Channel IQ Launches First E-Commerce Directory, Authorized Dealer Badge at IRCE

via www.itbriefing.net

Channel IQ is the only global directory, with a specialization on both retailers and manufacturers conducting business online. The Channel IQ directory provides increased transparency and intelligence to the industry. It shows interrelationships between brands and their retail partners, relevant segmentation criteria and provides key contacts for many of the companies. These data points are key to assisting with partner, channel and business development like sourcing or selling products. Furthermore, the directory allows each company to manage their profile proactively with a free account sign-up on ChannelIQ.com. Both the directory and Badge will have free versions as part of the launch this June so users will have impactful solutions at their fingertips immediately.

"With the addition of the E-commerce Directory, Channel IQ is taking on the total hierarchy of retail intelligence by providing Company, Category and SKU level intelligence," said Wes Shepherd, CEO of Channel IQ. "This, along with other products to come and the enhancements to existing products, moves us further towards our mission to become both the world's leading retail network and provider of online retail intelligence."

Channel IQ's dynamic data collection and applications enable manufacturers and retailers across every conceivable industry, from consumer electronics and housewares to high-end luxury goods to track product prices in real-time for competitive intelligence or pricing policy compliance. With more than 100 brand name manufacturing and retailing customers using its technology for channel and competitive monitoring, Channel IQ provides customers unprecedented visibility into online channels, allowing them to quickly understand their business and competition, monitor and manage online pricing, and maintain credibility with consumers.

"As the saying goes, knowledge is power. Prior to considering an intelligence solutions program like Channel IQ, our ability to track price changes, market saturation, or products in a real time environment was extremely time consuming. Intelligence solutions applications have become the ultimate tool to track online marketplaces and pricing in real-time," said Jennifer Varkonyi, Analyst, Sr. Sales, Olympus Imaging America.

Also at IRCE, Channel IQ announced the full deployment of the Channel IQ "Dealer Verification Badge®," the first ever software system to provide both instant product and retailer authentication online. The badge is designed to instill greater consumer confidence in product authenticity, warranty support, and dealer product knowledge. Additionally, badges are instrumental in the fight against global gray market, counterfeiting and unauthorized sales as they quickly and easily identify trusted retailers.

"When shopping online, consumers and retailers now have it ingrained to look for specific seals of approval—but there was never a solution to guarantee the authenticity of a product," said Jeff Messer, general manager of brand protection services at Channel IQ. "Now our program has fully launched, with Sennheiser on board as one of our first partners, we look forward to providing a solution for yet another unmet net within this community."

In January 2012, Channel IQ announced it had secured a line of credit from Silicon Valley Bank to further the development of these two products, in addition to expanding staff size and increase marketing and sales efforts. For more information on Channel IQ's offerings and solutions, please visit Channel IQ at IRCE in booth number 411, or visit www.channeliq.com.