Over the last 12 months, StreamServe has significantly increased and strengthened its market presence, while adding new business development positions in North America and the Asia Pacific and Benelux regions, and has invested in its Marketing operations to increase brand awareness and satisfy market demand. We have also launched new applications for our award-winning Persuasion™ platform, such as StreamServe Composition Center and e-Invoice Center. Please see the "Spotlight on StreamServe Solutions" below for details.

By striving to simplify all of your document needs, we aim to increase your return on investment and success rate as well. I encourage you to contact us should you ever have questions about our solutions or need any help in achieving your future business communication goals.

 

Sincerely,

Dennis Ladd
President & Chief Executive Officer
StreamServe, Inc.

Environmental and Business Concerns 

The environment has become front and center in consumer awareness and is now a considerable business concern. StreamServe has always been focused on helping companies save costs in part by moving from paper to electronic transactions. It is exceptionally rewarding to see this philosophy and approach become a key part of business strategy and consumer demand.  

The following are some specific examples where StreamServe is helping its customers address the growing demand to cut costs, while at the same time provide more relevant, customized information to their end users.   

Changing Regulations in Electronic Invoicing 

The Netherlands' State Secretary of Finance recently eased up regulations on national electronic invoicing beginning February 16, 2009. Since Dutch companies send over 500 million VAT invoices annually, this is expected to save them over 600 million Euro. In this ruling, it is no longer necessary for Dutch companies to prove authentication of digital distributed VAT-invoices. The Netherlands State Secretary of Finance has vowed to lobby for businesses in the European Union to adopt similar guidelines for e-invoicing.

While regulations for national e-invoices are being eased in some countries, and cross border electronic invoicing is somewhat facilitated by the EU directive which all member states are to follow, cross border e-invoicing still poses challenges. Differences in how countries have implemented the directive into national legislation make it difficult for global businesses to move away from paper. StreamServe solves this problem by offering businesses a unique platform solution that enables global businesses to take advantage of the potential cost-savings of creating and distributing international (cross-border) electronic invoices. 

To learn more about how StreamServe can solve your issues around electronic invoicing, please visit the following sites:  

Swedish:  Ta det lugnt - Med E-Invoice Center blir allt mycket enklare!  
Dutch:  Bespaar met StreamServe E-Invoice Center

World Wide Energy Consumption 

How to grow revenues while encouraging customers to cut back on energy use – To address this set of conflicting objectives, utilities will focus more on deepening customer relationships at all levels of communication such as call center, correspondence, web, IVR (Interactive Voice Response) and so on. As the economies worldwide turn down, there will also be reduced power demand at least for the next 1-2 years or more. Since these are for-profit ventures, they will need to figure out new sources of revenue to offset this, and increasingly form partnerships with firms from other industries. For example, a utility working with a bank to promote special mortgage rates for those customers who install solar or wind-generating systems when they buy a new house – in turn, the utility receives a commission from the bank. 

Opportunities for StreamServe – In this context, StreamServe has several opportunity areas both to provide economic and environmental benefits to utilities and their customers. For example, we can deliver personalized, dynamically-generated bills that display usage data, and also shows a customer how their usage compares with others in their community. These bills can be delivered more efficiently in paper form by integrating marketing "onserts" right on the bill, rather than inserting a separate page with promotional offers. Similarly, we can deliver this same information electronically at much lower cost and impact to the environment. In the area of customer care, for example, a call center team member can view exactly the bill the customer received (including marketing offers), which helps simplify and shorten call times while also enables cross-sell and upsell opportunities.  

StreamServe Persuasion SP4 Is Now Available

Delivering on our promise to continually advance our solutions, this release of StreamServe Persuasion makes communicating with your customers simpler and faster.  

Specifically, we have improved the dynamic document management of our Correspondence Management Solution to help you transform ordinary customer communications and correspondence into powerful one-to-one marketing channels. And we have made several performance and deployment improvements to StreamServe Collector.   

Here are just some of the improvements included with SP4:  

StreamServe StoryTeller™ 

StoryTeller, the industry’s leading document design solution, has always provided the tools to transform ordinary business communications into targeted selling tools, and SP4 introduces two significant enhancements to help you better control your content:

• Scripting support: Allows for dynamic design and layout. Based on dynamic information and StoryTeller scripting, a user is able to dynamically change the document design and layout at runtime.

• Reusable object: Allows a user to define once a design object such as a chart, shaded drawing object or address fragment and then use the object in several places within a document or across several document templates. For example, a user defines a single address fragment that contains postal information attributes (Last Name, First Name, Street, Province and Postcode) in the US postal address format and layout. If the address fragment is modified the change is propagated to all places where the address fragment is applied.

From a compliance perspective an address fragment would pass through an internal approval process to ensure that it met company and US postal regulations. Once the address fragment had been approved it is read-only for users that need to apply the address fragment to the documents they are designing. This means that there is compliance for all documents for the address fragment.

