SoundBite Intelligent Communications Platform Enables Retailers to Grow Revenue and Enhance Brand Loyalty

Multi-Channel Communications Strategy a Key Component in Maximizing Results; SoundBite Executive to Speak On the Topic At Loyalty Incentive and Reward Expo


BEDFORD, Mass., June 1, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SoundBite Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:SDBT) today announced its growing momentum in delivering compelling business value to loyalty and rewards programs via the addition of multi-channel proactive customer communications. Leveraging SoundBite's Intelligent Communications Platform to interact with their customers, many leading "Business to Consumer" (B2C) organizations have generated millions of dollars in incremental revenue.

While U.S. companies invest more than $1.2 billion annually in loyalty programs, many rewards points go unredeemed, coupons expire and other benefits offered through loyalty programs go unnoticed. A multi-channel proactive customer communications strategy can create a dramatic lift in redemption rates and incremental revenue for many loyalty and reward programs. SoundBite's integrated multi-channel communications platform enables retailers, financial services organizations, marketing agencies, travel and hospitality companies, entertainment outlets, and casinos to communicate pertinent information to their customers using the individual's preferred communication channels.

"SoundBite's multi-channel communications platform hyper-boosts existing loyalty programs in a way that gets consumers to take the desired action; accelerating business results," said Mark Friedman, chief marketing and business development officer at SoundBite Communications. "Understanding consumer communication preferences is critical to delivering timely, personalized and relevant information -- which, in turn, is essential for building lifelong, profitable customer relationships."

SoundBite campaigns include alerting customers about impending reward expirations, member status upgrades, product notifications, special offers, mobile couponing, and program changes. A national retailer with 25 million loyalty program members turned to SoundBite to increase its rewards redemption rate. By adding voice messaging to its existing email notification campaign, this retailer increased redemption rates more than 200 percent from its previous email-only approach. Another "top 20" retail chain generated a 25 percent increase in its redemption rates via SoundBite's multi-channel Intelligent Communications Platform. Both of these campaigns have delivered multi-million dollar revenue growth.

Enhancing Loyalty Program Applications

SoundBite's Intelligent Communications platform is a flexible on-demand solution offering a variety of features ideally suited for loyalty programs, including:

  • Integrated, Multi-Channel Solution -- SoundBite enables organizations to communicate timely information -- such as special offers, coupon codes and point balances -- to consumers using an individual's preferred communications channel -- whether it be via voice, text or email message.
  • Event-Based Notifications -- Outbound messages can be triggered by select events, such as points' expiration, rewards milestones or targeted reward offers. SoundBite's Web Services API enables organizations to integrate their loyalty applications to SoundBite's Intelligent Communications Platform.
  • Personalized Messages -- Messages can be customized to include the recipient's name, point balance and expiration date; and a clear call to action.
  • Customer Segmentation and Analysis -- SoundBite can leverage consumers' communications preferences to deliver more efficient and cost-effective loyalty campaigns. In addition, real-time multi-channel reporting helps to measure campaign effectiveness and optimize results.

SoundBite to Present at 2009 Loyalty Incentive and Reward Expo

At the 2009 Loyalty Incentive and Reward Expo, Mark Friedman will discuss the role of multi-channel communications in loyalty programs, the importance of understanding consumer preference, and exclusive survey findings from a recently commissioned Forrester Consulting study on the topic of consumer communication preference management. The session, "The Evolution of Consumer Communication Preferences: Time to Re-evaluate Your Strategy," will occur on June 2, 2009, at 11:15 a.m. at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Florida. Attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the Forrester study. SoundBite Communications will be exhibiting at booth #508 at the Loyalty Expo, May 31 through June 2.

About SoundBite Communications

SoundBite Communications provides on-demand, integrated multi-channel communications solutions that enable clients to achieve superior business results. Building on its foundation as a leading provider of automated voice messaging services, SoundBite offers integrated voice, text and email messaging solutions that help clients deliver the right message, to the right customer, using the right channel, at the right time. Organizations in industries such as collections, financial services, retail, telecom and media, and utilities rely on the SoundBite Intelligent Communications Platform to send over a billion messages annually for collections, customer care, and sales and marketing applications. For more information, visit http://www.SoundBite.com.

SoundBite is a registered service mark of SoundBite Communications, Inc.

(SDBT-G)

CONTACT: SoundBite Communications, Media Contact: Marie Ruzzo, 781.897.2632, mruzzo@SoundBite.com; Schwartz Communications, Media Contact: Julie Goldman, David McKee, 781.684.0770, SoundBite@schwartz-pr.com