Progress Software Provides Retailers With New Ways to Maximize Conversion Rates With Latest Release of EasyAsk Software

September 18, 2007; 03:33 AM

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS), a provider of leading application infrastructure software to develop, deploy, integrate and manage business applications, today announced the availability of the latest version of the Progress® EasyAsk intelligent search, navigation and dynamic online merchandising software.

The new and powerful capabilities of the EasyAsk R10 software include an easy-to-use, intuitive, AJAX Web-based user interface that provides merchandisers with complete control over the presentation of their products sold on their e-commerce sites. With this new EasyAsk software, merchandisers can easily optimize product searches based upon a wide variety of parameters such as sales popularity and relevance, while automatically adjusting site navigation in real-time based upon search results and exploit up-sell and cross-sell opportunities. Additionally, merchandisers can manage and fine-tune search parameters themselves without needing to rely on IT resources.

“Lillian Vernon gained tremendous results using Progress EasyAsk software,” said Kristen Montella, vice president of merchandise marketing at Lillian Vernon. “We are very excited about using EasyAsk 10 software. It is clear that Progress developed this latest version with the e-commerce retailer in mind. In a single, easy-to-use interface, EasyAsk 10 software provides everything a retailer needs to have complete control over search results and how they are displayed.”

The EasyAsk 10 software helps e-commerce retailers promote specific products within a site by permitting them to identify ‘carve outs’ within search queries, highlighting individually selected items depending on the retailer’s preference. E-commerce retailers can also use EasyAsk software to identify periods of time for when each carve out will be featured, eliminating the need to create new search criteria each time a promotion begins or ends.

According to a recent AMR Research, Inc. report, “Retailers continue to integrate e-commerce aggressively into their cross-channel operations, as it represents a tremendous opportunity for growth. According to survey respondents across retail segments, their online channel represents a projected 34% of overall revenue in 2008—a growth rate of more than 42% since 2006” (The State of Cross-Channel Operations, Rob Garf and Fenella Sirksoon, AMR Research, Inc., August 2007). The AMR Research report also noted, “Online spending is now a significant percentage of overall revenue, and consumer expectations for seamless cross-channel shopping have increased.”

The EasyAsk 10 software enhances brand loyalty and conversion rates by allowing e-commerce retailers to use their industry-specific knowledge to create business rules and determine how information will be presented to the consumer. Retailers can exploit industry specific marketing knowledge, and consumer behavior information provided by EasyAsk’s analytical tool, to better reflect and act upon actual consumer behavior.

“We are proud of the Nielsen//NetRatings¹ results over the past 18 months that show sites using Progress EasyAsk software have the highest conversion rates in the industry. With the new updates to the EasyAsk software, our customers can realize even higher conversion rates,” said Larry Harris, vice president and general manager of EasyAsk products. “Creating a new simpler, single screen user interface gives merchandisers the power to create their own business rules and creates an opportunity for retailers to further increase conversion rates.

Additionally, EasyAsk software supports multiple languages as well as multi-channel strategies. Customers, sales representatives, and call center personnel have access to the same service offering information no matter how the information is accessed. EasyAsk software also offers the lowest cost of ownership, and delivers immediate results.

About Progress Software Corporation

Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS) provides application infrastructure software for the development, deployment, integration and management of business applications. Our goal is to maximize the benefits of information technology while minimizing its complexity and total cost of ownership. Progress can be reached at www.progress.com or +1-781-280-4000.

Progress and EasyAsk are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks or service marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

¹ The Nielsen//NetRatings conversion rates represent the percentage of people who buy something at an online retail site compared with the total number of people who visit that site. Conversion rates are a critical success factor for online retailers since any change upwards or downwards in these rates has an immediate and dramatic impact on their revenue.