StreamStudio Collector™

StreamStudio Collector is a document-storage solution that saves copies of business documents automatically as they are produced. It provides identical views of customer statements, invoices, and more. SP4 enhancements include:  

• Improve Search Engine: By separating transaction data from archived data we were able to significantly improve search performance.  

• Support for additional deployment model: New flexible deployment architectures is adaptable to your environment. For example, we can now support multiple Collector repositories and StreamStudio portals concurrently.  

• Collector Web Services SDK: Transparent and open architecture allows Collector to be integrated within your own applications, eliminating the need to use StreamStudio to access Collector (i.e. users can now access Collector from their SAP CRM).  

More details and documentation on SP4 will be available shortly.

Expanding Our Relations  

As businesses look inward to derive greater value from their existing assets through both process improvements and customer enrichment, the demand for StreamServe solutions has likewise increased. As we’ve seen our markets expand, so too has the need for a deeper understanding of unique customer requirements. To satisfy this demand while continuing to provide the highest possible levels of customer service and satisfaction, we’ve embarked on aggressive expansions of our partner channels as well as our enablement tools.  

StreamServe is pleased to welcome our newest partners across the globe and to acknowledge the deepened commitment of those partners who have expanded their roles with StreamServe by becoming OEM partners. A complete list of those partners and their profiles can be accessed in the StreamServe Partners section of our website.

As we continue to expand our channel we also recognize the need to enrich our partners. To best serve our clients, we need to both deepen partners’ understanding of StreamServe solutions, and equally, to learn and grow from their vast collective knowledge and experience. We firmly believe that as our StreamServe community of customers and partners grows, we create the opportunity to strengthen the value of our solutions, both today and in the future. Smarter utilization of the solutions you already own as well as future product enhancements will all benefit from information exchange.  

To this end we have just re-launched our Partner Portal as a center for information access and exchange and greater collaboration. We strongly encourage partners that haven’t taken the chance to visit the new site to do so ASAP via the Partner Portal link on StreamServe.com. With new information and features available, literally on a daily basis, there’s always reason to stop in! Partners who have not registered yet should first contact their Regional Partner Manager to get started.  

And speaking of communities, we encourage customers to take advantage of our exceptional User Portal. If you haven’t visited it, registration is simple and won’t take more than a few minutes. For those that haven’t visited lately, now is a great time for a fresh look!

 

North America

StreamServe just completed a free and highly informative webinar entitled "Electrify Your ROI," with Forrester Research Principal Analyst Craig LeClair and Peter Ruggerello, VP Business Systems Management at AmeriSource Bergen. This webinar addressed current industry trends and the rapid ROI that businesses can achieve through online document-centric transactions, such as electronic invoicing. Listen to the Webinar Now!  

On April 14^th, StreamServe and SAP will host a joint webcast featuring Paul Kurchina, President of KurMeta, a utilities consulting firm from Calgary. Join this webcast to learn more about the issues facing utilities today and what you can do to drive your cost-to-serve efficiencies while enhancing your customer communications. Look for more information on this SAP/StreamServe webcast on StreamServe’s website. 

StreamServe will host a Synergy Group at this year’s CS Week Conference in May. Synergy Groups provide a forum for Utility and government customers to discuss current issues, trends, common interests, and best practices. This event is a great way to network with your peers to exchange information, experiences and learn about new solutions. While at the CS Week Conference, stop by the StreamServe booth to learn the latest.   

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Northern Europe

Customer Day in London 
On March 6^th, StreamServe met a number of our UK and Irish customers at the Customer Day in London. The agenda included strategy, development, and product updates from StreamServe, as well as a couple of customer cases. We would like to thank those attending the event; we hope you enjoyed it. To those not able to attend but interested in knowing more about how to make the most of your solution, please visit: How to Make the Most of Your StreamServe Solution.  

Customer Communication Management
Part of how you can manage and strengthen your customer relations is by making sure you take advantage of your business documents. Documents such as invoices, order confirmations, and customer letters can be used to emphasize the value of your products and services, to educate customers, and to make personalized offers. Please go here to learn more about customer documents in the context of marketing, CRM, and cross and up sell. (Note: Content in Swedish)

Training and webinars
Make sure to register for our upcoming training courses! (Note: content in Swedish)

• We’ll be offering a webinar on April 21^st for Lawson customers. Read more about it here.
• On April 22^nd there is a Post Processing "Beyond the Basics" Workshop in Stockholm. Register here.  

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Central & Eastern Europe

Regional CEE "Connectivity Promotion"
Through April 30th, customers in the Central and Eastern European regions are being offered a special rebate on selected connectors through Channel Partners. These connectors will increase the utilization of your existing StreamServe solution and further leverage your existing infrastructure. To obtain further information on this promotion and for a list of the connectors made available through this promotion, please contact your Regional StreamServe Partner.

