London, 16th March 2011: The Ice Organisation (Ice™) has selected SAS®, the leader in Business Analytics software and services, to deliver improved marketing efficiency. IS Solutions will provide implementation services and deliver a complete managed service including hosting, support and data analysis.

Ice, which operates a flexible loyalty programme rewarding consumers for choosing to buy sustainable products and services, has chosen SAS® Marketing Automation for its capabilities in comprehensively planning, testing and executing marketing campaigns. SAS Marketing Automation enables increased retention and drives higher rates of customer acquisition, helping enterprises to achieve better ROI and healthier profit margins.

Ice will build on accurate and in-depth analytics that have been explored, manipulated and aggregated through the use of SAS. These metrics have enabled superior insight into transactions, most popular products and the performance of partners in the programme. The strategic focus will now be on campaign performance, allowing Ice to grow further the popularity of the rewards programme among new joiners and to better target promotions to existing customers based on profiles of their activities and preferences.

IS Solutions will continue its work with Ice, which has so far delivered a performant website underpinned by a feature-rich content management platform with advanced analytics for complete customer insight, to deliver the foundations for continued expansion. This will involve the implementation of SAS Marketing Automation within a managed service framework that enables peace of mind for the client and allows them to concentrate on their core business.

Jayne Lee, Ice’s IT Director, commented: “After receiving responses from a variety of companies offering business analytics solutions, Ice selected SAS Marketing Automation due to the impressive suite of easy-to-use tools for non-technical staff and the power of its analytical processing capability. This will enable Ice to understand the key business drivers which will be a crucial element of our business planning process and will be used to enhance and personalise our marketing initiatives both online and offline.”

Ian Manocha, Managing Director of SAS UK and Ireland, stated: “By choosing SAS, Ice demonstrates that it understands how vital business analytics can be in helping it become more effective as a marketing organisation, in campaign management, as well as better understanding its customers. We are proud that SAS’ software plays a key role in increasing the uptake of its rewards programme and improving its bottom line.”

Peter Kear, Sales and Marketing Director of IS Solutions, responded: “IS Solutions is delighted to extend its relationship with Ice through the delivery of this important new initiative. We have worked with Ice since before the launch of the loyalty programme to provide the technology foundations for their success – this new phase is a natural progression of this effort that will deliver the platform for continued growth, greater operational efficiency and an increasingly strong business.”