CHICAGO, March 4, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nikon Inc., the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology, announces that it has partnered with hybris software, an SAP company and the world's fastest growing commerce platform provider, to expand and enhance its B2B and B2C e-commerce offerings, catering to more customers in the U.S.

Nikon is involved in a broad spectrum of businesses centered on specializations in imaging products, precision equipment and instruments. As a global leader in imaging products and photographic technology, the company is dedicated to providing the kind of products and technologies that exceed customer expectations in both the B2C and B2B categories.

Recognizing that today's B2B buyers demand online shopping experiences that are on par with the experiences they receive from their favorite consumer retail brands, Nikon launched an initiative to improve its e-commerce capabilities, bringing B2C e-commerce experiences to the brand's B2B customer base.

By selecting the hybris Commerce Suite, Nikon gained the ability to easily update its website to feature new products and product information, and meet the changing needs of its customers, whether they are photography novices or knowledgeable commercial buyers. The site's improved functionality makes it possible for customers to easily search and compare products, and access expert tips on product usage. hybris' platform is highly flexible with customizable features, which is important to Nikon, enabling the brand to evolve with the modern consumer.

The implementation of hybris technology also enables Nikon to realize several important business benefits. Equipped with a best-in-class commerce platform, Nikon can expand its product assortment and reach customers in new regions, driving increased sales. At the same time, hybris gives Nikon a solid B2B platform that enables the company to better serve the Nikon Dealer Network. Overall, the site's robust commerce features will attract more customers and strengthen consumers' perception of the Nikon brand.

"As an early adopter and consumer-centric brand, we want to take more control of our customers' e-commerce experience," said David Dentry, senior general manager of customer experience at Nikon. "Partnering with hybris, an industry leader with expertise in both B2B and B2C e-commerce, enables us to keep pace with market trends and easily tailor our site to meet customer expectations, which ultimately drives sales and loyalty."

hybris technology fills a critical need in the marketplace for B2B brands that are interested in delivering enhanced B2C-like features to their customers. A powerful and scalable single-stack solution, the hybris platform enables growth-minded organizations to more effectively create and manage highly personalized customer experiences, generating added value for customers as well as the company.

"hybris' continuous development in commerce technology, especially in the B2B space, makes it one of the top e-commerce providers in the world," said Steven Kramer, executive vice president sales Americas at hybris. "Nikon recognizes the importance of providing businesses with a premium B2B site, and we are able to equip them with an advanced commerce platform that merges B2B and B2C features in one place."

Nikon's enhanced site went live in the fourth quarter of 2013 in English, allowing Nikon to introduce new e-commerce features to the U.S. market, effectively driving sales and establishing a foundational commerce platform for expanded product assortment across regions. Over the next few months, additional sites will launch in three languages (Spanish, Portuguese and French) to serve the needs of North and South American customers.

For more information about the hybris Commerce Suite, visit http://hybris.com/en/products/product-overview.

About hybris software

hybris software, an SAP Company, helps businesses around the globe sell more goods, services and digital content through every touchpoint, channel and device. hybris delivers OmniCommerce™: state-of-the-art master data management for commerce and unified commerce processes that give a business a single view of its customers, products and orders, and its customers a single view of the business. hybris' omni-channel software is built on a single platform, based on open standards, that is agile to support limitless innovation, efficient to drive the best TCO, and scalable and extensible to be the last commerce platform companies will ever need. Both principal industry analyst firms rank hybris as a "leader" and list its commerce platform among the top two or three in the market. The same software is available on-premise, on-demand and managed hosted, giving merchants of all sizes maximum flexibility. Over 500 companies have chosen hybris, including global B2B sites W.W.Grainger, Rexel, General Electric, Thomson Reuters and 3M as well as consumer brands Toys"R"Us, Metro, Bridgestone, Levi's, Nikon, Galeries Lafayette, Migros, Nespresso and Lufthansa. hybris is the future of commerce™. For more information, visit www.hybris.com.

About Nikon

Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics as well as the Nikon 1 advanced camera with interchangeable lens system. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of the Nikon Inc., recently celebrated its 80th anniversary of NIKKOR optics, and announced the production of over 80 million NIKKOR lenses in 2013, creating a new milestone in Nikon's heritage of superior optics.