Redmond, Wash., Rockville, Md., and McLean, Va, February 13, 2001 — Manugistics Group, Inc., Microsoft Corp., and KPMG Consulting, Inc., today announced a joint initiative to provide comprehensive supply chain solutions designed to enable Global 2000 customers to rapidly integrate trading partners, enhance supply chain visibility, and reduce operating expenses. The companies will integrate Manugistics’ best-of-breed supply chain offerings with Microsoft’s family of .NET Enterprise Servers to deliver a highly flexible, scalable, and customizable supply chain solution for enterprises across a variety of industries worldwide. KPMG Consulting will provide strategy as well as technology and software integration services. The three companies will develop joint marketing, sales, and world-class integration capabilities allowing customers to realize rapid return on their investments.
“Manugistics, Microsoft, and KPMG Consulting bring together robust technology, best of breed supply chain functionality, and proven business integration services that offer the flexibility and scalability required for successful enterprise and marketplace eCommerce strategies,”
said Greg Owens, Manugistics chief executive officer and chairman designate.
“We’re aligning with Microsoft and KPMG Consulting to bring customers value in a short period of time. We plan to work closely with Microsoft to deliver our supply chain solutions on Windows® 2000, SQL Server™ 2000, and BizTalk™ Server 2000. We will also collaborate on research and development as part of the .NET initiative with the goal of delivering supply chain and B2B solutions and services over the Internet.”
These jointly developed integrated supply chain solutions are designed to help trading partners collaborate across both private and public marketplaces. These solutions will assist marketplaces by providing suppliers and customers supply chain optimization services, improved trading partner visibility, and Internet-based collaboration. These solutions will be tailored for:
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Enterprises focused on improving supply chain effectiveness and collaboration with its trading partners;
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Organizations that need to connect marketplaces and integrate their key supply chain activities with their current business processes;
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Enterprises and marketplaces seeking next generation capabilities and scalable solutions that support customization, flexibility, and reliability.
Technology Development
Under the alliance, Manugistics, Microsoft, and KPMG Consulting will develop and deliver the Manugistics suite of supply chain applications on Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, and Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers including the SQL Server 2000 database management system and BizTalk Server 2000. Microsoft and KPMG Consulting will provide technical resources to support application integration with the Microsoft platform.
“Manugistics has been a market leader in the supply chain space for 20 years — it has an impressive history of building on Microsoft’s Windows platform to bring substantial benefits to businesses managing complex supply chains,”
said Charles Stevens, vice president of the Enterprise and Partner Group at Microsoft.
“By combining our marketing, sales and the scalability, manageability and reliability of Microsoft’s Windows 2000 and .NET Enterprise Servers, and by working with KPMG Consulting, we can deliver supply chain solutions that make companies extremely agile in an unpredictable digital age.”
Business Development
Manugistics, Microsoft, and KPMG Consulting will pursue global marketing and sales campaigns targeting enterprises and marketplaces in the consumer and industrial, government, and electronics and high technology markets. This initiative leverages the combination of Manugistics proven supply chain solutions and its over 1000 clients, KPMG Consulting’s dedicated business development teams and industry specific focus, and Microsoft’s expertise in leading edge Internet-based enterprise technologies. Sales teams from each company will conduct joint account planning and management to sell and support the integrated offering.
Services
“KPMG Consulting is teaming with two strong technology partners in this very important initiative,”
said Tom Wilde, executive vice president, Consumer & Industrial Markets, KPMG Consulting.
“By teaming with Microsoft and Manugistics, we are expanding our ability to deliver supply chain and business integration solutions for trading partner networks. Our customers demand the very best combination of services and technology that can be quickly implemented and provide a tangible return on investment. Our strategic relationships with Microsoft and Manugistics, combined with our supply chain experience, can help satisfy these demands.”
KPMG Consulting can draw upon its deep industry expertise, strong Microsoft-focused consulting resources, and experienced Manugistics practice to provide its clients with speed, value, and innovation across their global supply chain networks.
About KPMG Consulting
KPMG Consulting, Inc. (NASDAQ: KCIN) is one of the world’s largest consulting companies with more than $2 billion in annual revenues. Our more than 9,100 professionals provide business and technology strategy, systems design and architecture, applications implementation, network and systems integration, and related services that enable clients to leverage technology for stronger return on investment, and real, sustainable competitive advantage. We serve more than 2,500 clients, including global companies, Fortune 1000 companies, small and medium-sized businesses, government agencies and other organizations, through six industry-focused lines of business, including: financial services, consumer and industrial markets, high tech, communications and content, public services and health care.
For more information about KPMG Consulting, visit our Web site at www.kpmgconsulting.com. For news media, visit http://www.kpmgconsulting.com/news/index.html .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device. If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.
About Manugistics Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Rockville, Md., Manugistics Group, Inc. is the premier global provider of Enterprise Profit Optimization (EPO) solutions that combine supply chain management and pricing and revenue optimization. Manugistics’ EPO solutions are designed to help enterprises and marketplaces lower operating costs, enhance profitability and accelerate growth. The company’s list of clients includes industry leaders such as 3Com, Amazon.com, BP, Brown & Williamson, Cisco Systems, Coca-Cola Bottling, Compaq, DuPont, eConnections, Ford, FreightWise, General Electric, Harley-Davidson, Hormel, Levi Strauss & Co., Marriott, Nestle, Timberland, Unilever and United Airlines. For more information, go to www.manugistics.com.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, CONTACT THE MANUGISTICS NEWSBUREAU HOTLINE AT 301-984-5330.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, competition, risks related to quarterly performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Manugistics financial results is included in Manugistics filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 29, 2000, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2000.
Manugistics is a registered trademark, and the Manugistics logo, the phrase
“Leveraged Intelligence,”
and Enterprise Profit Optimization are trademarks of Manugistics, Inc. Microsoft, Windows and BizTalk are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
