IFS and Atos Origin to Showcase e-Business Initiative for Electronics Manufacturers at EtroniX 2001 Conference

Business Wire, Feb 27, 2001

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

EtroniX 2001

Booth No.E4401

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 27, 2001

Fast and Flexible Solution Lets Companies Implement Advanced

E-business and Enterprise Technology Without Disruptive Change

IFS and Atos Origin will showcase an e-business and enterprise initiative targeted to electronics manufacturers during the e/manufacturing expo at the EtroniX 2001 conference in Anaheim, California, February 27 to March 1.

The initiative is based on a software and services solution that lets electronics manufacturers move into the extended enterprise without disruptive radical change.

IFS, the world's fastest growing business software provider, and Atos Origin, a leading e-business and IT services provider, are combining their software and implementation expertise to deliver a component-based system of applications that span the entire demand and supply chain. The two companies have worked together successfully in Europe, and are expanding their combined solution to U.S. markets, including electronics manufacturers.

"IFS already has a strong presence in electronics manufacturing in North America with customers such as National Semiconductor Corporation and APW, Ltd.," said Terje Vangbo, IFS North America president and CEO. "By teaming with Atos Origin, we can leverage their proven track record within the electronics segment for delivering large-scale services on a multi-site, global level.

"Together, we can help electronics manufacturers evolve to more profitable and competitive ways of doing business, including collaborative relationships that effortlessly link companies with their customers, partners and suppliers."

As a result of the collaboration, Atos Origin has established an IFS practice within its ERP Solutions business unit based in Irvine, California. The company will be hiring approximately 30 consultants over the next six months that will be dedicated to implementing IFS solutions.

"Atos Origin anticipates tremendous growth in our IFS business, particularly in the electronics industry," said Kathleen Van Dyken, managing director of ERP Solutions, Atos Origin, Inc. "We're starting to experience a renewed interest in ERP by companies who feel they're at a competitive disadvantage without it, especially as they attempt to integrate newer solutions such as Supply Chain and Customer Relationship Management. IFS' modular approach allows customers to immediately meet their most critical needs, and add other modules later as they need them."

The IFS solution for electronics manufacturers is based on IFS eVolve, the only process that lets companies add e-business one step at a time. The eVolve program gives companies a flexible, fast way to move to advanced e-business initiatives, without the big-bang changes that are more disruptive than curative. With this safe and affordable method, companies don't have to throw out their existing infrastructure to implement e-business capabilities.

At the heart of the IFS eVolve process is IFS Applications 2001(TM) web-based software, consisting of more than 60 business components that span the entire demand and supply chain. IFS Applications provide companies with seamless integration to enterprise and e-business capabilities, ranging from customer relationship management and supply chain management to marketplaces, exchanges, and collaborative commerce.

During the EtroniX event, IFS and Atos Origin will be at booth No.E4401 to demonstrate e-business software and to explain their approach to step-by-step implementation.

EtroniX is a six-shows-under-one-roof event for electronics manufacturers. The e/manufacturing portion of the conference focuses on technology that optimizes the supply chain, facilitates e-commerce initiatives, and provides greater control over electronics manufacturing processes.

About Atos Origin (www.atosorigin.com)

Atos Origin is a leading provider of end-to-end information technology and e-business solutions and services that enable clients to turn their business objectives into value-driven results. The company's 27,000 employees deliver innovative solutions and strong industry experience to better manage the entire value network for companies, extended enterprises and e-communities. Atos Origin currently operates in 33 countries worldwide, with sales of $2.4 billion ($US) in 1999.

In North America, Atos Origin operates out of eight main locations, including South Plainfield (NJ), Irvine (CA), Dallas (TX), Chicago (IL), Cincinnati (OH), Columbus (OH), Toronto and Mexico City. Customers include Lucent Technologies, NCR, Nortel, Philip Morris, Philips, Shell, Unilever and others primarily in the high tech and electronics, chemical/pharmaceutical, discrete manufacturing and consumer packaged goods industries.

About IFS and IFS Applications (www.ifsworld.com)

IFS develops and supplies business applications that offer step-by-step evolution to the extended enterprise. Based on proven component technology, IFS Applications software includes web-based enterprise applications, customer relationship management and supply chain management components, Internet storefronts, e-markets, and e-procurement solutions. The company's over 60 functional business components, which span the entire demand and supply chain, improve business processes in medium to large companies. IFS eBusiness(TM) solutions provide seamless integration of all data sources from the fastest web sites and exchanges to legacy enterprise resource planning. IFS is the fastest-growing large global vendor in the business applications market. The company has 3,500 employees with products sold in 42 countries through 65 offices around the world.