DENVER, May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Percepta, a provider of customer
relationship management (CRM) services and solutions to the automotive
industry, has prepared its customer relationship center in Melbourne, Florida,
to help The Ford Motor Company respond to customer inquiries regarding Ford's
recent announcement to replace 13 million Firestone tires on its vehicles.
Percepta is a joint venture between The Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and
TeleTech Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTEC), a leading global provider of customer
relationship management services and solutions.
"Customers need access to timely and consistent information during product
replacements, so customer communication becomes paramount," said Geoff Smyth,
chief executive officer of Percepta. "We have built our business serving
customers of the Ford family of vehicles, so we have a unique understanding of
each customer's need. Our building a support team of more than 400 members in
less than 5 days demonstrates the strength of our capabilities and our
commitment to assisting our client, Ford."
Customer service representatives will be available 24 hours a day, seven
days a week to answer inquiries until the replacement program is concluded.
Other staff members within Percepta's Melbourne, Florida customer relationship
center, where most inquiries are being received, will continue to support
existing customer service and support programs for Ford and other members of
the automotive industry.
INQUIRIES
For more information, or if you have questions, you can contact Ford at
(866) 300-1226 or through e-mail at tireinquiry@ford.com
PERCEPTA PROFILE
Established in April 2000, Percepta currently manages new product launch
communications, customer satisfaction analysis, concern resolution, dealer
assistance, customer relationship management (CRM) programs, and web-based
sales on behalf of various clients in the automotive industry and automotive
supply chain. Percepta operates around the globe from locations in Australia,
Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.
TELETECH PROFILE
Founded in 1982, TeleTech is a leading provider of integrated customer
relationship management (CRM) services and solutions for global organizations
predominantly in the communications, financial services, government and
transportation industries. TeleTech has operations in 11 countries, which
include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand,
Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. TeleTech's CRM
capabilities, including B2B electronic channel management and database
management, help companies inform, acquire, service, grow and retain their
customers throughout the entire relationship lifecycle. TeleTech integrates a
full spectrum of voice and Internet communications, including custom e-mail
response, "chat" and extensive Web co-browsing capabilities. Information
regarding TeleTech Holdings can be found on the Worldwide Web at
http://www.teletech.com.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY PROFILE
Ford Motor Company is the world's largest producer of trucks and the
second-largest producer of cars and trucks combined, marketing and selling
approximately seven million vehicles globally through its seven brands last
year. Ford Motor Company employs approximately 345,000 people in plants,
offices and laboratories to serve customers in more than 200 countries and
territories. Ford Motor Company is also one of the largest providers of
financial services worldwide through Ford Credit and related businesses. Ford
Motor Company provides consumers and commercial financial services through
2,400 branches in 33 countries.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
All statements not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements
that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In accordance with the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, following are important
factors that could cause TeleTech's actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: lower than
anticipated customer interaction center capacity utilization; the loss or
delay in implementation of a customer management program; TeleTech's ability
to build-out facilities in a timely and economic manner; greater than
anticipated competition from new entrants into the customer care market,
causing increased price competition or loss of clients; the loss of one or
more significant clients; higher than anticipated start-up costs associated
with new business opportunities and ventures; TeleTech's ability to predict
future revenues and associated costs, as well as the potential volume or
profitability of any future technology or consulting sales; TeleTech's
agreements with clients may be canceled on relatively short notice; and
TeleTech's ability to generate a specific level of revenue is dependent upon
customer interest in and use of the Company's clients' products and services.
Readers are encouraged to review TeleTech's 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K
and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter 2001, and other
publicly filed documents which describe other important factors that may
impact TeleTech's business, results of operations and financial condition.
TeleTech undertakes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements
after the date of this release.
SOURCE TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
CONTACT: Emily Eikelberner of TeleTech Holdings, 303-894-7360,
emilyeikelberner@teletech.com; or Jean Wagner of Percepta, 303-894-4066,
jean.wagner@teletech.com/
