What makes us different?

 

Many practitioners can claim to understand customer relationship management, while others understand the technology needed to drive it. 

Few, however, can claim to understand all both disciplines. Segar Associates do. What’s more, we also understand the business issues involved in customer relationship marketing implementation. It is this breadth of understanding that makes us unique. 

As a result, our clients enjoy significant advantages. That’s because many (if not most) customer relationship management campaigns that fall short of expectations do so because of a lack of integration.

For example, we have seen campaigns driven primarily by IT considerations. Typically, the software is impressive, the hardware costly, and the company’s internal processes poorly equipped to deliver on the potential offered by either.

In addition, the marketing department is often frustrated because the system is not designed for the marketing programmes they want, or the cost of the technology is so high that not enough remains to develop effective marketing programmes.

Similarly, without sufficient attention paid to IT – the technology frequently is unable to deliver on the promises made to customers.

Because we understand the technology, marketing and business issues involved, Segar Associates is uniquely placed to help clients steer their way through the issues surrounding a customer relationship management implementation.

Typically, we define the business issues before developing solutions, and work closely with the teams within the organisation (such as Marketing, Sales and IT) to ensure that achievable objectives and strategies are agreed on, and that these will be delivered for the least cost.

We can also recommend the appropriate technology – in many instances, the most expensive is not necessarily the best, as few companies need all the bells and whistles to achieve their marketing goals.

 

We understand Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Contrary to popular CRM belief, we understand that successful organisations do not manage their customers, their customers manage them. 

CRM is a business strategy, not a technology.

Our Principals have developed Australasia's most successful and awarded CRM product, and have implemented diverse CRM, Contact centre and marketing systems for clients such as  MasterCard, IIR, Fosters Brewing Group, Sydney Olympics, Toyota and RD1.COM.

However, we are now totally independent of any product or service, and as such can use our experience to assist our clients in defining, evaluating and implementing CRM that is appropriate for their budget and requirements.

We understand CRM.

 

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We understand Direct Marketing

Andrew Segar was a major shareholder and executive director of NZ's largest independent direct marketing advertising agency of the mid 90's - Pearson Davis.  Our Principals were both awarded account directors, strategists and awarded database marketers, providing the database services for the direct marketing.  We all know the importance of targeting and data accuracy in direct marketing. 

We understand direct marketing.

 

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We understand e-Commerce

Our Principals have implemented award winning e-commerce systems for MasterCard, from providing the data strategy through to implementing the system.

This system recognised which country the customer was either calling from or browsing from, and provided product pricing, copy and delivery details specific to that country.  The product order was then fulfilled by the supplier of that product - all electronically. 

We understand e-Commerce.

 

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We understand Closed Loop Marketing

Our bridging of IT and Marketing allows us to advise on true closed loop marketing strategies. 

Few organizations can offer this knowledge as most only understand one facet of direct marketing, IT, Net or Sales Force/Call Centre. 

We understand all and have major credentials and awards in each area. 

We understand closed loop marketing.

 

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We understand Technology

Our key people have a unique background in both IT and Marketing.  Each Principal has been an IT manager of at least one multinational organisation as well as a professional software developer.  Each has a tertiary computer science qualification.

We understand the various hardware technologies in use for CRM, sales force and contact centre, where they fit and the benefits of each. 

We are skilled software developers on a host of platforms including Microsoft's revolutionary .net (ASP.net and VB.net).

We have written a host of large systems including the Brains CRM product. 

We have implemented major direct marketing, sales force and contact centre systems as well as a host of non marketing systems in a variety of countries.

We understand technology.

 

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We understand Loyalty and Relationship Marketing

Our Principals have a decade of experience in Loyalty and Relationship programmes, from early award winning direct marketing work, for clients such as Saks and Holden, to our recent award winning work for clients such as Credit Unions of Australia and MasterCard International. 

We understand and can consult on both strategic development of a loyalty and relationship programme and the systems required to provide such a programme.  More importantly, because we understand both the strategic and technical requirements for running such a programme we can consult on the best programme for the best cost. 

We understand Loyalty and Relationship Marketing.

 

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Independence

Segar Associates is completely independent.  Unlike most consulting firms, Segar Associates do not have any preferred agency relationships or product distribution agreements.  

Our advice and recommendations are not prejudiced by our own product margins or strategic relationships, but on what we believe is best for our client. 

We are Independent.

  

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Leadership in both Marketing and IT

Having shared in and developed NZ’s largest independent advertising agency and Australasia's most successful CRM product, Segar Associates' Principals are the well qualified to provide impartial strategic and tactical data marketing knowledge.

In addition our Principals co-founded one of Australasia's most successful Loyalty Programme management companies, Global Loyalty Pty Ltd.  Global's client list includes MasterCard, Westpac and Credit Unions of Australia. 

Consequently we have an in-depth understanding of loyalty marketing and fulfillment.  Our MasterCard and Credit Unions of Australia loyalty programmes have both received Saatchi and Saatchi Nexus Gold awards.

  

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We speak both Marketing and IT

Segar Associates can talk to agency and marketers in their language and talk to IT in their language, interpreting each others requirements and issues. Our Principals have won both Direct Marketing Grand Prix and Nexus Technology awards.

Do your consultants truly understand both?

This is our greatest strength, and something that truly sets us apart from our competitors.

 

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More appropriate and efficient project management and procurement

Where our clients require new systems to augment existing systems, our prior experience as a software vendor and advertising agency means we are uniquely placed to write requests for proposals (RFP’s), identify appropriate respondents, and assist with contract and project negotiations.

We are aware of the tricks, having in depth project management experience as both a client and vendor.

  

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We deliver next generation integrated marketing technology

Segar Associates understand integrated marketing and provide a range of services, including the next generation integrated marketing and customer relationship management (CRM) tool Simplicity™, to deliver marketing capabilities to our customers at a price previously never possible.

 

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Intelligent E-Marketing and Web Site development

Most web sites are built without maximising the potential of available data to enhance their customers experience.

Segar Associates build web sites and e-marketing campaigns to take advantage of all customer intelligence that is available to create true one to one marketing and to enhance the brand experience of each customer visiting that site or receiving an email.

 

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Superior data cleansing and enhancing tools

From our many years providing direct marketing services to both agencies and clients, we have developed a series of world class data cleansing tools.  These are outlined in our Services section

 

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