In keeping with its push to provide integrated, multichannel analysis of customer behavior, SPSS Inc. announced plans this week to acquire NetGenesis, a provider of software for analyzing Web trends.
Once the acquisition is completed, NetGenesis Corp. will be integrated into the CustomerCentric Solutions (CCS) division of SPSS, which launched CCS this past May.
The division will be focused on enterprisewide analytical solutions to bolster customer relationship management (CRM) initiatives. The acquisition is intended to strengthen CCS, turning it "into a mature organization with an established customer base and revenue stream," company officials said.
Online and offline analytics are becoming crucial to help users make the most of their CRM strategies, said Aaron Zornes, an analyst for the Meta Group Inc., based in Stamford, Conn. The integrated, multichannel view is one intended to acquire more customers and boost profitability and loyalty, Zornes said in a statement.
NetGenesis' Web-centric data analysis tools will be combined with the data mining capabilities of SPSS, including data warehouses, call centers, and marketing automation systems, officials said.
The regulatory steps governing the merger are expected to be finalized during the last quarter of this year.
Under the terms of the agreement, SPSS will issue approximately 2.4 million shares of common stock to NetGenesis shareholders, officials said. SPSS' management will run the combined entity.