ACOM Offers Full Featured ePayments Solution, EDI/XML Tools, to QAD Customers as Product Alliance Partner.

Business Editors & Tech Writers

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2001

ACOM Solutions, Inc., will offer its fully featured Enterprise Payment Manager e-payments solution to the 5,000-site strong worldwide customer base of QAD, the Carpinteria, California developer/marketer of enterprise software for manufacturing and distribution companies, under a newly established Product Alliance Partnership, it was announced today by William D. Cropley, ACOM vice president of business development.

According to Cropley, Enterprise Payment Manager (EPM) provides QAD software users with a cost-effective and flexible payment system that integrates seamlessly with QAD enterprise software without any custom programming. EPM is a single platform system which rounds out the QAD offering by enabling payments through ACH, F-EDI and MICR laser checks as well as the storage and maintenance of payments data. ACOM provides the implementation services, which consist primarily of setting up the accounts to be used by the QAD customer in the payment process and establishing the appropriate links between EPM and QAD MFG/PRO.

Using Enterprise Payment Manager, QAD software users can create, modify and store their electronic check templates and related forms in software. When check runs or manual issues are required, EPM extracts the required data from QAD MFG/PRO files and executes the payments electronically using ACH/F-EDI, or conventionally, using MICR laser checks. A parallel product offering, ACOM's Paragon EDI/XML electronic commerce integration tool set, enables companies to conduct business electronically over VANs, VPNs proprietary networks and the Internet and on the World Wide Web.

"Electronic payments are virtually instantaneous as well as low-cost," Cropley said. "And in paper payments processes, major economies derive from elimination of multi-part check forms and the associated post-processing activities. EPM generates complete checks with corporate graphics, location information, sequential check numbers, MICR lines, payor/payee and amounts in a single pass on blank safety check stock, using MICR printers situated strategically on the corporate network. Payments get out faster while consuming fewer resources and typically, per-check costs decline by as much as 75 percent."

"Manufacturing and distribution companies have significant specialized requirements in addition to those of all enterprise environments," Cropley said, "and QAD systems are extremely effective solutions for such companies. Enterprise Payment Manager adds value to the solution by enabling QAD MFG/PRO users to decentralize payments to virtually any site on the corporate network, for delivery according to their specific preferences, with remittance advice available as e-mail, fax, laser-printed copy and EDI. Meanwhile the data remains under secure corporate control."

About ACOM Solutions

ACOM Solutions, Inc. is a leading developer and marketer of e-forms, e-payments and EDI/XML solutions that integrate with enterprise applications such as ERP and CRM to enhance back office and B2B processes for electronic, Internet and paper-based commerce. ACOM offers solutions in the Microsoft Windows and the IBM I-Series (AS/400) environments, including hardware, software, professional services, supplies, and maintenance contracts, as well as the company's industry-leading 60-day Total Satisfaction Guarantee. Through its Financial Documents Division, the company provides check and financial document production solutions for banks and credit unions. Contact ACOM Solutions at 2850 E. 29th Street, Long Beach, Calif. 90806; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; e-mail [e-mail]; Web: www.acom.com.