Frontstep Ships SyteLine 7 Extended ERP on Microsoft .NET; Company Now Delivers Comprehensive Enterprise Suite On a Single Technology Platform

Business Wire, Oct 14, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2002

Frontstep, Inc. (Nasdaq:FSTP), a leading provider of business solutions for manufacturers, announced general availability of SyteLine(R) 7, its extended ERP suite architected on the Microsoft .NET platform, which began shipping in North America September 30, 2002. SyteLine 7 provides companies the power and flexibility to effectively achieve the fundamental goals of manufacturing efficiency while addressing changing internal and external business requirements. Frontstep, with a proven history in the discrete manufacturing industry, now delivers a global, comprehensive enterprise suite -- including Extended ERP, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Supply Chain Management (SCM) -- on a single technology platform.

"Today, manufacturing is all about being able to create customer value by unifying all customer touchpoints. To succeed, companies are constantly looking for ways to increase speed and efficiency and to take advantage of advanced technologies," said Stephen A. Sasser, president and CEO of Frontstep. "SyteLine 7, designed for scalability, reliability and interoperability, can deliver the connectivity, business process automation, and flexibility that are fundamental for success in today's customer-centric business environment."

Key Attributes of SyteLine 7

-- Planning and scheduling enhancements that drive a leaner, more real-time environment from customer service to the shop floor.

-- Ability to automate business processes to reduce repetitive and error-prone manual transactions.

-- Personalization of screens, fields and navigation to improve user efficiency and effectiveness.

-- Order configuration so custom requests are addressed and confirmed at the time of order.

-- Global capabilities that create cost efficiencies and flexibility for multisite and multinational manufacturers.

-- Reporting advancements, based on industry-leading Crystal Reports that make information sharing easier and timelier.

-- Improved integration architecture for higher performance and greater scalability.

Availability

SyteLine 7 is available in North America now. Prior versions of SyteLine will also continue to be offered and supported. In addition, Frontstep has developed a comprehensive upgrade program, including the processes and tools to upgrade customers to SyteLine 7. For more information on SyteLine 7 and all Frontstep solutions, please visit www.frontstep.com.

About Frontstep

Frontstep is a leading global provider of software and services for discrete, to-order manufacturers. With more than 20 years of experience, Frontstep leverages the Microsoft .NET platform to help manufacturers create and implement solutions -- including extended ERP, customer relationship management, and supply chain management -- that simplify and streamline business processes and operations. Through these innovative and practical solutions, manufacturers can respond better and faster to customer demands for quality products and services.

Frontstep, formerly Symix, is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and has more than 4,400 customer sites and 26 offices worldwide. For more information visit www.frontstep.com.

Safe Harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the demand for and market acceptance of the company's products and services, the impact of competitive products, the company's ability to increase sales and earnings, the current economic climate, the worldwide political uncertainties and other factors detailed in Frontstep's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to revise or update or publicly release the results of any revision or update to these forward-looking statements.

Frontstep is a trademark of Frontstep Solutions Group, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.