KDS
today announced that the Interpublic Group of
Companies chose KDS Corporate for its online business travel
management solution.
KDS`s solution will be deployed globally throughout the group. The first deployment phase will start this spring with all US-based
companies and continue in Europe by the end of 2003.

With over 20,000 business travelers located in over 120 countries, the
Interpublic Group of Companies is a world leading organization for media and
business services. During the summer 2002, the Interpublic Group of
Companies launched a benchmark study on online business travel management
solutions in order to cut its travel costs, better monitor travel
expenditures and provide travelers with a 24/7 comprehensive travel planning
and booking service.

The international structure of IPG dictated the need for a proven global
travel management solution. A key requirement for IPG was the tool`s ability
to manage the local complexities of its different worldwide entities. IPG`s
150 companies are located throughout the world and present diverse
languages, policies, suppliers and corporate requirements. Consequently, the
group sought a global solution, which could deliver advanced integration and
travel administration functionalities together with ease of use for
travelers.

Among 20 solutions tested, the Interpublic Group of Companies selected KDS
Corporate as the only solution meeting its specific requirements. KDS
Corporate will provide IPG with a very flexible product architecture for
integrations, robust international capabilities such as multiple languages
and currencies, and advanced modules delivering powerful features such as
multi-directional profile synchronization.

A determining feature for IPG was profile synchronization. KDS ProfileSync
simplifies synchronization of data between various databases (corporations,
GDSs, travel agencies, KDS) and generates a seamless workflow within an
organization. It delivers a quick and easy integration with ERP and other IT
Systems as well as travel service providers.

KDS`s business travel administration tool, KDS Corporate Manager, enables
site administrators to manage globally the company`s suppliers, rules,
negotiated fares, databases and traveler profiles.  From one display screen
on KDS Corporate Manager, an authorized site administrator can quickly and
efficiently access and modify diverse parameters of the online booking
solution by county, division, and/or business unit.

“As we searched for the best solution, we realized how complex it would be
to find a product that would allow us to reduce our travel budget while
guaranteeing a quick and easy implementation throughout our group and
simplifying administration for the future,” explained Kathleen Kaden, Vice
President Corporate Travel, IPG. “Today, we believe that KDS offers a truly
global solution, the only one answering our requirements.”

“KDS is proud the Interpublic Group of Companies selected our solution KDS
Corporate. We see it as a great example of KDS Corporate`s wide scope of
capabilities and its advanced technology`s application. IPG will be able to
leverage our global solution, our advanced integration functionalities and
our powerful travel administration module,” says Michael Steiner, Senior
Vice President, KDS US
Related stories on ITN:

(03/04/2003) Autodesk Deploys KDS Corporate

(25/03/2003) KDS and Travel Analytics Optimize Online Purchasing

(11/03/2003) TQ3 Travel Solutions to Distribute KDS Corporate

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