Marketing Alternatives Inc

What Marketing Alternatives Inc does

Marketing Alternatives Inc (MAI), founded in 1981 and headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, is a privately held, family-owned business process outsourcing (BPO) provider delivering integrated customer engagement, fulfillment, marketing, and technology services to enterprise and mid-market clients across the United States. The company operates across five service verticals: omni-channel contact center operations, B2B and B2C warehousing and fulfillment, marketing communications (MARCOM), branded environment solutions, and custom technology services. Its customer base spans diverse industries — including automotive/tires (Bridgestone, Firestone Complete Auto Care), flooring (Mohawk Industries, Wilsonart), food/CPG (Standard Coffee, Domino Foods/Sugar, Hickory Farms), baby/children's products (Mustela), home furnishings (Serta, Allsteel), government/transportation (Illinois Tollway Authority), and consumer brands (Figi's, Peepers, Abe's Market) — with several multi-year enterprise relationships (Bridgestone since 2000, Figi's across five seasonal cycles).

MAI's core technology asset is MARS/MARSWeb, a proprietary web-based CRM application developed and maintained by its in-house IT team on a Microsoft technology stack (MS SQL Server). The platform integrates with client enterprise systems (SAP, JD Edwards, NetSuite), eCommerce storefronts (Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, Zen Cart), marketplaces (Amazon, eBay), EDI networks (SPS Commerce, AS2, Commerce Hub), and shipping carriers (UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, Purolator, ShipStation, ConectShip, Endicia), delivering real-time inventory, automated notifications, dynamic scripting, credit card processing, kitting, returns management, and reporting. Specialized modules extend the platform into service/dispatch (field service automation, mobile workforce management, work order billing) and multi-channel appointment scheduling (online, call center, walk-in, in-dash vehicle). The platform holds PCI DSS merchant certification and PA-DSS compliance.

MAI's revenue model is a mix of managed services (contact center, fulfillment, branded environments), transaction-fee services (per-order/per-shipment fulfillment, returns processing), and professional services (MARCOM, custom application development through Enterprise Application Services). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, reflecting custom solution design per engagement. The go-to-market is exclusively direct enterprise sales with no channel or self-serve motion, and distribution is concentrated in the United States via three operating sites: the Elgin corporate headquarters and main fulfillment center, a Pensacola, Florida contact center, and a Taylorville, Illinois contact center. Recognition includes Multichannel Merchant Top 3PL for 2020 and 2021 and UpCity Top Digital Marketing Agency for 2018.

Name

Marketing Alternatives Inc

Legal name

Marketing Alternatives, Inc.

Website

https://mktalt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Marketing Alternatives Inc is a family-owned BPO provider founded in 1981 that delivers integrated contact center, warehousing and fulfillment, branded environment, marketing communications, and proprietary MARS CRM technology services to enterprise and mid-market clients across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Process Outsourcing and Third-Party Logistics

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (4921)

SIC

Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374), Services-Direct Mail Advertising Services (7331)

akta.pro primary industry

Partner Relationship Management (PRM) & Channel CRM (HDAEAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

POD Fulfillment, Warehousing & Drop-Shipping Services (MPAJANAJ)

Keywords

• Business process outsourcing
• Contact center services
• Third-party logistics
• Warehousing and fulfillment
• Marketing communications

Headquarters

HQ city

Illinois City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Contact Center Services: Omni-channel contact center solutions providing customer engagement services. Services include inbound/outbound call handling, email/chat support, and order processing assistance.
2. Warehouse/Fulfillment Services: Custom B2B and B2C warehouse, fulfillment and distribution services including e-commerce fulfillment, product fulfillment, literature fulfillment, premium and direct response fulfillment, kitting, and returns management.
3. Marketing Communications (MARCOM): Integrated marketing communications services including strategic planning, advertising, branding, graphic design, interactive/web development, and production/implementation.
4. Branded Environment Solutions: Single-source branded environment solutions including design services, production, inventory management, logistics, sourcing, order processing, reporting, and white glove installation services.
5. Technology/Custom Application Development: Enterprise Application Services (EAS) for custom development, web-related services, eBusiness solutions, and enterprise mobility consulting and implementation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MAI is an outsourced BPO provider delivering integrated multi-channel contact center, order processing, and warehousing/fulfillment solutions custom-built to client specifications. The company combines proprietary MARS/MARSWeb CRM technology with B2B and B2C fulfillment, omni-channel contact center operations, marketing communications, and branded environment services as a single-source partner.

Product overview

Marketing Alternatives Inc (MAI) operates as a BPO solutions provider offering an integrated platform of proprietary technology and outsourcing services. The core product is MARS/MARSWeb, a web-based CRM application that serves as the central technology platform, which integrates with client enterprise systems and supports order management, inventory, and fulfillment operations. This platform is extended through specialized modules including MARS Service/Dispatch for field service management and MARS Appointment Scheduling for capacity management. MAI delivers services across four main areas: fulfillment solutions (B2C and B2B), contact center operations (omni-channel), branded environment solutions (design through installation), and marketing communications (MARCOM). The integrated approach combines these services to provide clients with a single-source partner for contact center, warehousing/fulfillment, technology, marketing communications, and branded environment needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MARS/MARSWeb: Proprietary web-based CRM application developed and maintained by MAI's in-house IT team. MARS is an intranet CRM application designed to integrate with existing corporate enterprise systems. MARSWeb is a secure extranet site providing service functionalities.

