Power of EasyAsk unleashed at The Forum

EasyAsk is helping online retailers and other e-commerce traders to redefine aspects of their business, and this was made manifest at a well-attended launch, with leading retailers to the fore at The Forum, Bryanston.

EasyAsk is a natural language search tool that simplifies business intelligence and e-commerce search. It allows users to interrogate their systems using basic English rather than having to use complex scripting. It is as simple as using Google. The event, “Search that Means Business”, hosted in conjunction with AIGS partners WishList Corporation and SmartWorks, featured presentations on local and international customers:

Roan Bantjies, team leader for application support at UTIPharma, referred to EasyAsk as “business at a glance”. It permits quick reporting for users - day-to-day reports versus deeper BI reports.

“Its biggest advantage,” Bantjies said, “is that you don't need to be an IT specialist to use EasyAsk.”

Further value-add arises from data that is not reported on through traditional means, such as items out of stock. It also gives management a quick dashboard into the state of the business.

AIGS's Mike Perkins presented on the success at Tiger Brands, where EasyAsk is used in the HR and remuneration domains. Tiger was able to craft ad hoc questions; to eliminate duplicate ID numbers and duplicate bank accounts, to prevent people being paid after termination; and it cut out the need for report creation. It was installed within 10 days.

Mark Schnabolk, VP EasyAsk and an international retail specialist, showed how international companies are making major breakthroughs as he introduced EasyAsk eCommerce edition.

“The critical issues in eCommerce,” he said, “are search engine optimisation, the user experience, conversion rates, average order value, customer retention and making more money. The key is conversion rates.” And EasyAsk fulfils all these areas.

Schnabolk shared case studies involving world-leading retailers such as Lands' End, Gap, Grangers, GoToMarine, and Travers Tool, which had all addressed the six key issues regarding e-commerce with EasyAsk.

“EasyAsk is very excited to be a part of the South African market with AIGS,” added Schnabolk. “Its power, intuitiveness, ease of use and alignment with business make EasyAsk the holy grail of business intelligence.”

“We were delighted with the turnout for the event,” says Louise Otto, business development manager at AIGS, which also represents Progress Software in South Africa. “We fully expect this event to be the launch pad for EasyAsk to assume its rightful place in the BI and e-commerce landscape in South Africa.”