CDS Global, Inc. is a multinational corporation based in Des Moines, Iowa, that provides business process outsourcing and customer data management to various industries worldwide.
They handle 710 million consumer sales promotions, 65 million customer service interactions and 1 billion transactions annually, including 180 million payments totalling $7.1 billion,Santana, Marco, , Des Moines Register, July 9, 2014 through 16 facilities in the U.S., and the U.K."Company Overview of CDS Global, Inc", Bloomberg Businessweek
CDS Global is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst Corporation and is the largest magazine fulfillment house in North America.Mickey, Bill, "Chart 1 - PDF" , FolioMag.com, February 6, 2013
History In 1971, Look magazine built a computer system that, for the first time, stored the names and addresses of their customers on magnetic tape.
Two months later, when Look ceased publication, six employees took this new fulfillment service to Edward Downe, Jr., publisher of Ladies Home Journal and The American Home. He agreed to be their first client, and owner, opening Downe Computer Services April 1, 1972, with 172 employees.Elbert, David, "Good Idea Grows Out Of Tragedy" , The Des Moines Register p. 1G-2G. Retrieved 2008-05-23, October 26, 1997
In 1977, the Charter Company in Jacksonville, Florida, bought out Downe Communications’ stock and renamed the company Charter Data Services (CDS).
Hearst Corporation acquired two Charter Company properties in 1982, Redbook and CDS, which they rechristened Communications Data Services and then, in 2007, CDS Global."CHARTER, HEARST PACT", New York Times. P. Business, May 1, 1982
The number of magazine titles served increased as CDS Global acquired other fulfillment companies, including Tower Publishing"British Venture For Hearst Unit", New York Times. P. Business, April 22, 1993 and OptimaMickey, Bill, "CDS Global Buys Optima" , Audience Development, February 2, 2010 in the U.K. and INDAS"The Deals", FolioMag.com , February 1, 2003 in Canada. Electronic payment capabilities were expanded when CDS Global acquired PayDQ in 2011.Mickey, Bill, "Hearst's CDS Global Buys PayDQ", FolioMag.com, October 4, 2011
Divisions
CDS Global supports 1,141 brands"Company Overview of CDS Global, Inc", Bloomberg Businessweek with marketing, order management, order fulfillment, payment processing and document presentment services.
Media CDS Global is the largest magazine fulfillment service provider, managing more than 1,000 print and digital magazine titles.Mickey, Bill, "Chart 1 - PDF" , FolioMag.com, February 6, 2013
Non-profit CDS Global provides donations processing, donor acknowledgements, marketing services and customer service to non-profits."Finding the Right Balance Between Print and Digital: The Mr. Magazine™ Interview with the New CDS Global President & CEO Debra Janssen", Mr. Magazine, July 3, 2014
Higher education CDS Global provides gift processing, donor/alumni acknowledgements, fulfillment services and customer service to higher education institutions.
Consumer products CDS Global provides ecommerce and web store services,"Company Overview of CDS Global, Inc", Bloomberg Businessweek including cross-selling and conversion marketing.
Utilities Public utilities use CDS Global’s electronic billing and payment services, with additional support for customer service, resource management, cash flow and regulatory compliance.
Services
Customer service Customer care agents deliver mail, online, email, chat and phone support, for billing, sales and level-one technical issues.Mickey, Bill, "The Customer Service Implications of Tablet Editions", Audience Development, May 10, 2013
Data CDS Global manages 159 million customer files"Finding the Right Balance Between Print and Digital: The Mr. Magazine™ Interview with the New CDS Global President & CEO Debra Janssen", Mr. Magazine, July 3, 2014 for nearly 60 percent of the publishing industry and advises businesses on transactional, communication and service best practices.Oppenhuizen, Kyle, "Think Big", BusinessRecord.com, April 26, 2013
Ecommerce Client-branded web stores are supported by order management, payment processing, warehousing, fulfillment, distribution and customer service.
Mailing Services include printing, personalization and presorting of acknowledgements, bills and renewals.
Marketing 710 million personalized print and digital communications, delivered via email, mail and phone. 95,000 online marketing pages managed."Finding the Right Balance Between Print and Digital: The Mr. Magazine™ Interview with the New CDS Global President & CEO Debra Janssen", Mr. Magazine, July 3, 2014
Order management and fulfillment In addition to physical product delivery, CDS Global handles subscriptions, recurring billings, digital access,Raphel, T.J., "Seamless Integration Is An App Must-Have", Audience Development, July 13, 2011 and account services.
Payment CDS Global supports paper, electronic, mobile, walk-in and interactive voice response options with: Electronic bill presentment and payment Lockbox and remittance processing Online banking and bill payment consolidation Bill printing and mailing services Data capture and image archive
Warehousing and distribution Facilities in the U.S. and the U.K. provide inventory management, kitting and assembly, integration and logistics.
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