Products and services

• B2C Fulfillment Services Custom B2C e-commerce, product, literature, premium and direct response fulfillment services for consumer brands. Includes order processing via internet, email/mail, phone and marketplace partners (Amazon.com, eBay), live customer assistance via phone, chat or email, payment processing, and returns management. Average 24-hour fulfillment turnaround.
• B2B Fulfillment Services EDI fulfillment and routing compliance services for retailers and manufacturers, including purchase order receipt, advance ship notifications (ASNs), compliant barcode/parcel labels and invoicing, with full vendor compliance support for retailer requirements.
• Contact Center Solutions Omni-channel contact center services supporting B2B and B2C client programs with 24/7/365 operations, advanced communications technology, and a Midwest location in Taylorville, IL for optimal time zone coverage. Includes inbound/outbound call handling, email/chat support, and order processing assistance.
• Branded Environment Solutions Single-source branded environment solutions including design services, production, inventory management, logistics, sourcing, order processing, reporting, and white glove installation services for stores, offices, exhibits, and trade shows.
• MARCOM (Marketing Communications) Integrated marketing communications services including strategic planning, advertising, graphic design, interactive/web development, production services, branding, corporate communications, and merchandising/P.O.P. displays.
• Enterprise Application Services (EAS) Custom application development services using a dual-shore (remote delivery) model to provide cost-efficiencies and speed-to-market for organizations requiring custom CRM or mobile application development, web-related services, eBusiness solutions, and enterprise mobility consulting.
• Returns Management Returns processing services including inspection/testing, fluff-and-buff services, re-kitting/packaging, and parts replacement, designed to mitigate costs while maximizing speed and efficiency for consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• I-PASS program scaled to 250% call volume increase within 90 days
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SPS CommercecoreTechnology or IntegrationEDI integration partner providing AS2 connectivity for electronic data interchange with retail trading partners.
• AS2coreTechnology or IntegrationEDI protocol integration for secure electronic data interchange with trading partners.
• Commerce HubcoreTechnology or IntegrationEDI integration partner for marketplace and retail connectivity.
• AmazoncoreTechnology or IntegrationMarketplace fulfillment partner receiving orders via Amazon.com integration.
• eBaycoreTechnology or IntegrationMarketplace fulfillment partner for order processing and fulfillment.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationeCommerce platform integration for web storefront connectivity and order management.
• MagentocoreTechnology or IntegrationeCommerce platform integration for web storefront connectivity and order management.
• NetSuitecoreTechnology or IntegrationERP integration partner for enterprise system connectivity.
• WooCommercecoreTechnology or IntegrationeCommerce platform integration for WordPress-based storefront connectivity.
• ShipStationcoreTechnology or IntegrationShipping management platform integration for multi-carrier fulfillment.
• UPScoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary shipping carrier with negotiated discount rates. Integration for label generation and tracking.
• FedExcoreTechnology or IntegrationShipping carrier with negotiated rates. Integration for label generation and tracking.
• USPScoreTechnology or IntegrationShipping carrier for domestic mail and package delivery services.
• DHLcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational shipping carrier for global distribution.
• FedEx SmartPostcoreTechnology or IntegrationHybrid delivery service combining FedEx network with USPS final mile delivery.
• UPS SurePostcoreTechnology or IntegrationHybrid delivery service combining UPS network with USPS final mile delivery.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationCloud infrastructure integration for scalable application hosting.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• StarTek: StarTek is a mid-sized omnichannel BPO/customer-experience outsourcer operating across multiple geographies, comparable to MAI in call-center scope but larger and public — the closest scaled equivalent of MAI's customer engagement business.
• Radial: Radial is a direct e-commerce fulfillment and customer-care peer providing omnichannel BPO and fulfillment for enterprise brands, mirroring MAI's combination of contact center, warehousing, and platform-level technology integrations.
• Quiet Logistics: Quiet Logistics is a U.S. e-commerce fulfillment 3PL that has repositioned as a tech platform ("Quiet Platform") — directly comparable to MAI's evolution toward selling proprietary technology alongside fulfillment services.
• PFS (PFSweb): PFS is a mid-market e-commerce fulfillment and contact-center BPO with proprietary CommerceHub technology — an almost identical profile to MAI, offering B2C fulfillment, omni-channel customer care, and integrated technology for mid-to-large brands.
• Afni: Afni is a privately held U.S. contact-center and BPO provider closely matching MAI's scale and family-owned/private operating profile, with overlapping omni-channel customer engagement and back-office services.

Broad incumbents

• Teleperformance: Teleperformance is the world's largest omnichannel BPO, operating thousands of contact-center seats across multiple geographies — a broad-incumbent peer whose lower-cost offshore capabilities increasingly threaten U.S.-based mid-market BPOs like MAI.
• Foundever (formerly Sitel/SYKES): Foundever is a global CX BPO with contact-center and back-office services competing for many of the same mid-market and enterprise customers as MAI; it absorbed Sykes, the long-time U.S. BPO benchmark.
• Concentrix: Concentrix is a global CX-solutions and BPO incumbent with significant contact-center and post-purchase fulfillment services; overlapping capabilities with MAI in order processing, customer engagement, and digital commerce support.
• TTEC Holdings: TTEC is a global customer-experience and digital-services BPO with a far broader portfolio but overlapping services (inbound/outbound contact center, back-office, fulfillment-adjacent CX) that compete for the same enterprise RFPs as MAI.

Emerging players

• ShipBob: ShipBob is a tech-forward, distributed-inventory 3PL focused on SMB and mid-market e-commerce merchants — an emerging peer competing for similar DTC customers but using a SaaS/tech-led model rather than MAI's high-touch BPO approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mai_solutions
• Facebookfacebook.com/marketingalternatives1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marketing-alternatives

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Marketing Alternatives Inc