The Albany (N.Y.) Times Union selected Surview sales development software from Bruce Bell & Associates for its 60-member sales staff.

Surview is an automated sales presentation system that enables sales representatives to access research information from its database and turn that information into Microsoft PowerPoint sales pages. Those pages can then be used to create marketing presentations for advertisers.

“We were very impressed with Bruce Bell & Associates’ reputation for a solid product, flexibility and customer service,” said Tina Streett Foley, media and marketing sales analyst for the Times Union.

BB&A adapted the Surview product to fit the specific needs of the Albany Times Union (daily, 98,543; Sunday, 145,299), which is a Hearst newspaper.

“Surview allows our sales reps to access data and technology in a way that is less intimidating and that will be able to change with our needs,” said Mike Danieli, director of strategic development for the Times Union.

BB&A has been developing solutions and offering customer support to the newspaper industry since 1985. The company offers software that marries research measurements with reporting styles to present research information for advertising sales presentations.