MARS/MARSWeb is proprietary technology that MAI developed and maintains. MARS is an intranet CRM application designed to integrate with existing corporate enterprise systems and can be customized to meet specific client needs. MARSWeb complements MARS as a secure extranet site that provides key service functionalities.
The secure MARSWeb extranet site offers myriad functionalities, including: ad hoc reporting, report management, sales lead manager, training, e-commercing, market research, document manager, marketing service portal and extranet builder. MARSWeb is fully integrated with MARS so all data can be securely displayed. It is powered by the same MS SQL database to allow seamless data transmission.
MAI’s Enterprise Application Services (EAS) help eliminate the technology constraints that stand between what your organization needs and where it wants to be. When packaged solutions either do not offer the flexibility your enterprise needs, MAI can provide custom development services. We leverage our strength in remote delivery using a dual-shore model to bring you cost-efficiencies and speed-to-market.
MAI takes security and privacy issues very seriously. As a PCI DSS-certified merchant (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), we’ve taken all the necessary steps to ensure cardholder data is fully protected when being stored and transmitted.
MARS utilizes Microsoft technology and is powered by MS SQL Server. Among the many application features it accommodates are: real-time inventory management, automated notifications (re-order alert, order receipt, shipment notice, etc.), credit card processing, kitting module, event tracking, customer history and profile, dynamic scripting, service/dispatch, integrated back office and more.
MAI’s in-house team of IT professionals provides clients with access to top notch resources for a variety of web-related services. We have the ability to support your own IT department by providing cost-effective alternatives for the design, development and deployment of virtually any CRM or mobile application, as well as web design build out and programming.
MAI offers end-to-end eBusiness solutions customized to your requirements. We can design, develop and integrate with all existing business and legacy applications. Our experienced, professional team can assist you with: web storefront solutions, personalization services, payment integration, web enablement of legacy applications, and more.
MAI provides consulting, system integration, development and support services in the wireless and mobile application space. We have successfully designed, built and deployed solutions for sales force automation, consumer mobile applications, mobile portal applications, mobile enabling of web applications and more.
Online literature co-op fund management/tracking system.
Design and build website architecture to support BMC’s getMOR healthcare plan.
Database facilitates communications and sales support activities with 14,000+ retail dealers.
MAI’s contact center and warehouse/fulfillment services are driven by cutting edge technology that is powered by the most reliable and sophisticated hardware in the industry. Our proprietary web-based CRM application is called MARS and MARSWeb (Marketing Alternatives Response System). Developed and maintained by our own in-house team of IT professionals, MARS and MARSWeb address the fundamental fact that every client has a unique set of needs. We don’t try to bend or manipulate those needs to fit into our application’s capabilities – we customize our system to deliver precisely what your needs dictate with no compromises.
Simply explained, MARS is a CRM application that is designed to integrate with any existing corporate enterprise system, including ERP systems, Marketplace sites, and Legacy systems. It offers myriad of application features and virtually limitless customization possibilities:
In addition to MARS, MARSWeb provides a secure extranet site to address service functionalities such as:
Deep insight into customers will help you improve their shopping experience and your profitability. With MARS CRM you can segment customers by demographic criteria, distinguish between first time and repeat visitors, and by shopping cart and buying history.
Customers are more likely to purchase if you personalize their shopping experiences. MARS CRM helps you match special content, promotions and pricing to any customer segment, and can help increase order values by suggesting products based on shopping and buying history.
Recommend products to your entire customer base or to specific segments using MARS CRM’s advanced rule-based product-relations functionality. Use it to generate more upsells and cross-sells, as well as to present more buying options at checkout and for call center agents.
Display layered-navigation filters to help customers quickly narrow their product options and pinpoint exactly what they’re looking for. The ability to filter by price, color and category have proven to help improve conversion rates and increase revenues.
MARS CRM provides a seamless experience for customers as they move among computers, smart phones and tablets. Customers can log in once and shop from home, work or on the go. The improved convenience results in fewer abandoned shopping carts and more completed transactions.
MARS CRM is integrated with multiple payment gateways right out of the box, including PayPal. A simplified, one page payment process makes purchasing quick and easy. Close integration with shipping options means there are fewer abandoned carts.
