ARMONK, N.Y., Dec. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Eurobank announced the first cloud-based digital platform for online international commercial trading. Using IBM's industry-leading Digital Experience software, with advanced cloud capabilities and social offerings, Eurobank is uniting exporters and importers from around the globe to enhance international trade operations and increase transactions.

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With more than 1,000 branches in seven countries, Eurobank is one of the largest banks in Greece. To maintain its leadership position, it looked to address growing customer demand for new online trading and transactions services that would help them expand their businesses. Eurobank turned to IBM to develop Exportgate, a cloud-based digital experience capable of strengthening online multilateral trade between Greek businesses and their international counterparts across 180 countries.

Exportgate offers secure business-to-business Web portal with powerful social capabilities and a number of e-services designed to facilitate trade transactions with new partners. Offering user-friendly social tools and resources for industry analysis, international buyers can easily access profiles of Greek sellers, contact them through the direct message feature, view virtual presentations, and participate in forums where they can exchange ideas, research and more. As a result, Exportgate helps accelerate the exchange of goods and services by uncovering ideal trade partnership opportunities and then simplifying the transaction process between Greek exporting businesses and their global counterparts.

For example, a local company offering a range of Greek wines and olive oils was looking to expand operations globally. Using Exportgate, it uncovered ideal partnership opportunities with importers in China, France, UK and U.S., all with experience and knowledge of working in the high-quality food and beverages industry. As a result they were able to expand their business while ensuring that buyers received the same superior quality of products as if they were purchased locally.

"One of the biggest challenges of international trade is the inability to effectively identify and engage with new partners on a global scale. Exportgate is helping to remove these barriers," said Constantinos Vousvounis, General Manager, Group Corporate and Investment Banking, Eurobank. "By partnering with IBM, members now have access to a cloud-based digital experience that helps them easily identify and expand their network of trusted partners while minimizing costs and accelerating growth into new markets."

Exportgate members now have access to collective and updated directories of over 1,400 Greek exporters and more than 6,500 international trading companies. Today, Exportgate ranks among the most prominent and established International Trade Portals, with the majority of visitors - over 60 percent - originating from countries such as the UK, Italy, France, Germany and Russia. To date the site has generated more than 485,000 visits, 1,348,102 portal page views, over 8,000 e-library member visits and more than 2,300 partnerships and connections among International companies.

"Eurobank's new digital strategy for international imports and exports has brought vibrancy to the global trading system in the region," said Larry Bowden, Vice President of Exceptional Digital Software, IBM. "Now through this unique cloud-based digital experience members have unparalleled access to their target audiences, as well as one of the largest and most organized libraries of trading resources that are all customized to their exact industry and business needs."

Exportgate is a Eurobank initiative, in cooperation with the Panhellenic Exporters Association (PSE), the Greek International Business Association (SEVE), the Exporters Association of Crete (EAC), SEV Hellenic Federation of Enterprises and the main bilateral chambers of commerce in Greece. The initiative operates under the auspices of the Greek Ministry for Development & Competitiveness.

IBM's new digital experience software with enhanced mobile, analytics, content and social capabilities allow chief marketing officers (CMO), chief human resource officers (CHRO) and other line of business executives to create customized experiences across all digital channels that transform the way they engage with their three most important audiences: customers, employees and business partners. IBM has also been an industry leader for its WebSphere Portal solution for the last eleven years.

For more information about IBM's social business initiative please visit http://www.ibm.com/press/socialbusiness, www.ibm.com/digitalexperience or follow @IBMSocialBiz on Twitter.

Media Contacts:
Kristi Eells
IBM Media Relations
(802) 345-8313
keells@us.ibm.com

SOURCE IBM