Angel.com and National Directory Information Services Join Forces to Serve Pharmaceutical Companies with IVR Solution for New Marketing Program
Companies Create Application for Activation of Co-Pay Reduction Cards for New Prescriptions and Collection of Survey Data
McLean, Va. (March 07, 2006) –
Angel.com, a leading provider of on-demand call center and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solutions and a division of MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), today announced that National Directory Information Services, LLC is using Angel.com technology to provide major pharmaceutical companies with an IVR solution to support national marketing programs.
The solution incorporates web and phone-based activation of co-pay reduction cards for new prescriptions. When patients receive these cards from their doctor, they can call a toll-free number – powered by Angel.com – to activate the card, which can then be used to reduce payment toward a new prescription. Through early tracking of the program, National Directory Information Services has found that approximately 80 percent of consumers rely on the phone, as opposed to a companion web interface, for activation.
The web and IVR applications were developed by National Directory Information Services utilizing its proprietary 411XML® directory technology and Angel.com’s SiteBuilder on-demand IVR solution. Other companies involved in the solution include D2M Solutions, Inc., the technology provider for the card manufacturing, banking transactions and overall data-tracking solution; and The Macaluso Group, a pharmaceutical-industry marketing company.
“The transactional capabilities of Angel.com’s technology allow us to facilitate the steps of the activation process through a phone call in a similar fashion to a web application,” said Richard Weerts, principal and co-founder of National Directory Information Services. “The web and IVR applications are completely integrated and meet banking requirements for cardholder identification while protecting the consumer’s privacy. We could not have created this application without Angel.com’s superior IVR solution.”
The application also includes the ability for the caller to opt-in to receive additional information by mail, and asks a few simple but important survey questions to help the pharmaceutical company better understand patient needs. The entire call takes just four to six minutes using professionally recorded prompts and Angel.com’s accurate and reliable speech recognition technology.
“At Angel.com, we are amazed and inspired on a daily basis by companies that turn to our technology to create innovative and exciting new applications,” said Michael Zirngibl, President and CEO of Angel.com. “The fact that 80 percent of new co-pay reduction card activations take place over the phone rather than through the web interface provides further evidence for our belief that our technology has meaningful, long-term relevance. We are extremely pleased to be a part of an important marketing initiative on the part of large and successful pharmaceutical companies.”
One of the most active programs in use by a pharmaceutical company currently registers more than 7,500 new activations per month. The application can also be used by companies in other industries to provide incentives for new customers in a similar debit card format.
About National Directory Information Services/411XML®
National Directory Information Services LLC is the leading developer of automated directory assistance information for companies that need fast and accurate electronic data for sales, customer care and operations. The company’s primary product line, 411XML, provides directory data in real time to interactive voice response applications, call center agent screens or any Internet-enabled application with an unprecedented level of accuracy. The privately held company is headquartered in Orinda, California. For more information, call (800) 396-3179, email info@411XML.com or go online to www.411XML.com.
411XML is a registered trademark of National Directory Information Services. Other product or company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
About Angel.com
Angel.com is a leading provider of on-demand call center and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solutions, which enable organizations of all sizes to quickly deploy powerful telephony applications. More than 1,500 customers turn to Angel.com’s patented Voice Site technology to power customer service and marketing phone numbers using intelligent speech recognition that can automate most phone-based interactions. With an innovative Internet-based solution that requires no investment in hardware, software, or human resources, Angel.com balances the need for high quality communications with affordable pay-as-you-go pricing.
About MicroStrategy
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is available at www.microstrategy.com.
MicroStrategy, Angel.com, Site Builder are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Mike Sweeney
Angel.com
(703) 770-1352
sweeney@angel.com
Source: MicroStrategy