Europe's First Internet-Only Insurance Company Uses eGain Software to Deliver Fast Multi-Lingual Customer Service
Operating in 4 languages & countries, Ineas uses eGain eService Solution to tackle a 15x increase in email traffic and deliver faster service response times

SUNNYVALE, CALIF. & SLOUGH, UK, July 23, 2002 -- Ineas Insurance Company, Europe's first Internet-only insurer, today announced that by using eService software from eGain Communications (NASDAQ: EGAN), the pan-European insurer has improved customer service response times despite a 15x increase in email traffic, while simultaneously cutting its service administration time in half.

With operations in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium, the modestly-sized independent insurance company faced a potentially super-sized service problem: how to swiftly and accurately answer emails from customers in four different languages - German, French, Dutch and English. In addition to language requirements, Ineas' team of 100 customer service agents need to support a variety of topics -- car, household and accident insurance -- all localized for country-specific guidelines.

By the time Ineas' incoming email volume had hit 1,000 email messages a month, the Internet-based company knew they needed to implement an innovative solution to maintain quality customer service - such as its guaranteed six-hour response time - and give room for vital future growth.

The answer was eGain Mail™, deployed out-of-the-box, to capture and provide consistent responses to all incoming email, and to record all external telephone conversations. eGain Communications was chosen after Ineas evaluated a dozen rival solutions, comparing ease of deployment, price, and suitability for Ineas' business model. Tackling email overload, managing customer relationships and handling communications in multiple languages were three key reasons why online insurance firm Ineas turned to eGain.

In the 18 months since implementation, Amsterdam-based Ineas reports that its email traffic has increased by up to 50 per cent per month. Today the insurer receives an average of 15 000 emails a month, but was still able to improve customer response and halve its administrative time, thanks to solutions from eGain.

Ineas is now investing in the upgrade to eGain Global Mail, since it plans to use the built-in Global Mail features to launch a multi-lingual, multi-cultural marketing offensive.

Says Ineas' Chief Technical Officer Guy Leroy: "eGain's solution allows Ineas to cope with the different regulations that govern our activities in each market, adapt consistently to the local practices and to get the language and tone right with our customers."

Says Leroy: "Our choice for eGain Mail was clear. It is a modular solution that will allow us to grow as we expand into more European countries. Traditional CRM implementations take much time and resource, but we knew that eGain Mail could be rapidly deployed and that we would see immediate returns.

"eGain Mail enables us to ensure consistency in answers and optimize response time, and provides solid foundations for further expansion."

Ineas Insurance Company N.V. is a European insurer and the first of its kind to offer products and services exclusively via the Internet. Ineas allows Internet users to take out insurance interactively in a simple and straightforward process. Users can manage their insurance on the Ineas site and follow the entire claims process online. Products currently available comprise buildings and contents insurance, as well as covering for motor, accident and personal liability. In addition, Ineas offers a personalized service to support the decision-making process by providing comprehensive information on personal risk management via the Primes® site. Ineas is operational in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France.

About eGain Communications Corporation
eGain (NASDAQ: EGAN) is a leading provider of eService software. Selected by 24 of the 50 largest global companies to improve phone and Web-based customer service, eGain solutions increase service efficiency and customer retention - thus delivering a significant return on investment (ROI). eGain eService Enterprise - the company's integrated software suite - includes applications for email management, Web collaboration and self-service, and enterprise-wide knowledge management. eGain has an operating presence in 18 countries and serves more than 850 enterprise customers worldwide - including Vodafone, DaimlerChrysler, and ABN AMRO Bank. To learn more about eGain, please visit www.eGain.com or call the company's offices - United States: (888) 603-4246; London: +44 (0) 1753 464646; or Sydney: +612 9492 5400.