LOS ANGELES -- Oct. 18, 2004 -- Schematic, a leading interactive agency that provides user interface, design and technology solutions for the Web and television, today announced that is has successfully deployed Hitachi Power Tools' Web site, distributor extranet and online CRM system. The combination of Schematic's award-winning design team, software platforms and top-tier hosting services created a powerful new Web site for Hitachi Power Tools' consumers and a comprehensive extranet for its internal marketing staff and family of more than 3,000 distributors.
"Schematic's expertise developing back-end infrastructures and interface designs proved to be a tremendous asset to us, as we needed a partner that could develop an online system that could easily be used by our customers and internal staff," said Steve Karaga, Executive Vice President, sales and marketing, Hitachi Power Tools. "Schematic created a solution that is both scalable and reliable and conveys our leadership in product engineering and design, quality of manufacture, breadth of product offerings and market reach."
For Hitachi's new Web site and extranet, Schematic developed a flexible and scalable content management and e-mail platform specifically tailored to Hitachi's needs using its c/Manager and c/Mail solutions. The solution was developed to ensure that non-technical resources would be able to keep the site updated with current products, accessories and promotions, as well as for external communications with its end users and partners.
Hitachi decided to use Schematic's c/Manager, an open, scalable, standards-based, content management software solution that is designed specifically for Web applications and serves as an ideal platform for customization and expansion. Hitachi's new extranet site now enables distributor partners to access important and updated marketing materials and pricing data. Hitachi's marketing personnel will also benefit from the new extranet, as they can leverage the easy-to-use content management suite to develop timely external communications and keep the site's content up-to-date.
Schematic's c/Mail also proved to be an important element to Hitachi's new extranet and Web site. c/Mail is Schematic's communications extension to c/Manager, providing a comprehensive suite of e-mail marketing tools. Hitachi benefits from c/Mail by being able to develop rich-media messages. Through c/Mail's powerful e-mail engine, customized e-mails are delivered quickly and efficiently and the internal staff can leverage its reporting functionality that reports deliveries, bounce-backs and undelivered e-mail.
"It was a pleasure to work cooperatively with Hitachi Power Tools to deliver a site design that reflects the exceptional quality of Hitachi's product line," said Trevor Kaufman, CEO, Schematic. "The combination of our robust back-end platforms and cutting-edge interface designs makes the Hitachi Web site and extranet a powerful resource to its customers and internal team."
About Schematic
Schematic is one of the nation's largest independent interactive agencies. Headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in New York and Atlanta, the firm provides award-winning design, user interface and technology solutions for the Web, advanced devices and television. Schematic serves clients in a variety of industries, particularly media and entertainment, healthcare, packaged goods and consumer electronics. The company develops across a wide array of platforms, including set-top boxes, game consoles, mobile devices and the Internet. Recently completed projects include Cablevision's new set-top gaming service, software application development for Nielsen, the new Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade service, Web sites for ABC and Gold's Gym, and broadcast design for the NFL Network.
