Sterling Commerce and Enterprise Data Management Form Agreement to Deliver Web-Based VMI Solution

Business Wire, Sept 26, 2001

Business Editors & Technology Writers

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 26, 2001

Solution Will Enable Suppliers and Customers

Enhanced View Into Customer Product Needs

SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC), through its subsidiary Sterling Commerce, today announced it has selected Enterprise Data Management (EDM) as its newest member of the Sterling Commerce Affinity Alliance Program. The alliance will enable Sterling Commerce and EDM to provide a comprehensive vendor managed inventory (VMI) solution utilizing STERLING Information Broker(TM) and EDM's Datalliance(TM) Service. This solution empowers manufacturers to improve forecasting, reduce inventory levels and decrease out-of-stock products, resulting in enhanced customer service and increased sales.

The agreement enables suppliers and customers to strengthen supply chain collaboration by combining the expertise of EDM's Datalliance(TM), the industry's first VMI service, with STERLING Information Broker, Sterling Commerce's single connection point that facilitates global collaboration, integration and the exchange of business information between the Global 5000 and its trading community, including 624,000 trading partner pairs, which represents discreet trading relationships between two companies.

"We chose to partner with Sterling Commerce based on its more than 25 years of experience in the e-business integration industry and its reputation for providing excellent service to its 50,000 customers," said Carl Hall, president of EDM. "Our alliance with Sterling Commerce is another example of our ongoing commitment to provide best-of-breed services that enable our customers to successfully achieve their VMI goals."

Using STERLING Information Broker, customers will be able to send product activity data such as sales and inventory information to EDM's Datalliance, which offers a Web-based interface that enables customers and suppliers access to the same data at the same time, including order frequency, rate of sale, price point, and graphic representations of inventory information. In addition, both parties are alerted when accurate information is not received. This data enables manufacturers to make the best replenishment decisions possible based on the software's state-of-the-art logic.

"We selected EDM as an Affinity Partner because we want to offer our customers the ability to improve business performance by ensuring the information it sends to business partners is accurate and timely," said Sharon Bok, manager of the Affinity Alliance program at Sterling Commerce. "EDM's unique hosted service means customers can take advantage of greater supply chain collaboration without adding staff or equipment."

About EDM and Datalliance

To achieve real cost savings, the entire supply chain needs to work together. Organizations who build collaborative relationships with their trading partners gain a competitive advantage by improving the efficiency of their business processes. EDM is uniquely qualified to deliver solutions that help transform customers and suppliers into trading partners through increased information flow.

Datalliance, a comprehensive VMI-based e-commerce service, is the product of EDM's extensive industry and technology experience. Datalliance enable suppliers and their customers to quickly and easily establish effective VMI relationships and facilitates collaboration across the Internet. Datalliance customers include companies such as: Rockwell Automation, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, ArvinMeritor and Chicago Rawhide.

About Sterling Commerce and SBC

Sterling Commerce, a wholly owned subsidiary of SBC Communications, Inc. (NYSE:SBC), is a worldwide leader in business-to-business integration - providing a wide range of integration software, business enabling and online services for Global 5000 companies and their customers, suppliers and partners. With more than 25 years of experience in a vast range of industries, Sterling Commerce offers the expertise, as well as the breadth of integration software and services required to facilitate, manage and support the electronic exchange of information within a business, as well as with its diverse community. More than 50,000 companies throughout the world rely upon Sterling Commerce to overcome the business and technological complexities associated with integration to decrease costs, increase profit margins, achieve faster production cycles and improve customer satisfaction. For more information, visit http://www.sterlingcommerce.com.