Exstream Software, Inc. today announced it has achieved the industry optimized level for both banking and insurance in IBM’s PartnerWorld Industry Networks. This achievement improves Exstream’s ability to utilize IBM's sales, marketing and technical expertise to develop and deliver on demand solutions that meet customer requirements in the banking and insurance industries. Financial institutions are faced with constantly changing regulations, demands for more sophisticated client reporting and global expansion; and insurance providers are seeking solutions that enhance sales and distribution channels, streamline IT systems, meet regulatory requirements and strengthen customer relationships. Exstream Software helps leading organizations in both industries get to market with personalized customer communications up to 85 percent faster, reduce document production costs by as much as 80 percent and triple response rates through more relevant, clearer communications delivered through the preferred print and electronic channels. Banks, including KeyCorp, JPMorgan Chase, Sun Trust Banks, HSBC and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, along with leading insurance providers like AFLAC, Ameritas, CIGNA, ING, The Principal Financial Group and others are successfully using Exstream’s Dialogue enterprise personalization software. With Dialogue, enterprises are able to create, manage and deliver all of their personalized customer communications on a single platform. Companies benefit by producing all of their batch, real-time and interactive document applications consistently and relevantly for each customer, reflecting the complete client relationship, substantially reducing production costs, and building loyalty that expands relationships. “Banks and insurance providers need technology that can help them deliver a consistent, rich customer experience across all touch points—branches, call center, the Internet, policy and agent communications—and the best way to do that is with one common enterprise personalization platform that can be easily used by all lines of business,” said Richard Troksa, vice president of business development for Exstream. “IBM has provided innovative technical expertise to banks around the world for more than fifty years and is the largest provider of IT solutions to the global insurance industry. As an industry optimized member of IBM’s PartnerWorld Industry Networks, Exstream is able to leverage IBM’s solution portfolio to further meet the communication needs of our clients in the banking and insurance services industries.” Exstream’s Dialogue runs on all IBM hardware and operating systems platforms spanning zSeries, iSeries, pSeries and xSeries. Additionally, Dialogue is tightly connected to IBM WebSphere, IBM DB2 Universal Database and IBM Content Management. “PartnerWorld Industry Networks is mobilizing thousands of Independent Software Vendors, helping them to develop customized industry solutions for customers,” said Buell Duncan, general manager, ISV and Developer Relations. “Customers aren’t seeking a one-size-fits-all solution—they want tailored, industry-specific solutions that can help them solve their business challenges. Through PartnerWorld Industry Networks, IBM is working closely with Exstream Software to develop open and flexible solutions that match customer needs.” Customers are seeking solutions that can help them better integrate processes and applications and allow them to quickly respond to changing market opportunities—all key elements in transforming to an On Demand business. The IBM PartnerWorld Industry Networks provide Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) with comprehensive business insight, technical resources, networking opportunities and marketing and sales support designed to help them reach more customers and close deals faster. Participants in the PartnerWorld Industry Networks can team with IBM to bring on demand solutions to market more easily and to ensure these solutions meet specific industry needs, reflecting how customers buy technology today. ISVs that have attained one or more Industry Optimized competencies have successfully integrated with on demand IBM infrastructure software and hardware and demonstrated success with customers in the industries they note. ISVs can sign up for PartnerWorld Industry Networks at www.ibm.com/isv.