Sharp Electronics Projects 67 Percent Annual ROI with Attachmate e-Business Solution

Business Wire, June 8, 1999

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 1999--

Attachmate Streamlines Sharp's Service Division's Order Entry,

Builds and Deploys Customer Web-to-Host Self-Service Application

Today at e-Business EXPO, Attachmate's Business Solutions Group, the company's consulting organization that delivers host-based e-business solutions, announced it developed and deployed a custom web-to-host, self-service order entry application to streamline activities throughout the order cycle for Sharp Electronics European Group (SEED).

With the web-based solution in full operation for three months, initial results show a projected return on investment of at least 67 percent per year. A demonstration of the application built for Sharp and other customized applications is available in the Attachmate booth (No. 1802) at the e-Business Expo.

"A very remarkable benefit is the reduction of order delays caused by order entry," said Peter Steffen, IT manager for SEED. "This increases the return on investment, plus assures customers faster delivery of products placed through the Attachmate web-to-host order application."

The problem. Sharp's Service Division supplies a complete range of parts for all Sharp products -- from microwave ovens, VCRs, and camcorders to laptops and photocopiers. Throughout Europe, Sharp sales subsidiaries, channel partners, resellers, and large retailers have an ongoing need to order replacement parts directly from Sharp. In the past, its customers sent orders in via fax, telephone, and email where an order entry person in any of eight Sharp subsidiaries would enter orders on the host.

The Attachmate solution. The Business Solutions Group used a web-to-host development platform to build the application allowing users to access IBM(R) mainframe and AS/400(R) host information from any browser. Without changing any host code, Attachmate(R) Business Solutions Group created a secure HTML-based self-service solution available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No client-side downloads are required, making the application not only easy to use but available to all partners with access to a browser. Sharp requires less personnel to handle these transaction and partners are able to get the information they need, whenever they need it.

The results. Attachmate Business Solutions Group and its technology allow SEED to swiftly and cost-effectively respond to market demands. Today, the system accommodates 100 self service entities and is expected to handle up to 600 defined users over the next two years. Sharp's European subsidiaries, resellers, and large retailers are able to order replacement parts directly and conveniently from Sharp with ease.

-- Orders are placed easily through the convenience of a web

browser. -- Orders are entered immediately to the host with no time zone

restrictions. -- Partners may help themselves by using features such as

replacement part searches. -- Partners receive parts faster.

Besides improving overall customer responsiveness and satisfaction, the self-service application helps Sharp maintain its image as an innovative brand and streamlines the company's internal processes and customers receive parts faster.

Mr. Steffen is making a presentation on this web-to-host solution today at 2:45 p.m. PDT at the e-Business Expo along with Mike Kaul, vice president of Attachmate Business Solutions Group. In its premier year, e-Business Expo is a business conference and exhibition dedicated to the technologies of e-commerce and electronic business. It takes place today through June 10 at the San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, Calif.

Attachmate Business Solutions Group. With real-world systems management experience and couple with Attachmate's powerful object-oriented technology, Attachmate consultants deliver e-business solutions resulting in greater efficiency and profitability. Attachmate Business Solutions Group assists organizations evolve toward a fully integrated e-business architecture resulting in improved information flow, lower total cost of ownership of IT systems, and overall return on investment.

About Attachmate

Attachmate Corporation provides e-business solutions that leverage host information and applications for managing enterprise host access to more than 10 million enterprise users worldwide. With 80 offices in 30 countries, Attachmate delivers a comprehensive framework of host access management and terminal emulation products, web-to-host technologies, worldwide consulting solutions, and global strategic partnerships. For more information about Attachmate products and consulting services, contact Attachmate worldwide headquarters in Bellevue, Washington at 425/644-4010 or www.attachmate.com.

(c)1999 Attachmate Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Attachmate is a registered trademark of Attachmate Corporation. IBM and AS/400 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporations. Other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.