MARS and MARSWeb applications have been incorporated into virtually every MAI business process. Our Integrated Fulfillment Center uses automated emails for order processing confirmation, order shipping/tracking confirmation and inventory reorders/receipt alerts. All of our packing slips are bar-coded so that shipping information is read into UPS or FED EX computers automatically. UPS/FED Ex labels are generated from shipping computers, eliminating hand written air bills or shipping labels. All of our inventory items are listed in real time in our MARS system.
MARS back-office simplifies the returns process for you and for your customers. You can control return management, specify allowed products, partial orders, shipping options and customer notifications.
The MARS Reward Points system makes it easy to offer programs to increase customer loyalty. You can set and manage incentives for registration on your site, product reviews, opt in’s for your newsletter and referring friends, and also control points redemption.
With MARS CRM, you can easily create and manage multiple stores. Working from just one administrative dashboard, you can manage and customize each of your sites to best support your brand and unique customer segment.
MARS is already powerful and flexible. Adding extensions helps you do even more to please customers, increase conversions and improve profitability. There are extensions for CRM, ERP, accounting, payment processing, shipping, call centers and much more. MAI has built a global network of partners and certified developers you can rely on for help. Trust our partners to help you satisfy unique business requirements and for custom development, integration and extensions.
MARS CRM is designed to support tens of thousands of transactions per hour, so your customers have a seamless customer service and shopping experience. It features advanced full-page caching and persistent bandwidth to for fast loading times.
MARS CRM is a PA-DSS compliant platform that supports strong data encryption for secure transactions. Strong, secure transactions protect your business and offer your customers the peace of mind to shop with confidence.
Programmers are modern-day carpenters. Our IT team built a firm foundation that can be sawn, sanded and polished into the perfect solution for your business. Whether it's arranging automated inventory alerts or providing customized reporting, we have the IT staff and infrastructure to support you.
MAI’s in-house team consists of experienced system analysts, developers and interactive media experts. Our expertise covers all major platform technologies, ERP and legacy systems integration, web services, mobile technologies, communication protocols, embedded systems, legacy programming languages and Enterprise application integration. In short, whatever you need…MAI can build it.
As technology changes, MAI is quick to adapt. Our best-in-class technology solutions make sure your program is implemented quickly, upgraded regularly, and always competitive with the changing tech landscape.
Our QA team asks a lot of questions from day one. By involving quality assurance experts in the design and concepting of your tech solution, we save you time and money from extensive testing later and make sure we set off on the right track without changing directions.
List of Services
MARS Service/Dispatch is an integrated solution that combines dispatching capabilities and maintenance scheduling with tasking, service contract administration and work order billing. It accommodates everything required to run your service department activities smoothly and efficiently.
With an interface that is user friendly and easy to navigate, dispatchers and service managers will have no problem adopting the system.
MARS's solutions provide all the cornerstones of service lifecycle management, state-of-the-art routing and scheduling, including customer management, service management, asset management, reverse logistics management, automated scheduling/confirmation calls and mobile workforce/call closure management.
The MARS Service/Dispatch application is capable of serving a variety of industries, including:
Eliminate hours of duplicate entry with MARS Service/Dispatch. With accounting, service, construction and sales order data all in one system, you’ll be able to maintain data integrity across the organization. The MARS Service/Dispatch application was designed to integrate existing corporate enterprise systems such as ERP and Legacy systems.
The MARS Service/Dispatch application features intuitive interfaces built on the latest Microsoft technology platforms. Rather than trying to decipher software, you can concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Full audit trails, event logs and user-based restrictions are built-in features of MARS Service/Dispatch. Your controller can rest assured that all data is secure, yet still accessible by authorized personnel.
MARS Mobile Field Service allows you to streamline and automate your service department by dispatching and processing all work orders electronically.
Since information is stored in a relational SQL database, MARS Service/Dispatch provides unparalleled access to your data. When combined with our Pick-and-Choose Reporting Engine, your team can quickly turn mountains of information into actionable business decisions that deliver measurable results.
Our MARS Appointment application is a powerful, fully integrated point-of-service solution. With multi-channel capabilities, no matter where the demand comes from, MARS will capture it. Whether through online scheduling, dealership call center, walk-in or even in-dash vehicle systems, a MARS-enabled dealership will obtain all necessary details for better capacity management.
