[London, ENGLAND] eSkye.com,
the first global beverage network for the drinks industry, announced a
major European expansion Thursday.
Having formed a European operation a few months ago, eSkye.com
says it will commence pilot programs in three countries by the
end of the year.
J. Smoke Wallin, founder and chief executive of eSkye.com, said
that fragmentation and a general lack of investment in technology
in the drinks industry made the eSkye.com solution applicable
everywhere.
“Our advanced technology, industry neutrality, and success in
the U.S. give us a significant first-mover advantage that will
allow us to put eSkye.com’s global network to use around the
world,” claimed Wallin.
Europe, with a retail market for beverage alcohol standing at
US $200 billion — twice the size of the U.S. market — must
certainly look enticing for eSkye.com. The average European
consumes more alchohol than the average American, and is
able to shop from any of 1.5 million on-premise outlets.
What’s more: the current European lead in wireless technology
makes the eBOTS-m solution for retailers and distributor
sales forces especially relevant and useful.
John Davison, chief executive eSkye.com Europe, also pointed out
that eBOTS has been developed to accommodate local business rules,
which is exactly what is needed in a European setting.
“Unlike many U.S. based firms, eSkye.com has fully grasped the
importance of local rules and relationships to its ultimate success.
We look forward to engaging beverage industry partners in Europe
in this exciting process,” said Davison.
eSkye.com announced its European management team, which besides
ex-Diageo VP John Davison consists of Chief Technology Officer
Keith McLeod, eSkye.com U.K. Managing Director Andrew Allan,
and eSkye.com Spain Managing Director Fernando Diaz Alonso.
eSkye.com has raised over US $55 million over the past year,
while securing agreements to serve U.S. markets which
represent US $97 billion in retail sales.
Among the exchanges which use eSkye.com’s beverage solution
are PurchasePro.com, Restaurantpro.com, 86.com, AlliantLink.com,
hsupply.com and Tibersoft Corporation.
