sales leads. Essex’ sales managers can now easily access updated client information, sales reports and view dealer, branch, or advisor-level data in real time.
“The Essex implementation once again highlights Pyxis’ ability to integrate with multiple sales systems,” said Shane Hughes, President, Pyxis. “The Salesforce.com CRM database is a vital part of Essex’ sales process, but the company’s sales reps also need access to sales reporting information. Now with mWholesaler the sales reps can access both databases from anywhere at any time, increasing their productivity and improving their sales.”
About Essex Corporation
Established in 1980, Essex Corporation, a subsidiary of Manulife Financial, is one of the largest and oldest national wholesalers of mutual funds, annuities and life insurance. In 1991, Essex became the first marketing company to sell over $1 billion in annuities. In 1997, sales of annuities, mutual funds and life insurance exceeded $3.3 billion. Essex provides products and services to over 200 banks, with clients ranging in size from $70 million to over $120 billion.
About Pyxis
Pyxis delivers innovative wireless software that promotes asset growth for the investment industry. Pyxis' mPlatform®Solutions provides a suite of industry tailored wireless applications that extend critical business data from existing enterprise systems to the handheld devices demanded by mobile financial professionals. To date, mPlatform applications are in use at 9 of the top 15 investment managers including PIMCO, Putnam Investments, AIM Investments, Evergreen Investments, and Manulife Financial. For more information, contact Pyxis at 781.997.0300 or visit www.pyxisit.com.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.