MARS Appointment application embodies years of experience in scheduling, and thousands of hours of design and development, focusing on usability and ease of access to information. Supplementing the consumer experience, the new dealership interface enables everyone in the dealership to answer the phone, book the order and maximize shop utilization.
MARS Appointment application utilizes the Cloud platform to provide document management system integration, factory menus, dealer recommendations, manufacturer recalls, declined services, tire pricing, promotions, shop availability, repair history and road side assistance status. By providing consistent information via all appointment channels, MARS Appointment application delivers the industry’s best and only proven retention solution.
Some of the MARS Appointment Application features are:
"The Bridgestone Firestone purchase resale program was initiated in 2000. The main objective of the program was to provide automotive dealerships, muffler and brake shops and general service stations with the support tools they needed to sell Bridgestone Firestone tires to end users."
- Bridgestone Americas
"We rely on MAI, an established provider of call center and fulfillment services, to deliver efficient service and unparalleled customer satisfaction. MAI has proven to be an excellent outsourced solution and a true business partner. The company’s background in marketing communications and brand support ensures we are being represented at the highest level possible."
- Tim Holody, Seta Corporation
"MAI recently completed its fifth season as Figi’s outsourced call center partner. We have gained incremental efficiencies year-over-year with regard to the program ramp up – not only from a human resources perspective, but from a technology and telephony standpoint as well."
Darcy Tudor, VP & Program Manager, MAI - Figi’s Gifts in Good Taste
"MAI developed, produced and monitored a direct mail initiative on behalf of ColeTaylorBank which has served the needs of Chicago area business for more than seven decades. The program achieved a 1% response rate and resulted in a sizable new account win, as well as valuable exposure to a group of highly targeted prospects."
- Cole Taylor Bank
"MAI had the I-PASS customer service/transponder fulfillment program up and running in half the time originally projected for start up. Within 90 days, call volumes increased 250% in response to a planned increase in tolls for customers without I-PASS transponders. Because MAI built the program for scalability, the increased demands were quickly taken in stride."
- Illinois Tollway Authority
"The information collected was invaluable in developing an advertising campaign that exposed the realities of the issues surrounding the‘health services’ provided by Planned Parenthood. I had the opportunityto monitor the survey calls on several occasions and was impressed with the Marketing Alternatives staff members assigned to our project. The interviewers were polite, respectful and very professional."
- Steven Brody, Executive Director, Dubuque County Right to Life
"MAI has always provided good reporting and it just keeps getting better. My team loves it. The best part is, they realize the relevance and value of the information that is now available and it’s being used to strengthen and improve our business."
- Nancy Barbee, Assistant Marketing Manager, Domino Foods, Inc.
"Firestone Complete Auto Care customers enjoy the convenience of scheduling service appointments online thanks to MAI’s creative thinking and outstanding IT capabilities. Not only do customers enjoy a higher level of service, we are now able to identify – and resolve – store issues that have resulted in lost opportunities in the past."
- Jim Stahulak, Manager, Database/Internet Marketing, Firestone
"Shipping product to customers quickly and accurately is a vital part of our business. MAI takes great care of all of our shipping needs, so I can focus on everything else that needs to be done. When we have a shipment with special requirements, we always know MAI will handle it without a problem."
- Christy Kaskey, Owner, Kaskey Kids, Inc.
"MAI conceived, designed and produced the Mohawk Tile Bottega within-a-store program. From creative through warehousing, fulfillment and installation, MAI acted as a single-source partner to make this concept materialize into reality."
- Mark Lorberbaum, Mohawk Industries
"MAI’s flexibility was a contributing factor to Mustela’s success in growing its business in the U.S. and Canada. Their active and forward thinking saved time and money while fostering great relationships with our retail customers."
- Amie Youngs, Senior Logistics Manager, Mustela US
"Excellence is the standard at Standard Coffee and we expected no less from our partnership with MAI. We’ve heard only positive feedback about them from the Standard Direct customer base – they truly handle our business as if it was their own."
- Stanley W. Eilers, Standard Coffee
"The lead qualification program MAI put together for Wilsonart Flooring helped our sales team enormously with time management. By prioritizing the leads, salespeople could focus on the strongest opportunities which, in turn, helped close more sales."
- Tammy Weadock, Wilsonart Flooring
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