Parature European Users' Group - February 16-17, 2010

Parature traveled to London to host two events this week; a prospect event, Parature Customer Experience Seminar, on Wednesday, February 17th, and a customer event, Parature European Users’ Group, February 16th – 17th.

We will be hosting a Welcome Reception & Dinner on Tuesday night for prospects, customers, and partners. Check out the agendas by clicking on the event links.

The Parature Customer Experience Seminar will entail a keynote by Sahar Hashemi, Co-founder of Coffee Republic, a demonstration of Parature Customer Service^TM software, a presentation from one of our new partners, Get Satisfaction, and will be emceed by Parature Account Executive, Rick Niles.

The Parature European Users’ Group will include (3) hours of Parature hands-on training by Parature Training Manager, Lisa Flynn, keynote by Sahar Hashemi, Executive Address by Tim Davenport, Product Roadmap session by Cindy Cruzado, Get Satisfaction presentation, three customer presentations from Seatwave, Huddle, and Serco, and will be emceed by Parature Director of Account Management, Bob Rosenau.

We are very excited about the great interest and registrations for this event!

Parature European Users' Group - February 16-17, 2010

We announced today our European Users’ Group to be held February 16 – 17, 2010 at The Cumberland in London. This customer centric event will allow Parature users in Europe to gain invaluable knowledge from industry experts and thought leaders, while networking with colleagues and peers.

The Parature European Users’ Group is a complimentary customer event that will feature an opening night welcome reception, Parature Customer Service™ software training led by Parature Professional Services, a diverse mix of customer service and support best practices presentations, and the opportunity to meet with several key members of the Parature team.

“We are delighted to bring our customers, partners and other industry experts together in London for the Parature European Users’ Group,” said Parature Vice President of Marketing, Gary McNeil. “This event provides our European customers the opportunity to share some of the most compelling stories around customer service and the customer experience while facilitating insightful discussions. This gathering is just another example of how Parature continues to deliver the technology and thought leadership that the industry and our customers have come to expect from us.”

Please visit the Parature European Users’ Group website for complimentary conference registration and additional information.

ParaFest '10 - Call for Speakers

Speaking at ParaFest ‘10, being held at the hip, rock-n-roll Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, is a great way of sharing your passion and expertise with industry peers and colleagues. Parature is seeking customer service experts and industry thought leaders who want to share their Parature Customer Service™ software and industry knowledge with users attending the conference. All session speakers will be entitled to one (1) complimentary conference registration OR one (1) night complimentary guest room.

Sessions

ParaFest ‘10 will feature both industry and product specific sessions. We invite presenters to submit proposals on Best Practices in Customer Service & Support Using Parature Customer Service™ Software.

Sessions will be 50 minutes, to include presentation time and a question and answer period. We are accepting session proposals online and you may submit more than one proposal. The submission deadline is Friday, January 15, 2010.

For users not interested in a speaking opportunity, we welcome your ideas for topics you would like to see presented at ParaFest ‘10.

ParaFest '10 - May 4-6, 2010 - Las Vegas

We announced today that our sixth annual users’ conference, ParaFest ’10 will be held May 4 - 6, 2010 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. This customer focused conference will allow Parature users from around the world to gain invaluable knowledge from industry experts and thought leaders, while networking with colleagues and peers.

ParaFest ’10 will feature hands-on training sessions led by the Parature Professional Services team and a diverse mix of customer service and support best practices sessions led by Parature customers as well as other industry experts. Attendees will have a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, share industry insights and trends, and network with their peers as well as Parature executives and staff. The popular ParaFest Zone will be available for participants to meet with Parature experts and partners, experience new product features and learn tips and techniques on how to further strengthen their investment in Parature Customer Service™ software.

“We are delighted to be bringing our customers, partners, employees and other industry experts back together in Las Vegas for ParaFest ‘10,” said Parature Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Duke Chung. “ParaFest provides our customers with the opportunity to share some of the most thought provoking discussions around customer service and the customer experience today and is just another example of how Parature continues to deliver the compelling technology and leadership that the industry and our customers have come to expect from us.”

Parature is seeking customer service experts and thought leaders who want to share their Parature Customer Service software and industry knowledge with users attending the conference. Session proposals are being accepted online until January 15, 2010.

Attendees registering for ParaFest ’10 by January 31, 2010 will receive a $200 discount off of the regular rate. Please visit the ParaFest website for conference registration and additional information.

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Every day, more than 2,000 online business sites globally – with transactions representing over $20 billion per year – rely on Coremetrics to optimize their online marketing.

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Parature and ThePort™ Network Announce Strategic Partnership

Parature announced today a referral partnership agreement with ThePort™ Network, social media solutions provider for associations and nonprofit organizations. Parature and ThePort Network, both software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers, have a significant focus on the association and nonprofit markets.

“As a leader in on-demand customer service software, we are delighted to enter into a partnership with a proven social media solutions provider,” said Parature Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Duke Chung. “Parature is one of the fastest growing customer service and support software companies in the United States and this partnership is a logical next step to expand our footprint in the association and nonprofit communities.”

“As the leader in providing social networking communities for associations and nonprofit organizations, we are very excited to partner with such an outstanding organization as Parature,” said Bob Cramer, CEO and Chairman of ThePort Network. “This partnership opens new opportunities to help organizations utilize our Social Media Solutions to better engage their members and provide members new ways to connect.”

