Links and other odds and ends,...
Below you'll find a collection of links to various organizations, service providers and information sites that we've found useful in the past. If you happen to know of a site not listed here, please send it to us at mail@semilla-advisors.com and we'll include it.
Organizations
A list of professional organizations that you can join or get information from.
Credit Research Foundation
The Credit Research Foundation (CRF) is an independent, member-run organization, consisting of a dynamic community of like-minded business professionals with a vested interest in improving and fostering the field of business credit --more specifically--the practices and technologies of business credit. CRF is your industry advocate; the bridge in the customer financial relationship.
Access the CRF here at www.crfonline.org
National Association of Credit Managers
NACM® was founded in 1896 to promote good laws for sound credit, protect businesses against fraudulent debtors, improve the interchange of credit information, develop better credit practices and methods, and establish a code of ethics.
Education and research programs illustrate NACM's awareness of the complex needs of credit management today. Membership in a NACM-affiliated credit association includes membership in the National Association. Members of NACM® are credit and financial executives, primarily representing manufacturers, wholesalers, financial institutions, and varied service organizations.
Access the NACM here at www.nacm.org
The American Bankruptcy Institute
he American Bankruptcy Institute is the largest multi-disciplinary, non-partisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than 11,000 attorneys, auctioneers, bankers, judges, lenders, professors, turnaround specialists, accountants and other bankruptcy professionals providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. In fulfillment of its mission to provide information to its members, journalists, Congress and the public, ABI is engaged in numerous educational and research activities, as well as the production of a number of publications both for the insolvency practitioner and the public.
Access the ABI here at www.abiworld.org
The International Energy Credit Association
The International Energy Credit Association, Inc. (IECA) is the oldest international industry credit association in the United States. Its membership includes companies located in the United States, Canada, most Western European countries, Mexico, South America, Asia, and Africa. Most recently, members were recruited in Mexico, South America and Asia. There are approximately 1000 members representing over 500 large, medium, and small companies.
Visit the the IECA here at www.ieca.net
Shared Services Benchmarking Association
The Shared Services Benchmarking Association is a membership driven organization whose purpose is to share process and performance data to assist companies in understanding their performance vis-a-vis others in their industry. Membership in this organization is free to participating companies.
Visit the SSBA here at www.ssbenchmarking.org
Information Portals
Use these sites for the latest in statistics, information or white papers:
Bureau of Economic Analysis
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) promotes a better understanding of the U.S. economy by providing the most timely, relevant, and accurate economic accounts data in an objective and cost-effective manner.
ACCESS the BEA here at www.bea.gov
Federal Reserve Board
The Federal Reserve System is the central bank of the United States. It was founded by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. Over the years, its role in banking and the economy has expanded.
Access the Federal Reserve here at www.federalreserve.gov.
For consumer credit information, visit the Federal Reserve here at http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/hist/
SEC Filings
All companies, foreign and domestic, are required to file registration statements, periodic reports, and other forms electronically through EDGAR. Anyone can access and download this information for free. Here you'll find links to a complete list of filings available through EDGAR and instructions for searching the EDGAR database.
Access the SEC filings here at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
Accounts Receivable Management Industry
This site provides a gateway to professional collection and accounts receivable management firms worldwide. We connect the professional debt collection community with creditors looking for any industry resource or service and we educate and inform on credit and collection matters. The media division includes insideARM.com and a series of eNewsletters including The ARM Insider™, Debt Portfolio News™, Creditor News, Agency News and Jobs News. Together, these publications form the industry's most popular and timely source of information.
Access the ARM here at www.insidearm.com
Credit and Collections World
Credit and Collections World is an online version of Collections & Credit Risk magazine. The site offers the latest news, research and key metrics for the commercial and consumer credit professional.
Access Credit and Collections World here at www.creditcollectionsworld.com
Customer Interaction Solutions Magazine
Telemarketing® magazine evolved first into C@LL CENTER Solutions™ magazine, then C@LL CENTER CRM Solutions™, until its rename as CUSTOMER INTER@CTION Solutions® in December 2000. Its current title is most indicative of what the magazine has been providing since launching in 1982: business and technical information on how to more effectively equip and run today's contact center.
TMC was an early pioneer to the Web in the communications technology market and is currently the number one most visited website dedicated to the telecommunications/ technology industry.
Visit the web site of Customer Interaction Solutions magazine here at www.tmcnet.com
Service Providers
Here you'll find information on service providers that Semilla Advisors staff have worked with in past. Semilla Advisors is not endorsing or recommending these organizations through inclusion in this list. It is merely a list of available service providers. We recognize that other competing service providers do exist and we'd be happy to add to this list.
