UPSIDE Commerce Announces the First Affordable Trade Management Solution Designed for the Cloud

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UPSIDE Commerce, provider of the first modern trade management software architected for the cloud, today introduced its priceUPSIDE and tradeUPSIDE solutions powered by the Microsoft Windows Azure platform. UPSIDE has removed the cumbersome costs that have historically prohibited the midmarket from adopting trade promotion management (TPM) and optimization tools. The result is a robust trade management solution which is ideal for consumer goods companies searching for a more affordable, flexible and agile option to manage the constant pressure and complexity of today’s trade programs. And it is simple to integrate with current systems.

“Small-to-midsize consumer goods companies need flexibility and affordability. They simply aren’t willing or able to customize like the large multinationals do. Hence, having an out-of-the box solution with some configurability, a subscription payment structure, and cloud-based cost savings will be most attractive to this underserved segment”

“Small-to-midsize consumer goods companies need flexibility and affordability. They simply aren’t willing or able to customize like the large multinationals do. Hence, having an out-of-the box solution with some configurability, a subscription payment structure, and cloud-based cost savings will be most attractive to this underserved segment,” commented Dale Hagemayer, Managing Vice President, Gartner Industry Advisory Services.

Price discounting and trade promotion are important strategies in driving revenue and in maintaining shelf space, but it is a large source of revenue leakage due to ineffective discounts and high fees to secure merchandising real estate. Many companies do not have the time or tools to ensure their trade investments with retailers are spent wisely. UPSIDE’s integrated trade system will manage cost and price changes, forecasts and budgets to drive operational efficiencies and reduce costly mistakes. These two new solutions enable the management of dynamic pricing and promotion decisions that can easily be configured to accommodate each organization’s unique processes and reporting requirements.

priceUPSIDE is a seamless solution that provides the integrated tools to define, execute, monitor, and control product pricing strategy. This solution synchronizes discounts and pricing strategies automatically maximizing compliance, margins, and revenue.
tradeUPSIDE is a fully integrated trade management solution that provides account, broker, and trade managers a lifecycle management tool to predict, plan, execute, monitor, and analyze trade deals.

Earlier this month the UPSIDE Vanguard program initiated beta trials with consumer goods companies in Europe and the United States ranging from $10 million to $1 billion in revenue. Each trial in the Vanguard program is supported by a joint technical team from UPSIDE and Microsoft to ensure success.

Jeff Sampson, chief executive officer of UPSIDE Commerce, commented, “We’re helping our customers disrupt the status quo in the consumer goods industry. Small and mid-sized companies are at a disadvantage competing against larger organizations that can afford cumbersome and expensive on-premise trade management systems. Advances in cloud computing and the seamless integration of Microsoft technologies now make it possible for us to deliver affordable trade management software-as-a-service. This is a true evolution in enterprise software for the consumer goods companies that need it the most.”

“Microsoft is excited to be working closely with UPSIDE Commerce as they share our vision and commitment to the cloud. UPSIDE is one of our leading BizSpark partners using Microsoft Windows Azure and other Microsoft technologies to bring powerful tools, cost efficiencies and scalability to businesses around the world. If you are a consumer goods company struggling with revenue leakage we highly recommend you talk to UPSIDE Commerce,” said Hal Howard, corporate vice president, Dynamics research and development, Microsoft Corporation.

About UPSIDE Commerce:

UPSIDE Commerce simplifies the complex, chaotic world of trade management for consumer products companies with the first modern solution architected for the cloud. UPSIDE’s Integrated Trade Management software-as-a-service (SaaS) combines the scalability and flexibility of Microsoft’s world-class Windows Azure Platform with deep consumer goods industry insights. Midmarket consumer goods companies can now cost-effectively leverage cloud computing to automate planning, execution, settlement, reporting and predictive analytics to drive revenue, increase promotion effectiveness and maintain shelf space. UPSIDE is based in Redmond, WA and Århus, Denmark. End revenue leakage now – seize your upside. Visit upsidecommerce.com or on Twitter @UPSIDEtrade for more information.