This Site's for You

by Mike Tindal

Statistics show that more and more often, executives and technologists alike are turning to the Web for information. Professionals are even more likely to pull up a Web site than pick up the phone these days.

That's good news to a technology company like SAS. But what's even more important to us is that you're getting what you need when you turn to the Web. We've heard your personal pleas for more about SAS 9, a quicker route to Tech Support and easier access to analyst reports.

Well, you asked for it, and now you're getting it. We're continuing to evolve our Web presence to meet your needs. In a phased rollout that begins in early 2003, our Web site will become two Web sites – one focused on corporate SAS and our offerings, the other on supporting SAS customers.

www.sas.com: This site is dedicated to educating the public, at a high level, about all the software and services we offer. If you're trying to solve a particular business pain, this site will provide an overview of our products and solutions and back that up with customer success stories, third-party validation, awards and ways to learn more. In addition, the corporate site will be the home for general company news and information about events, SAS partners, employment opportunities and other related content.

support.sas.com: This is your site, SAS users – the place to go when you need technical support, training, documentation or want to explore the more technical aspects of our offerings. Visit the Customer Support Center to find detailed features about SAS solutions. Tips and samples will be right at your fingertips, and class listings easy to scan. Simply put, this is where you'll want to call home.

The creation of this site could be considered a foundational step in our commitment to customers – a commitment that begins with our president, Dr. Jim Goodnight, and ends only when we've achieved 100 percent customer satisfaction. In other words, our goals are high, as are your expectations.

Some of our Web enhancement strategies will even find their way to BetterManagement.com, which features content from 250 leading organizations. As an arm of SAS that is operated independently, BetterManagement.com is dedicated to educating executives on how organizations are addressing key business pains. We find it to be an excellent source of information, and we think you will, too.

In the coming months, you'll see that these Web enhancements are part of a bigger picture. We'll be tailoring our communications and support offerings to meet your needs – to bring you the right message in the form and forum of your choice.

We're truly excited about this new initiative for 2003 – communications tailored to our customer base. Enjoy.