Alliance Data Systems
Alliance Data (NYSE: ADS) is a leading provider of marketing services, credit services, and transaction services, managing over 107 million consumer relationships for some of North America's most recognizable companies. Alliance Data creates and manages customized solutions that change consumer behavior and that enable its clients to create and enhance customer loyalty to build stronger, mutually beneficial relationships with their customers. Headquartered in Dallas, Alliance Data employs approximately 9,300 associates at more than 60 locations worldwide. Alliance Data's brands include AIR MILES(R), North America's premier coalition loyalty program, and Epsilon(R), a leading provider of multi-channel, data-driven technologies and marketing services.
For more information about the company, visit its web site, www.AllianceData.com.
Experian
Experian® is a global leader in providing analytical and information services to organizations and consumers to help manage the risk and reward of commercial and financial decisions. Combining its unique information tools and deep understanding of individuals, markets and economies, Experian partners with organizations around the world to establish and strengthen customer relationships and provide their businesses with competitive advantage. For consumers, Experian delivers critical information that enables them to make financial and purchasing decisions with greater control and confidence. Clients include organizations from financial services, retail and catalog, telecommunications, utilities, media, insurance, automotive, leisure, e-commerce, manufacturing, property and government sectors.
You can find out more about Experian here at www.experian.com
Equifax
Equifax Inc. is a global leader in information technology that enables and secures global commerce with consumers and businesses. We are one of the largest sources of consumer and commercial data. Utilizing our databases, advanced analytics and proprietary enabling technology, we provide real-time answers for our customers. This innovative ability to transform information into intelligence is valued by customers across a wide range of industries and markets. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax employs approximately 4,900 people in 14 countries throughout North America, Latin America and Europe.
To find out more about Equifax, visit them here at www.equifax.com
First Data Corporation
First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) is a leading provider of electronic commerce and payment solutions for businesses worldwide. Serving 4.9 million merchant locations, 1,900 card issuers and their customers, First Data powers the global economy by making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses around the world to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. The company's portfolio of services and solutions includes merchant transaction processing services; credit, debit, private-label, gift, payroll and other prepaid card offerings; fraud protection and authentication solutions; electronic check acceptance services through TeleCheck; as well as Internet commerce and mobile payment solutions. The company's STAR Network offers PIN-secured debit acceptance at 2 million ATM and retail locations. For more information, visit www.firstdata.com.
System Vendors
System vendors providing a variety of applications from CIS to collections and analytics
Peace Software
Peace is the leading utility CIS software developer. Peace(TM), the company's flagship software product, is installed at major utilities in 35 regulated and competitive energy markets for billing and customer relationship management of millions of electricity, gas and water customers. Peace has clients in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, ranging from entrepreneurial new entrant energy retailers to the largest dual-fuel utilities with many millions of consumers and multiple market operations. For more information, visit www.peace.com.
SAP
SAP is the world’s leading provider of business software. Today, more than 38,000 customers in more than 120 countries run SAP® applications—from distinct solutions addressing the needs of small businesses and midsize companies to suite offerings for global organizations. Powered by the SAP NetWeaver® platform to drive innovation and enable business change, SAP software helps enterprises of all sizes around the world improve customer relationships, enhance partner collaboration and create efficiencies across their supply chains and business operations. SAP solution portfolios support the unique business processes of more than 25 industries, including high tech, retail, financial services, healthcare and the public sector. For more information, visit SAP at http://www.sap.com.
SPL Worldgroup
SPL delivers the proven software applications that help utilities around the world achieve competitive advantage and excellence in business performance, while ensuring a lower total cost of technology ownership. SPL solutions in customer care and billing, enterprise asset and work management, mobile workforce management, and outage and distribution management are specifically designed for energy, water, and service companies. Working with systems-integration and technology partners around the world, SPL has an unparalleled record of implementation success
For more information about SPL, visit their site at www.splwg.com
Intelligent Results
Intelligent Results, Inc., headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, is a leading provider of predictive analytics and decision management software for the financial services, utilities, telecom, retail and government sectors. PREDIGY™ – the only fully integrated and automated analytics platform on the market today—allows line-of-business and analytics users to make strategic and accurate data-driven decisions. The PREDIGY platform’s five functional modules assure ease of deployment within existing IT environments, leading to faster outcomes. With Intelligent Results, customers can achieve significantly higher business value by replacing intuition-driven decisions with data-driven decisions.
For more information about Intelligent Results, please visit their website at www.intelligentresults.com