IBM and Industri-Matematik Expand Global Strategic Alliance for E-Business Fulfillment and Customer Service

Business Wire, Nov 15, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. and MT. LAUREL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2000

Industri-Matematik Selects IBM WebSphere as Development Platform for

Next Generation Applications

IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Industri-Matematik International Corp. (NASDAQ:IMIC) today announced the companies have expanded their strategic alliance to deliver fulfillment and customer service e-business solutions for retail, wholesale/distribution and manufacturing companies.

Industri-Matematik will include WebSphere(1) Application Server and IBM's MQSeries(1) business integration software as part of its next generation VIVALDI(TM) applications. The applications will leverage open standards, such as extensible mark-up language (XML) and enterprise JavaBeans (eJB), for ease of use and integration with other applications.

As part of the expanded alliance, Industri-Matematik extends its existing Internet strategy by leveraging IBM WebSphere software - the first web infrastructure software to help companies at each stage of e-business development - as its standard development platform for next generation VIVALDI applications. The new software will feature a component-based architecture and deliver applications based on contact center, portal, fulfillment, replenishment and supply chain event management capabilities. It will allow companies to leverage the Internet to collaborate with customers and suppliers, and extend the traditional enterprise by integrating logistics, marketing and customer service operations. The first new VIVALDI products are anticipated to be delivered next month.

A major goal of the IBM/Industri-Matematik alliance is to support multi-channel business and logistics strategies, helping "bricks and mortar" companies achieve world-class fulfillment and customer service in both traditional and e-business operations. Additionally, the combined IBM and Industri-Matematik applications integrate web commerce sites with back-end distribution capabilities so Internet-based merchants have reliable, scaleable logistics and warehouse processes.

"Industri-Matematik's industry-leading fulfillment and customer service applications, combined with IBM WebSphere and consulting and integration services, provide a total e-business solution," said Pat Toole, general manager of B2B Solutions at IBM. "Our strategic alliance with Industri-Matematik will enable companies to speed the flow of product through a global supply chain as well as improve trading community collaboration."

According to John Geraci, chief operating officer at Industri-Matematik, "By working with the WebSphere e-business platform, we can leverage a standards-based Internet architecture to significantly reduce time-to-market for our next generation component applications. Additionally, a strengthened IBM relationship delivers strong value to our customers by optimizing VIVALDI software performance for IBM hardware and software to manage a high volume of e-business transactions and easily connect with other products in the IBM portfolio."

Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will jointly market and sell Industri-Matematik VIVALDI software running on the IBM WebSphere platform. On sales to new customers, Industri-Matematik will lead with WebSphere products as a middleware platform of choice. IBM will provide consulting, customization and integration services for joint IBM and Industri-Matematik solutions.

A History of Working Together

This expanded alliance builds on existing Industri-Matematik involvement in IBM's Global Supply Chain Management initiative and its role as an IBM Premier partner. Included among the joint customers of IBM and Industri-Matematik are Canadian Tire, Canada's largest hardgoods retailer; Ahlsell AB, a market-leading wholesale company that provides plumbing, heating, and electrical supplies in Sweden; Albert Heijn, the Dutch subsidiary of Ahold, one of the largest grocery chains in the world, and Norsk Medisinaldepot (NMD), Norway's largest wholesale distributor of drugs and hospital supplies.

The strategic alliance with Industri-Matematik is another example of IBM's commitment to go-to-market with leading independent software vendors through its PartnerWorld for Developers program (www.developer.ibm.com). These alliances target industries such as financial services, retail, manufacturing, and solution segments including enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, customer relationship management and business intelligence. The goal is to provide developers with access to new customers and revenue opportunities through IBM's marketing, sales and solutions resources, and in return developers commit to lead with IBM's middleware, server platforms and services.

PartnerWorld for Developers also offers the IBM Application Framework for e-business, a technology roadmap - based on industry standards - that helps developers integrate Internet technologies with traditional information technology. MQSeries messaging middleware is among the strategic products within the IBM Application Framework for e-business, and Industri-Matematik will continue to incorporate it into its product offerings.