Zave Networks And IBM Join Forces To Help Shoppers Save With 100-Percent Digital Coupons

Solution Delivers Powerful Combination of IBM Retail Point of Sale Presence and Zavers' Digital Incentive Platform

Zave Networks recently announced an agreement with IBM to collaborate on a digital incentive solution designed to provide coupon shoppers a smarter, faster, easier way to cash in on savings at the supermarket.

Under the agreement, Zave Networks' Zavers digital incentive and information management platform will be deployed with IBM's SurePOS ACE retail application, significantly reducing the time, complexity, and retailer IT resource requirements for launching a digital coupon program.

This tightly integrated solution will help retailers offer digital coupons as part of their existing loyalty programs, enable them to quickly transact discounts and offers at the register, and settle offers with originating consumer goods manufacturers and distributors. Retailers can also use the platform to promote their own private label products.

"We are excited about this unique and powerful relationship with IBM," said Thad Langford, president and CEO of Zave Networks. "It will serve as a major catalyst for the continued rapid growth of the digital incentive market, making it even easier for retailers to provide a solution that helps consumers save in a completely paperless environment."

Enabling retailers to more quickly transact discounts and offers at checkout can help significantly enhance customer satisfaction and consumer loyalty to a store, and potentially help create new brand advocates.

This marks the first time a third-party application will be deployed with IBM's powerful ACE point-of-sale platform. The solution uses retailers' existing processes and equipment, allowing them to protect current technology investments.

"IBM and its business partners are all about delighting customers, both retailers and the consumers we serve" said John Gaydac, vice president & business line executive, IBM Retail Store Solutions. "We are pleased to be working with a leading solutions provider like Zave Networks to deliver a solution to help retailers build loyalty and advocacy for their brands by providing consumers an enhanced shopping experience."

The solution was demonstrated by IBM as part of its Smarter Store Checkout exhibit at the National Retail Federation Annual Convention and EXPO on January 10-11 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The solution can be found at in-market programs with A&P, SuperFresh, Waldbaum's, The Food Emporium, Pathmark and Harris Teeter supermarkets with additional retailers planned for early 2011. The paperless, end-to-end platform addresses the needs of consumers, retailers and manufacturers throughout the life-cycle of an incentive from creation, to distribution to redemption and settlement.

"Our shoppers know to expect ease and convenience as well as valuable savings from the e-VIC program," said Catherine Reuhl, communication specialist for Harris Teeter."We're pleased to now offer them the next level of service, with a simple way to capture coupons and seamlessly use them at check-out. This enhancement was made possible by the Zavers platform and we look forward to reaching more customers through this program."

Here is how the solution works.

• A brand manager at a manufacturer creates a digital promotion, such as a dollar-off coupon for a product.
• The coupon is featured and tracked in any digital media, such as banner and video insertions in any popular website, including on-line and mobile websites, a manufacturer's site, a retail partner site or at www.zavers.com.
• Anywhere a consumer is connected, whether on the web or on a mobile device in the store, they can click on a coupon they want, which is then added to their Zavers account and available for use, in real-time.
• During checkout at the participating store, shoppers simply swipe a loyalty card or use another unique identifier.
• From there, the point of sale application retrieves the shopper's coupons and automatically applies the appropriate discounts, which are verified on the receipt.

In addition, the software instantly captures and reports the redemption data to the product manufacturer who can see the sales effectiveness of the promotion, which allows them to optimize their marketing investment. By providing real-time data and analysis, the solution supports final settlement of the coupon between the manufacturer and retailer reducing potential fraud and disputes.

IBM will begin distribution of the solution to retailers through scheduled upgrades and maintenance releases. It will also be offered by IBM's retail sales force. The product is scheduled to be available to retailers in the U.S. by July 2011.

About Zave Networks
Zave Networks' patent-pending platform offers digital incentives online and on mobile devices so consumers can save time, and money, and help protect the environment with paperless coupon redemption. Zavers-powered digital coupon programs are currently offered at A&P, Harris Teeter, Pathmark, SuperFresh, The Food Emporium, and Waldbaum's, with significant expansion planned throughout 2011. The company is an IBM Business Partner and its Zavers solution will be deployed with IBM's ACE retail point of sale (POS) application starting in July 2011. Zave Networks was the 2009 recipient of Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Award for Mobile Advertising and Gartner featured Zavers in its 2010 listing of Cool Vendors in Consumer Goods. For more information , visit www.zavenetworks.com.

SOURCE: Zave Networks