Microsoft Announces Support for UCCnet Standards-Based Services

ATLANTA, March 12, 2002 — Microsoft Corp. today announced its support for UCCnet foundation item registry and data synchronization services. The company made the announcement at the UCCnet Ahold Trading Partner Forum, an educational event for Ahold suppliers.

UCCnet offers Globalregistry (TM) and data synchronization services. Globalregistry provides an open repository for item, location and trading partner capabilities, enabling the synchronization of item life-cycle information. Data synchronization ensures that all trading partners are using identical, accurate and standardized item information. Data inaccuracies result in errant purchase orders, returned shipments, reductions, logistics systems errors and costs throughout the supply chain. UCCnet services help retailers ensure they have the right products at the right retail locations at the right time, and make it easier for consumer packaged goods companies to communicate with retail partners, decrease deductions and improve speed to market for new products.

To participate in and demonstrate its support for UCCnet services, Microsoft intends to join the UCCnet Partners IN SYNC Alliance Program as a Preferred Partner. Through the Partners IN SYNC program, Microsoft will receive certification to provide integrated collaborative commerce solutions to the expanding UCCnet community of retailers, distributors, brokers and manufacturers. The program also will enable Microsoft to provide knowledge, resources and tools to help trading partners implement UCCnet data synchronization and item registry services quickly and efficiently.

“We are pleased to take this step with UCCnet,” said Ralph Young, vice president of the Enterprise Sales and Industry Group at Microsoft. “Cost-effective electronic and collaborative commerce depends on two things: broadly accepted standards, and Web-based services that allow trading partners to locate and transact business with one another efficiently despite disparate systems, applications and geographies. The registration, synchronization and other services provided by UCCnet deliver the first component, and Microsoft — through products such as Microsoft® BizTalk®
Server 2002 — provides the second. We think this combination will deliver genuine value to retailers and consumer packaged goods manufacturers.”

As a Partners IN SYNC Alliance Program member, Microsoft will certify BizTalk Server software as compliant with UCCnet services. BizTalk Server makes it fundamentally easier to orchestrate business processes within and between organizations. As part of the Microsoft .NET Platform, BizTalk Server also is the best way to integrate and orchestrate Web services:

  • Process automation features offer a comprehensive solution for orchestrating business from the enterprise to the Internet.

  • Enterprise application integration easily enhances existing information technology (IT) investments for XML.

  • B2B functionality allows users to quickly implement secure, reliable document exchange with business partners over the Internet.

“We are delighted that Microsoft recognizes the value of UCCnet and has chosen to engage in the mission-critical area of facilitating standards-based c-commerce,” said Fred Geiger, senior vice president of Product Management at UCCnet. “The combination of standards-based services from UCCnet and Microsoft e-commerce software will provide a powerful tool for accelerating the adoption of collaborative c-commerce services for the entire industry.”

About UCCnet

UCCnet is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt neutral organization that provides item registry and data synchronization based on industry-developed standards. Through its support of global European Article Numbering/Uniform Code Council (EAN-UCC) standards, UCCnet delivers an open platform for collaborative e-commerce services, including compliance verification, synchronization of product information, registry and life-cycle management of synchronized products, user locations and user trade capabilities.

As a subsidiary of Uniform Code Council Inc., the global standards organization, UCCnet leverages its position to enable the rapid, clear development of industry Internet standards and practices. In addition, UCCnet provides implementation methodology, allowing small, medium-sized and large enterprises to integrate e-commerce into their business in a swift and efficient manner. For more information, visit http://www.uccnet.org/ .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) 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.

Microsoft and BizTalk are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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