ThePort™ Network, Inc. delivers Social Media Solutions that help nonprofit organizations and associations engage their members. With our integrated suite of proven social media solutions, organizations build online communities that promote new activity among constituents, generate more participation, and ultimately create more support for the organization. ThePort customers include such world-renowned organizations as Sierra Club, Arthritis Foundation and American College of Healthcare Executives.

Rosetta Stone Focuses on Customer Success with Parature Customer Service™ Software

Parature announced today that Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE) , a leading provider of technology-based language learning solutions, selected Parature Customer Service™ software to efficiently manage their customer service and strategically support their customer-centric focus.

“Rosetta Stone is committed to changing the way the world learns languages. With the introduction of our innovative, online language-learning solution, Rosetta Stone® TOTALe™, we are completely focused on our customers’ success and making the learning experience truly enjoyable,” said Jay Topper, vice president of customer success, Rosetta Stone.

Rosetta Stone TOTALe builds on and enhances the effectiveness of the award-winning Rosetta Course™ by seamlessly integrating it with coach-led practice sessions, fun and engaging language games, access to native speakers and encouragement from customer success agents – all live and online. Rosetta Stone TOTALe learners will have their own Customer Success Team providing live guidance and encouragement every step of the way. Whether it’s explaining the method, answering questions or just helping to schedule a Studio session, Success Agents are committed to helping learners achieve their language goals. Parature Customer Service software supports Rosetta Stone and the company’s customer-centric environment via its multi-channel support offerings, including an integrated customer portal, chat, knowledgebase, ticket system, as well as other Parature modules, so that customers can choose their preferred method of support.

“We selected Parature because they deliver on the promise of multi-channel customer service and they understand our strategy and the importance of our customers’ success,” added Mr. Topper. “From the beginning, Parature’s ability to see us as a visionary organization, along with their willingness to accept feedback and to work diligently to help us facilitate our initiatives has been invaluable. Rosetta Stone and Parature share a common philosophy; to listen to our customers and make our products better. This synergy creates a great partnership.”

“Rosetta Stone is known for its customer service and we are delighted that they chose Parature Customer Service software to help manage the customer experience,” said Parature Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Duke Chung. “Parature is committed to setting the standard for support teams worldwide with our customer service software suite which integrates a customer portal, knowledgebase, ticketing, chat and a host of other modules in one dynamic, tightly unified system that can manage all the support needs of any organization. We will continue championing the way by bringing the most advanced software to market, providing the smartest, most efficient way for organizations to support their customers, increase retention and reduce costs.”

Parature Ranked Number 235 Fastest Growing Company in North America on Deloitte’s 2009 Technology Fast 500

Parature announced today that it ranked number 235 on Technology Fast 500™, Deloitte LLP’s ranking of 500 of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America. Rankings are based on percentage of fiscal year revenue growth during the five year period from 2004-2008. Parature grew 565 percent during this period.

Parature Founder, Duke Chung credits the vast market Parature serves, the advanced technology it delivers and their visionary customers with the company’s 565 percent revenue growth over the past five years. “Parature is honored to be included in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ for North America,” stated Chung. “To be ranked 235 out of 500 fast growth companies in the country is an outstanding accomplishment. Parature will continue to set the standard for support teams worldwide by providing the smartest, most efficient way for organizations to serve their customers.”

Technology Fast 500™ Selection and Qualifying Criteria Technology Fast 500™ provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America. This ranking is compiled from nominations submitted directly to the Technology Fast 500™ website, and public company database research conducted by Deloitte LLP. Technology Fast 500™ award winners for 2009 are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth during the five year period from 2004 to 2008.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500™ recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or proprietary technology that contributes to a significant portion of the company’s operating revenues. Using other companies’ technology or intellectual property in a unique way does not satisfy this requirement. Consulting companies, professional service firms, etc. are not eligible unless they have proprietary technology that contributes to a significant portion of their operating revenues.

Technology Fast 500™ award eligibility requirements include a base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD or CD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD or CD. Additionally, these revenues must have more than doubled between 2004 and 2008. Also, companies must be in business for a minimum of five years, and be headquartered within North America.

Mr. Davenport most recently served as president of Revolution Health Network. Preceding his position at Revolution Health Network, he was the CEO of Vastera which sold to JP Morgan Chase in 2005. Prior to that, he served as CEO of Best Software, where he oversaw the company’s IPO in 1997, as well as its purchase by the Sage Group plc in 2000. Mr. Davenport has also served as an executive with a number of public and private technology companies, including Lotus Development and McGraw Hill. He has also held board positions in a number of successful technology companies including Axent Technologies, Softrax, Serena Software and CorasWorks Corporation.

“We are extremely excited that Tim has chosen to join Parature to help accelerate our worldwide growth,” stated Mr. Chung. “Tim’s leadership skills and extensive experience in the software industry make him the perfect fit to help guide us through this next phase of expansion. His valuable insight and remarkable management experience will further distinguish us as one of the fastest growing software companies in North America.”

Former CEO and founder Duke Chung will be responsible for thought leadership and analysis of growth strategies including corporate development, acquisitions, international expansion, new products, partnerships and channels, and represent the face of the company across key industry events worldwide.

“Parature is a great company with a terrific track record of high growth and customer success, and has a staff of highly skilled and dedicated employees,” stated Mr. Davenport. “Parature has done a tremendous job under Duke’s extraordinary leadership and I look forward to being part of a world-class team that continues to deliver great products and services to our customers.”

Download the IGN success story

In the U.S. alone, computer and videogame software sales topped $11.7 billion in 2008. In this hot market, millions of devoted gaming fans are online looking for the latest content, news and tips to enrich the gaming experience – and many of them are going to IGN Entertainment sites.

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