WATERLOO, ON, April 11, 2002 – Manulife Financial advisors across
Canada are putting technology to work exactly when and how they want it, thanks to the
development and ongoing improvements to Manulife’s bilingual advisor Web site Repsource.
It’s one more way independent Manulife advisors get to “write the rules” on how
they want to do business. (www.manulife.ca/repsource).
Manulife’s advisor sales force has played a pivotal role in
reshaping Repsource from a small in-branch initiative in 1998 to a sophisticated,
multi-layered functional Web site. Using ongoing surveys, listening to frequent
communication and ad hoc feedback from its sales force, Manulife has created a
user-friendly and highly effective online tool to communicate important information and
transact business. Devised to save time and money, the site’s main objective is to make
doing business with, and servicing advisors, easier and better.
“At Manulife we know our advisors value their
independence. And we listen to what they, our product distributors, and our business and
industry leaders tell us about doing business,” says Phil Walton, Vice President,
Distribution at Manulife. “They told us that Repsource needs to reflect their
business environment, not ours. In addition to secure information, they also want easy
access to basic non-secure information in a password-free environment, so we’ve built it.”
Greater access to sales tools
Recent improvements and changes to Repsource include
creation of a public site – a new layer added to the larger secure password-protected
area. Advisors can access product and marketing materials, rates, event Webcasts and
unique content centres, including a recent 2002 RRSP Centre. Close to 8,000 registered
Repsource users and unlimited public visitors can regularly access this level of the site.
“Repsource users are our biggest critics and our best
asset,” Mr. Walton says. “Their world is changing so fast and we’re changing
with them, helping enhance their competitive edge with their clients, and our leadership
position within the industry.”
Manulife’s Repsource incorporates well-organized and
accessible administrative, product and marketing information, plus important services that
provide technology training and support. This online gateway also offers access to key
business tools available direct from Repsource or through software downloads. Combined
with secure e-mail, Repsource users stay up-to- date, with selling made easier, wherever
and whenever they do business.
Manulife partnered with the Toronto office of nurun Inc., a
global company that specializes in interactive business and e-marketing strategies, to
access the world-class technology and talent needed to continually develop Repsource.
nurun’s expertise assisted in the creation of the public area for the site plus the
redesign of the entire site to improve and maximize search capabilities.
“Our goal at nurun is to create solid business value
in the interactive space. This is a prime example of increased productivity, knowledge
sharing and a cost-reduction model facilitated by the Web,” says Jacques-Herve
Roubert, President and CEO, nurun Inc. “We believe that forward-thinking, web-savvy
companies such as Manulife will continue to lead the way.”
About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial
services group operating in 15 countries and territories worldwide. Through its extensive
network of employees, agents and distribution partners, Manulife Financial offers clients
a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services. Funds
under management by Manulife Financial were Cdn$142.2 billion as at December 31, 2001.
Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSE,
NYSE and PSE, and under ‘0945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the
Internet at www.manulife.com.
About nurun Inc.
nurun Inc. (Toronto Stock Exchange: IFN), a subsidiary of
Quebecor Media Inc., is a leading global interactive agency offering e-business solutions
based on customer relationship management and customer data management.
Combining marketing strategies with interactive
technologies, the applied solutions help build customer loyalty and boost profits. nurun
is an international network with offices located in several major cities across Canada,
the United States, Europe and South America. In Canada, nurun has offices in Toronto,
Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. For more information, visit
www.nurun.com.
To view Repsource, visit
www.manulife.ca/repsource.