CEE Automobile Leasing Campaign
Automobile leasing companies need to extend their service offerings to strengthen the customer relationship without increasing their operational costs. Fleet managers require accurate and easy-to-read reports on information such as mileage, gas consumption, and any damage to their vehicles. Being able to create these customized reports and providing these services without additional effort and cost is a major advantage of StreamServe’s Output Management solution. To learn more, please contact Sirko Schoder, Sirko.schoder@streamserve.com.

CEE "SAP CRM & StreamServe – fast, secure, efficient, operative campaign management"
Together with our CRM-consulting partner, maihiro we have developed a solution for retail and corporate banking which enables companies to increase their profit from the information stored in their SAP CRM system. Because of the seamless integration into your SAP solution, marketing campaigns can be completely developed and managed from planning to distribution. To find out more or to register for a personal webinar, please visit our German site or send an email to: info.cee@streamserve.com. 

StreamServe will be co-hosting a webinar in April to give an introduction to the power of the combined StreamServe/maihiro solution. Further details will be made available on StreamServe’s website shortly. For pre-registration information, please contact Petra Warnke, petra.warnke@streamserve.com.  

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Southern Europe 

New Paris Office and Appointments in the Benelux and Southern Europe Regions
As of February 2^nd, the new address for StreamServe’s Southern European Sales & Marketing office is:

Centre d’Affaires Regus
19 boulevard de la Madeleine
75008 Paris – France  

Mr. Arjen Wiersma has recently been appointed vice president of sales & services for StreamServe in Benelux (Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg), France, Spain, Italy, and Greece. Based in the Netherlands, Wiersma will be responsible for all internal and external company activities involving indirect sales via partners. Wiersma brings to this position over 20 years of IT experience, having worked in various management and sales positions at Philips, Microsoft, Oracle and Digital Equipment Corporation. Most recently, Wiersma served as Country Manager for the sub-Sahara Africa region for BMC Software. For further information, please go here.

GulfStream - French Speaking User Group organization: New board members and Blog
The French User Group is led by a committee of StreamServe customers and partners to represent the needs and wants of StreamServe’s customer and partner base. The board members act as the official voice of the user community to provide unified feedback to StreamServe. The board members are also tasked with the development of the GulfStream Blog launched in January 2009, coordinating technical and business oriented workshops, and will be writing and distributing a newsletter. To learn more and subscribe to the newsletter: Please contact Laurence Caron, Laurence.caron@streamserve.com to become a User Group Member (no subscription fee).

Southern User Conference: A Huge Success
Over 50 attendees participated in the StreamServe User Conference in France in October, held at the prestigious Montvillargenne Castel in Chantilly, including customers such as GDF-SUEZ, Club Méditerranée and Eurocopter who shared with the audience their StreamServe customer experience. Partners in attendance included sponsors like SAP, Infoprint, Lawson and BCS. We explored ways to make the most of our customers’ investment in our software, look at new modules, discuss the future of enterprise personalization and the impact of the power of communication; the conference provided an excellent forum for increasing the knowledge of StreamServe software and services and a unique chance to do networking. You will receive shortly information about the User Conference 2009.

Upcoming events:

• StreamServe Supply Chain Conference on April 9^th, Paris, France
• Africa Banking Forum on April 9^th-10^th, Marrakech, Morocco  

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Benelux 

StreamServe will host several training workshops again this year. In the Benelux region, Solution Architect Peter Martens will deliver the "XML In and XML Out" workshop on May 20^th in StreamServe’s offices in Capelle aan den IJssel. Possible subjects for future workshops are Advanced StoryTeller and Advanced scripting. View the Benelux training schedule or register for an upcoming event.  

For the fourth time, StreamServe has been nominated for VIP Magazine’s Application Award. In February, StreamServe received 3^rd place by the magazine’s jury of editors for its customer case study on Sulzer / Eldim, which can be read in PDF format. Further information about the award can be accessed from VIP Magazine’s website.  

StreamServe will attend the Industrial Maintenance fair in Ahoy Rotterdam from April 21^st thru April 23^rd. More information can be found on this event here.  

On April 22^nd, StreamServe will attend the Microsoft Dynamic User Group event with partner Nokavision. Further information about this event can be found here. 

 

Twenty StreamServe customers recently attended a day-and-a-half Customer Council event just outside Munich, Germany. The customers represented an excellent cross-section of StreamServe’s key vertical markets and of our geographic coverage.

The session was devoted to reviewing the StreamServe technical roadmap, introducing the company 2009 strategy, discussing industry trends and presenting several case studies led by our customers.

These meetings are invaluable, and the venue provided many of our top customers with a casual environment to share information with fellow StreamServe customers. Much of the valuable feedback provided by the customers in attendance influences our product direction and serves as key topics of interest.

Customers who attended were very enthusiastic about the session and were very positive about what they heard from members of the StreamServe Management team.  In addition, all Council members agreed that this was the best event yet! With this feedback, we look forward to doing another Customer Council meeting soon.

Thank you for taking the time to read StreamServe’s latest corporate newsletter! If you have any questions, please contact your regional StreamServe representative. Alternatively, you may reach us here.