New Version Offers Enhanced Flexibility and Advanced Team-Selling Features
for Pharmaceutical Sales Force Automation
ATLANTA, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies, the
world's largest pharmaceutical sales force automation (SFA) systems provider,
today announced the release of Cornerstone(TM) Version 3.0. With new
functionality modules, team-selling features and state-of-the-art technology
enhancements, Cornerstone 3.0 is the most technically advanced, flexible and
reliable technology enabled sales (TES) product available to pharmaceutical
sales and marketing organizations around the world.
"Version 3.0 builds on the unparalleled flexibility and reliability of
Cornerstone, the world's most widely used pharmaceutical TES product," said
Doug Brainard, vice president of sales and marketing for IMS HEALTH Strategic
Technologies. "In order to provide maximum returns, TES solutions have to
conform to each client's unique business processes and be implemented without
lengthy cycles or partially tested custom code. Implementation timelines with
Cornerstone are significantly faster than our competition. Our ability to
consistently and reliably deliver full production systems means IMS HEALTH
Strategic Technologies customers experience complete utilization and returns
from rolled out systems in the same amount of time it takes others to field
test with a pilot."
Consistent with IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies' innovative leadership
in the use of technology to help clients address new business dynamics and
deliver real business results, Cornerstone 3.0 offers major advances in the
critical advanced team-selling functions that enable key program or
project/opportunity management in a highly collaborative and automated
process. This functionality is rapidly becoming the key to a pharmaceutical
company's ability to more effectively utilize critical sales resources for key
programs like product launches, regional promotions, hospital and managed care
projects and formulary placement opportunities.
Cornerstone Version 3.0 includes enhanced support for a fully integrated
adjunct Windows CE handheld PC. This highly portable device extends the core
Cornerstone application and increases system utilization in the field.
Cornerstone users can automatically synchronize data between the notebook or
desktop PC and handheld PC, giving them a more mobile platform for the
management of daily processes.
"With more than 8,000 pharmaceutical sales people using Cornerstone
handheld systems, we have continued our leadership role in producing systems
that meet both client and user needs," commented Jay Duff, senior director of
product management at IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies. "System utilization
is a must for maximum returns and our work in handheld PC integration is
helping optimize representative use in the field."
With a continuing eye on functional utilization, a new graphical Change
Notification Module also has been created for version 3.0 that provides a
summary of territory changes at the end of each communication session. Change
Notification gives users a quick, intuitive and efficient way to identify
changes in their system and business and make faster, proactive responses.
Cornerstone 3.0 is a 32-bit enabled application with a new MAPI-based
transport architecture, permitting greater flexibility in choice of
communication mechanisms for the transfer of data, readily integrating
corporate communication standards such as Lotus Notes, Microsoft Exchange or
Sterling Commerce's RemoteWare. OLE automation is supported in Cornerstone
3.0 and ActiveX controls can easily be embedded to integrate application
extensions to meet client specific requirements. Combined, these features
offer pharmaceutical sales organizations rapid implementation with
unprecedented adaptability and flexibility producing the lowest total cost of
ownership for a TES system life cycle.
Enhancements also have been made to the Cornerstone System Administration
Modules (SAMs). These new features facilitate better data and system
management, reducing maintenance support cost and accelerating data to the
field with greater accuracy. And, all Cornerstone components are Year 2000
certified.
Company Background
IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies is the leading provider of sales force
automation products and services to the pharmaceutical industry. More than
35,000 pharmaceutical executives worldwide depend on IMS HEALTH Strategic
Technologies to make business decisions each day. Services include sales
force automation systems, strategic sales and marketing information solutions,
and the provision of client-critical databases. Additional information is
available at http://www.salestech.com.
IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies is a unit of IMS HEALTH (NYSE: RX), the
world's leading provider of information solutions to the pharmaceutical and
healthcare industries. With more than $1 billion in 1997 revenue, IMS HEALTH
operates in over 90 countries. IMS HEALTH is the largest pharmaceutical
manufacturer information partner, with more than 40 years of experience in the
industry. Key products and services integral to customer day-to-day
operations include: market research for prescription and over-the-counter
pharmaceutical products; sales management information to optimize sales force
productivity; technology enabled selling solutions for sales and marketing
decision-making; and technology systems and information services that support
managed care organizations.
SOURCE IMS HEALTH Strategic Technologies
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Related links:
http://www.salestech.com
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com or
fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 115785
CONTACT:
Kristi Kovalak, kristik@duffey.com, or Rick
Toller, rickt@duffey.com, both of Duffey Communications, Inc.,
404-266-2600, for IMS HEALTH
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