For Immediate Release:
 

SpaceWorks OrderManager® 4.0 Release Strengthens Order Management Automation Up and Down Supply Chains --

Support for Complex Order Functions Raises Stakes in EC Marketplace

Rockville, MD -- September 23, 1998 -- Booth #55/Internet Open - The breakthrough Version 4.0 of SpaceWorks award- winning OrderManager software for Extranet Commerce (EC) announced today, features enhancements that revolutionize a company's ability to automate transactions up and down their supply chains. With these added capabilities, the Company has leveraged its five years' experience in automating front-office sales to outside buyers to now further streamlining MRO procurement activities among an enterprise's inside buyers.

This new version release from SpaceWorks-scheduled for availability in Q4 - advances the EC pioneer's vision to offer Corporate America a fully integrated application solution to facilitate either Web-based buy- or sell-side transactions. In fulfilling this vision, Version 4.0 innovates OrderManager's functionality through a modular approach that allows corporations to incrementally phase in functions over time to accommodate evolving intranet/extranet commerce needs and requirements.

In this new modular design, an enterprise which launches an OrderManager "selling" solution on the Web can at a later date pay a license fee to un-lock the "buy-side" features without having to purchase and set up a separate system. The same holds for organizations that wish to start with Web- based MRO procurement, then later "unlock" capabilities to launch a Web selling channel.

"Our vision to offer integrated 'add on' modules to our flagship order management product stems from the market reality that a large overlap in features exists between'buy-side' and 'sell-side' solutions," said Dave MacSwain, President and CEO. "With this modular approach to Internet commerce, we've revolutionized our customers' ability to set an evolution strategy for long-term supply chain automation."

Support for complex order building, submission and tracking over the Web takes the order management capabilities of this new version to the next plateau for an enterprise. Central to this new functionality is the optional module to accommodate multiple vendors' product catalogs-an enhancement over the previous version which handled a single vendor's wares. Buyers now can research desired selections across an unlimited number of authorized vendors and build consolidated order forms containing goods or services from disparate sources.

By the same token, upon electronic submission of the order, individual line items are automatically directed to appropriate suppliers for processing-either through direct gateways or by leveraging existing EDI investments. Finally, buyers can track complex orders and see immediate status of component parts in the fulfillment stages across differing suppliers.

Another new, optional feature represents a significant advancement to the One- Step Approval process supported in OrderManager 3.0. OrderManager 4.0 now permits orders to be routed for approval to an unlimited number of individuals depending on pre-established criteria. This feature can be integrated with internal human resource systems to ensure a consistent view of the organizational hierarchy. Users who originate orders can choose to have the order routed back to them after final approval or submitted directly; they also can elect to receive an email alert after each completed stage in the order request's route.

OrderManager 4.0 also offers an optional enhanced product configurator that helps users to pick the right products to build a complementary grouping of inter-connected items. And, the new version supplies a second, standard "out-of- the-box" user interface template-giving enterprises two very different options for branding the look and feel of their application, while still offering the option for a full customization.

Additionally, OrderManager 4.0 for the first time uses Java on the server side of the application to further optimize customization, upgradability and internationalization of the solution. Java's sophisticated object-oriented programming capabilities ensure further robustness in the implementation of customer specific business rules. (More details about SpaceWorks use of Java were announced today, in a separate press release from the Company.)

"Today's announcement of support for complex orders raises the stakes in the extranet commerce arena," said Liz Sara, SpaceWorks Co-founder and Vice President of Marketing. "With this newest version of OrderManager, we have proven SpaceWorks commitment to pioneer break-through, comprehensive functionality for Web-based order management transactions of any variety. OrderManager is the first-and only-Internet solution to provide corporations with a modular, flexible means to automate business transactions up or down their supply chain."

Headquartered in Maryland's "Technology Corridor," SpaceWorks develops, markets and supports a suite of business-oriented electronic commerce software applications for use on the Internet, through private corporate intranets and over extranets. The OrderManager software enables corporations to reinvent the way they operate with their supply chain partners, suppliers, and business clients in the information economy. More information is available on the Company's Web site, http://www.spaceworks.com.

About SpaceWorks
SpaceWorks, Inc.® drives billions in B2B revenue today for Global 2000 manufacturers, distributors and supplier-driven marketplaces. SpaceWorks industrial-strength application, the Web BusinessManager Suite, automates all the mission-critical activities involved in B2B selling, including ordering, marketing, billing and more. The solution integrates with back-end systems, e-Marketplaces and customer procurement networks to enable real-time, revenue-generating transactions. SpaceWorks clients include Avaya, BF Goodrich, GE Aircraft Engines, and Maytag Corporation, among others. Alliance partners include PricewaterhouseCoopers, webMethods, Commerce One and more. Additional information is available at www.spaceworks.com.

BACK TO PRESS RELEASES