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PRESS RELEASE
May 11, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jeffrey M. Kaplan
Managing Director
THINKstrategies, Inc.
jkaplan@thinkstrategies.com
781-431-2690
Makana Solutions Wins Best of SaaS Showplace Award  
 
Software-as-a-Service Sales Compensation Management Helps Small- and Mid-Size Businesses Boost Revenues

Wellesley, MA - May 11, 2009 - THINKstrategies, Inc., the leading strategic consulting company focused on the business implications of the on-demand services market, announced today that Makana Solutions has been named the latest winner of the Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards program, which is aimed at promoting the measurable business benefits being delivered by today's Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions.

 

The BoSS Awards program was announced in January 2009 as the latest initiative by THINKstrategies to bring attention to SaaS and cloud computing companies which are producing tangible business benefits for specific user organizations. These benefits include increased sales, lower costs, higher customer satisfaction, faster operations, and greater profitability.

 

Makana Solutions is a leading provider of on-demand sales compensation management solutions for small- and mid-size businesses. A case study example of Makana's measurable benefits is Wilson Tile and Stone, a leading residential and commercial building materials provider.

 

In 2007, Wilson Tile & Stone had annual revenues of $8.5 million, selling to builders that averaged 25 new homes a year. Until the economic slowdown, a significant portion of Wilson Tile's business stemmed from these new construction projects. Today, many of the same builders' new projects have fallen to two houses a year. However, demand in the renovation market was more resilient and continued to be a strong area of focus for Wilson Tile & Stone. Most Wilson Tile's renovation sales had stemmed from homeowner walk-ins and appointments made in the company's showroom. Historically, 95% of sales representatives' compensation was based on salary and the impact of incentives designed to foster up-selling or prospecting were negligible at best.

 

The company decided that the only way to increase inside renovation sales would be to dramatically change the nature of the sales position by focusing it more on performance. "We selected Makana Motivator Express for its ease of use and the user friendly information on the web," says company general manager, Matt Wilson. "Managing sales commissions is not my background, the advice and expertise included with Makana Motivator, greatly benefited us. Makana is exceptionally intuitive."

 

Mr. Wilson was able to set up Makana Motivator Express within a few hours, and created new sales compensation plans designed to motivate performance and sell more profitable products. Since deploying the sales compensation management plans, Wilson Tile and Stone's annual revenues have grown almost 11%, jumping to $9.5 million in 2008. "Every rep on the team made more money than they have ever before, and Makana helps to minimize cost and maintain our profits," says Mr. Wilson.

 

As a result of these measurable business benefits, Makana Solutions has been named the latest BoSS Award winner. A full description of the company's winning BoSS Award submission can be found at http://www.saas-showplace.com/awardSummary.php?key=524.
 

"We are pleased to win the BoSS Award in recognition of the increased sales we deliver to SMB's through the self-service sales compensation solution, Makana Motivator ," stated Liz Cobb, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Makana Solutions.

 

"Companies of all sizes are facing unprecedented sales challenges but many small- and mid-sized businesses are being particularly hard-hit in today's tough economic environment," stated Jeffrey M. Kaplan, the founder of the SaaS Showplace and Managing Director of THINKstrategies, the strategic consulting firm which conceived and administers the Showplace. "Makana Solutions' on-demand sales compensation management solution clearly demonstrates how SaaS-based business applications can help companies address these challenges and achieve their corporate objectives."

 

Previous winners of the BoSS Awards can be found on,
http://www.saas-showplace.com/registerforbossaward.html.

 
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About the Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) Awards
 
The BoSS Award program is an ongoing initiative to identify and promote SaaS, and 'cloud computing', companies which are offering on-demand solutions which are generating measurable business benefits for their customers.
 
BoSS awards nominations are not only accepted on an ongoing basis, but more than one winner can be awarded in each SaaS Showplace Application, Industry and Enabling Technology Supplier category.
 
BoSS award winners are given special designation on the SaaS Showplace, with a summary of their award-winning solution(s) and customer success story. Award winners are also recognized in the SaaS Showplace newsletter, and are able to promote their award designation on their website and in pre-approved company material.
 
For more information or to nominate a BoSS award winner, go to http://www.saas-showplace.com/registerforbossaward.html.
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About the SaaS Showplace
 
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Showplace® is a service of THINKstrategies, Inc. This Showplace was established in 2006 to provide,
  • IT/business decision-makers a quick directory of the leading SaaS providers and a convenient source of valuable insight regarding SaaS trends.
  • SaaS providers a targeted tool to increase their visibility among enterprise decision-makers, and gain access to key enabling technology suppliers.
  • Enabling technology suppliers a specialized platform to increase industry awareness regarding their SaaS solutions.
The SaaS Showplace is now the largest and highest ranked, vendor-independent, online directory and resource center of industry best practices in the SaaS market. For more information, go to www.saas-showplace.com or www.thinksaas.com.  
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About THINKstrategies, Inc.
 
THINKstrategies, Inc. is the only strategic consulting services company formed specifically to address the unprecedented business challenges facing IT managers, solutions providers and investors today as the technology industry shifts toward a services orientation.
 
THINKstrategies' mission is to help our clients re-THINK their corporate strategies, and refocus their limited resources to achieve their business objectives. THINKstrategies helps enterprise decision-makers with their sourcing strategies, IT solutions providers with their marketing strategies, and VCs with their investment strategies.
 
In addition to the Software-as-a-Service Showplace, THINKstrategies is also the founder of the Managed Services Showplace, a vendor-independent, online directory and information resource center of managed service solutions.
 
For more information regarding THINKstrategies' unique consulting services, visit www.thinkstrategies.com, or contact us at info@thinkstrategies.com.
 
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