BELLEVUE, Wash.—April 24, 2007—Ascentium Corporation, a leading technology and marketing consulting firm, today announced its acquisition of Invoke Systems, a customer-centered technology solution provider with extensive Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 (customer relationship management) expertise. The deal firmly establishes the company as the largest Microsoft Dynamics CRM consultancy in the United States and a global leader in the field, supporting more than 100 customers with over 15,000 business users.
Named to the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies in 2005 and 2006 and a recipient of a 2006 Pinnacle Award from Microsoft Dynamics, Ascentium uses the latest Microsoft technologies, including Microsoft Dynamics CRM, to provide its customers with interactive experiences, fuel business growth and help them better connect with their own clients, partners and employees. The company has been gaining significant momentum in West Coast markets, recently opening offices in Spokane, Portland and Los Angeles. With the acquisition of Invoke Systems, based in Baltimore, Ascentium expands into the East Coast market and enhances its national presence.
Invoke Systems has delivered customer-centered technology solutions for more than 15 years and is a two-time winner of the Pinnacle Award. Invoke Systems has unsurpassed technical experience, counting several senior developers from the original Microsoft Dynamics CRM product group among its team and is adept at handling the most challenging and complex scenarios. Now, Ascentium clients will be able to work with some of the most recognized Microsoft Dynamics CRM experts from across the country and draw on their broader range and depth of experience in specific industry verticals.
By merging forces, Invoke Systems and Ascentium can approach a broader set of customers and markets to offer the deepest experience and nationally recognized capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics CRM, infrastructure services, business intelligence, and portal and collaboration solutions. Invoke Systems’ customers have expressed significant interest in marketing and consulting services such as those offered by Ascentium. The unification of these two teams represents an opportunity to extend the full Ascentium value proposition and provide these broader capabilities to existing and new customers.
Ascentium has recently been following an aggressive growth strategy to expand its offerings to include a full breadth of marketing and technology solutions through acquisitions of leading companies, like Invoke Systems, which offer complementary services.
“This is an incredible business move for Invoke Systems, and we are thrilled to be joining forces with Ascentium, which has demonstrated its ability to support and maintain extraordinary growth,” said Jim Stout, CEO, Invoke Systems. “Combining the two CRM practices will create more innovative solutions for our clients and allow us to grow at an even faster rate than we are growing today.”
“This acquisition will not only enhance Ascentium’s ability to address the rising market demand for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, but will also accommodate our need to recruit and grow into a world-class practice that will continue to serve our rapidly growing client base,” said Jim Beebe, president, Ascentium. “Invoke Systems is top-notch and we are proud to add their expertise to our team.”
“The opportunity to deliver solutions related to Microsoft Dynamics CRM is growing exponentially,” said Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. “We value partners such as Invoke Systems and Ascentium and the key role they play in helping companies realize the full value of Microsoft CRM to grow and optimize their business.”
About Ascentium Corporation
Ascentium Corporation (www.ascentium.com) is an award-winning, integrated marketing and technology consultancy that consistently delivers information-driven business solutions to achieve its clients’ strategic objectives. Making the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing U.S. private companies for the past two years, Ascentium continues to see substantial growth in customer relationship management, digital marketing, web initiatives, enterprise content management, systems integration, custom development and strategic business engagements. The company’s clients include Avista Utilities, Boeing, Dell, Expedia, InfoSpace, Microsoft, Providence Health Systems, Starbucks and Washington Mutual. Ascentium is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, with offices in Spokane, Portland and Los Angeles.
About Invoke Systems
Invoke Systems has delivered customer-centered technology solutions to often challenging and complex scenarios for more than 15 years. They are the winner of two Pinnacle Awards and are a leading partner of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Leveraging Invoke Systems’ expertise and the resources of their Microsoft partnership, the technology firm implements CRM for small to mid-sized businesses, while providing custom application development and systems management for government organizations and large businesses. For more information, contact Invoke at 800-482-5742 or visit www.invokesystems.com
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Media Contacts:
Leah Clelland Ashby Heath
Ascentium Stanton Communications
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(425) 894-1874 (410) 727-6855
