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360° ROI: Measuring The Benefits Of E-Business Globalization

Idiom Report Examines Return on Investment of Going Global,
Proves Cost-Effectiveness of Globalizing an Enterprise

Waltham, MA - June 27, 2001 - Idiom Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of enterprise globalization solutions, today released innovative research highlighting the return that companies can expect on their investment in e-business globalization. "Globalizing E-Business: A 360° Return on Investment Perspective" presents a return on investment (ROI) analysis that measures issues beyond simple cost savings and revenue growth. The report factors in additional features such as customer service improvements, brand equity, market effectiveness, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing market conditions. This is the third report in Idiom's Globalization Leadership Series, a collection of provocative papers that help companies address the critical issues surrounding the global Web and e-business. The full report is available at http://www.idiominc.com/us/solutions/gls.asp.

"The Internet has reached a critical point in that it is now being carefully scrutinized for business value," said Fred Lizza, president and CEO at Idiom. "As strategists are asked to justify their Internet investments in today's volatile market, they seek proof that companies can leverage the Internet to lower the cost of doing business in global markets and better serve customers and trading partners around the world. This report examines the criteria for measuring success and demonstrates that the business return on such investments cannot be ignored."

Even as U.S. Web growth slows down, Internet usage in Latin America, Asia, and Europe is on the rise. Firms tapping into these markets must recognize that growth will come from a 360° effort to eliminate the barriers between national channels and markets, thereby reducing cost, complexity, inaccuracy, and inefficiency. Companies will accrue benefits by tailoring their offering, message, user experience, and customer service to local market needs. Idiom's 360° ROI analysis helps companies balance these benefits against the consequences of inaction or tardy action. The analysis considers return in the following forms:

More revenue and share from global and multicultural markets
Better customer service anytime, anywhere
Improved brand penetration and increased equity
Lower cost of doing business
Faster time to market and increased competitive nimbleness
"Fierce competitive pressures and increasing international demand give a business only one chance to launch internationally, and it has to be done right the first time. Understanding the value of our globalization investment has been a major part of our planning process," said Toni Corwin, globalization program director at Eastman Chemical Company. "The 360° ROI perspective will help us not only to identify potential revenue growth and cost savings, but also to quantify return on customer service and brand equity - both of which are critical success factors in supporting global customers and trading partners."

"ROI is an increasingly important part of the calculus that goes into every Internet project," said Don DePalma, vice president of corporate strategy at Idiom, and the author of the report. "In the current sour economy, some companies may choose to drop or scale back their international efforts and wait for better times. Sitting out the next wave may look good on today's balance sheet. However, this solution will look shortsighted one or two years from now as sidelined companies miss opportunities for increased revenue, greater efficiencies, and cost savings."

About the Globalization Leadership Series
The exclusive GLS reports outline the pressing topics and concerns involved in cross-border and multilingual Web development. Recent reports have addressed diverse strategic topics including online multicultural marketing and the readiness of prominent companies to support global e-business plans. The Globalization Leadership Series reports appear on a regular basis at Idiom Globalization Leadership Series. Also, WorldWise™, the leading online resource center for enterprise globalization, hosts supplementary features, statistics, and links to enhance and expand the analysis in each report. WorldWise is located at http://www.idiominc.com/worldwise.

About Idiom Technologies, Inc.
Idiom is the leading provider of software, strategy, and services for enterprise globalization. Idiom WorldServer™ is Web infrastructure software for globalization that enables the coordinated and efficient development of multilingual, multicultural Web sites and cost-effectively automates and synchronizes their management. Idiom strategy and services offerings include WorldWise™ (www.idiominc.com/worldwise), the premier online resource center for enterprise globalization, and the Global Readiness Assessment™ to help companies develop or expand a path to successful globalization. Idiom's customers include multinational companies such as Adobe®, Eastman Chemical Company, General Electric, MasterCard, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Travelocity™, and Xilinx, Inc.™ Through its Global Partner Network™, Idiom teams with the industry's leading technology, consulting, development, and implementation service organizations to provide customers with end-to-end solutions for enterprise globalization. Idiom is funded by Banc of America Securities, Eastman Chemical Company, Greylock, JAFCO Ventures, North Bridge Venture Partners, Oracle, and Sigma Partners. For information on Idiom products and services, call (781) 464-6000, visit www.idiominc.com or email publicrelations@idiominc.com.