Caterpillar Teams with Accenture to Deploy and Support “Next Generation” of Dealer Business Systems Globally
PEORIA, Ill.; June 4, 2002 – Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) and Accenture (NYSE: ACN) today announced a multi-year agreement to deploy and support the next generation of dealer systems, which will enhance the capabilities of Caterpillar dealers around the world to sell, rent, service and support the company’s heavy equipment and engines.
The agreement provides Caterpillar dealers with new business capabilities and extended system support, including multi-lingual regional help desks with expanded service hours. Accenture will also provide ongoing product maintenance and support for the new systems, which were designed by Caterpillar and built jointly with Accenture.
“With this agreement, Caterpillar will continue to strengthen its dealer network by simultaneously focusing IT and business process resources on delivering more strategic value,” said Sid Banwart, Caterpillar vice president and chief information officer. “Accenture’s global delivery skills and capabilities will complement Caterpillar’s strong distribution network and contribute to improving our overall effectiveness in serving dealers and their customers.”
The next generation systems provide dealer sales and marketing teams with industry-leading customer relationship management capabilities, including the ability to track customer data and anticipate customer service and support needs. These systems also support Caterpillar’s growing equipment rental and power-generation businesses.
“This agreement extends our 15-year relationship with Caterpillar, and through Accenture’s global reach and resources, helps to accelerate the delivery of this new system and further solidify the position of Caterpillar and its dealers as industry leaders,” said Sharad K. Kapur, partner, Accenture Industrial Equipment industry group.
About Caterpillar
For more than 75 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been building the world’s infrastructure and, in partnership with Cat dealers, is driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2001 sales and revenues of $20.45 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company is a technology leader in construction, transportation, mining, forestry, energy, logistics, financing and electric power generation. More information is available at www.cat.com.
About Accenture
Accenture is the world’s leading management consulting and technology services organization. Through its network of businesses approach – in which the company enhances its consulting and outsourcing expertise through alliances, affiliated companies and other capabilities – Accenture delivers innovations that help clients across all industries quickly realize their visions. With more than 75,000 people in 47 countries, the company generated net revenues of $11.44 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001. Its home page is www.accenture.com.
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