NEW YORK, NY - February 20, 2002 - LivePerson, Inc., a leading provider of business messaging and customer service solutions, has partnered with LaGarde, a provider of comprehensive e-commerce solutions for small and medium online merchants, to officially launch a fully functional business messaging e-commerce platform.
The LivePerson Business Messaging solution to support online sales and customer service will be included in the LaGarde commerce platforms-StoreFront 5.0 and StoreFront Now. The user-friendly interface will be available to shoppers by clicking the LivePerson Live Help button, which will be automatically embedded into a merchant's Online store.
"LaGarde included the LivePerson messaging application as part of its e-commerce platform because of the value that it will bring to merchants," says Bob LaGarde Founder and CEO of LaGarde. "Our customers requested a way to interact closely with their website visitors and the LivePerson real-time customer service tool was the perfect solution. The LivePerson Business Messaging solution will enable our customers to increase sales and provide a premier level of customer service to shoppers."
When a shopper visits a StoreFront Now LivePerson enabled site, the merchant will be immediately notified that a visitor is at their "front door." As customers move around the website, the merchant can engage customers by proactively greeting them and inviting them to chat online. The merchant can then provide personalized assistance and even recommend items. Customers in need of assistance also have the option to reach out to the merchant by clicking the LivePerson button on their StoreFront Now site. The LivePerson Business Messaging solution allows merchants to chat with multiple individuals privately and simultaneously, which alleviates customer frustration and reduces costs. Online customer service agents will also be able to use the LivePerson Click-to-Chat technology within emails bringing an email to life.
"LaGarde merchants using LivePerson Business Messaging solutions will likely benefit from lowered shopping cart abandonment rates and increased customer loyalty," says Robert LoCascio, CEO of LivePerson. "LivePerson's customers have demonstrated that offering immediate and personal assistance to website visitors can mean the difference between gaining or losing a sale."
Business messaging is fast becoming an essential service in the e-commerce marketplace according to Basex -- a New York-based analyst firm. According to the Basex report, e-tailers could increase online sales by as much as $20 billion per year through the introduction of "presence" technology services such as instant messaging (IM). The Basex report, titled "Online Presence: Business Begins 'Here'," says that interacting with e-customers via IM -- when backed by a navigable site and a quality customer experience -- could significantly reduce abandoned shopping carts, thereby markedly boosting sales.
To view the live StoreFront Now demo please log on to http://www.liveperson.com/storefront.
LivePerson (http://www.liveperson.com/) is a leading Application Service Provider (ASP) of technology facilitating real-time sales and customer service for companies doing business on the Internet. The LivePerson service enables online businesses to communicate with Internet users in real time, thereby enhancing the online experience. With LivePerson Exchange, consisting of secure business messaging, FAQ, Email and Document Management, LivePerson offers clients the opportunity to increase sales, lower customer service costs and increase responsiveness to customer needs. LivePerson is headquartered in New York City.
Media Contact: Maria Gomez Ali Ketchum
LivePerson, Inc. LaGarde
212-609-4219 785-830-9800 ext. 21
mgomez@liveperson.com a.ketchum@LaGarde.com
SOURCE: LivePerson, Inc.
CONTACT: Younjee Kim, +1-212-609-4222, ykim@liveperson.com
Mike Tague
mtague@liveperson.com