Onyx Adds Customer Management Into Portal Mix

Onyx Software Inc. yesterday introduced Onyx Enterprise Portal, which blends the company's customer-management technologies with other applications, services, and content users need to interact with customers.

The portal is one of the first to emerge from a customer-relationship management vendor, analysts say, and makes it simpler for Onyx users to track customer data and other information. "Onyx is providing a digitized desktop where users can access CRM transactions and data," says Steve Bonadio, an analyst with the Hurwitz Group. "It's enabling employees to do more."

The portal lets the user view such information as account and sales pipeline data, get news on competitors, and see customer stock prices. The portal also links to services and applications for functions such as expense reports, procurement, and travel directions. All applications and services feed into the same interface, eliminating the need to switch between applications.

Vendors the company will partner with include ActiveTouch, Expansable.com, iMarket, Primus, and Trilogy, while content providers include sales-effectiveness company Miller Heiman, news provider Go2 Net, and Supportindustry.com. Onyx Enterprise Portal will be available in the third quarter, starting at $65,000.