New Web-Based Product Locator from Krillion Lets Manufacturers Turn
“Out-of-Stock” Alert Into a Sure-Fire Sales Opportunity for Local Retailers

Plug-in technology presents cross-channel shoppers with ‘what to buy, where to buy it’ information that closes sales and drives shoppers to local dealers for pick-up; new version includes ‘intelligent’ product substitution capability

Mountain View, CA – October 7, 2008 – Krillion™, the local search engine that connects Web-influenced buyers with in-stock, in-store merchandise, has released the latest version of its product locator solution for manufacturers. Version 2 of the Krillion Product Locator expands Krillion’s advanced local product search capabilities with a new feature that addresses a crucial deficiency of many manufacturers’ websites: their inability to provide shoppers who are researching products online with appropriate alternatives if they product they want to buy is not available at local retailers.

Krillion’s “intelligent sales agent” automatically searches for other, locally available products whose attributes closely match those sought by the shopper. A rules-based approach is used so that similar products of the same or higher value are suggested. The system can also take into consideration new products that replace current models, and can offer a substitute for models not yet available at retailers. In all cases, only products that are known to be in stock with local retailers are displayed, ensuring that the shopper is never presented with a “this product is not in stock locally” dead-end situation that leads to website abandonment.

The websites of leading manufacturers offer consumers the most comprehensive and up-to-date product information. For this reason, they are a crucial resource for today’s cross-channel consumer, who conducts extensive online research and then opts to buy at their local retailer. But, in many cases, manufacturers’ websites are not ‘closing the local loop’ by connecting these ready-to-buy shoppers with local retailers that have the right product, at the right price, in stock, right now.

Cross-channel shoppers demand a comprehensive web-to-store experience from online information resources that presents them with a complete picture of their buying options. The Krillion Product Locator is seamlessly embedded into the manufacturer’s website and can be programmed to offer pricing, availability, product review and other information. Unlike dealer-locator solutions currently used by many manufacturers’ websites, Krillion takes a product-centric, availability-aware approach that focuses on driving local sales and reinforces a manufacturer’s relationship with its authorized dealers. Krillion can work closely with the manufacturer to define which retailers to include in results, and in what order they are presented within the locator.

“We know that cross-channel shoppers favor manufacturers’ websites to research what to buy and to locate a local retailer, but until now most manufacturers have been forced to end the online conversation with a shopper if the product is not available nearby,” said Joel Toledano, co-founder and CEO of Krillion. “The latest Krillion Product Locator goes further than any other available solution and lets manufacturers suggest a product that is currently in stock at a local retailer – and that meets all the shopper’s key buying criteria. This keeps the sales conversation going and reduces the likelihood that the shopper will start a new online search on a competitor’s website.”

Simple integration, advanced functionality

The Krillion Product Locator is a comprehensive solution that requires little or no back-end development – in most cases requiring no more than two lines of Javascript to deliver highly interactive and extensible functionality across product-level pages. Once integrated, it enables manufacturers of branded consumer goods to enhance their websites with the most advanced dealer and product locator technology available today. Using it, manufacturers can offer online shoppers more valid product choices at local retailers and deliver customers to a local, knowledgeable retailer with available product.

Krillion’s product locator technology can help manufacturers improve the web-to-store functionality of their websites:

• Low-integration approach that maximizes user engagement
• Fully integrated, local product locator
• Little or no back-end development
• Real-time product availability at local retailers
• Intelligent product substitution of in-stock product
• Connects ready buyers with authorized dealers
• Streamlines purchase process, motivating consumers to buy now
• Drives more qualified sales
• Greatly improves linkage with dealers
• Creates continuity through to sale at authorized dealers, avoiding risk of lost sales through site abandonment

How to find out more

About Krillion

Krillion is the leading local shopping search engine that provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on where specific branded products are sold, and which retailer has them in stock right now. Krillion aggregates information from partner companies and websites to create an index of products, retailers, locations and in-store stock availability for 40,000 cities across the United States. The powerful combination of Krillion’s patent-pending Krillion Localization Engine™ and its real-time StockCheck™ tool enables web-savvy shoppers to quickly find, compare and buy products near them, speeding their path to purchase and helping them take advantage of in-store pickup and other convenience services offered by multi-channel retailers. Krillion’s local product index and search engine power manufacturer and publisher websites, providing a dynamic local product search platform that helps them connect their customers with in-stock products at local retailers. Krillion was founded in February 2006 and is funded by Hummer Winblad Venture Partners and Leapfrog Ventures. For more information, visit www.krillion.com.

Krillion™, Krillion Product Locator™ and Krillion Localization Engine™ and Krillion StockCheck™ are trademarks of Krillion, Inc. All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts:

Krillion:
   Tim Cox | ZingPR tim@zingpr.com 650-369-7784