ADVISORY/Rapid Introduces AGIIS, the Agricultural Industry's First Fully Integrated E-Commerce Database.

Business Editors/Environment Writers/High-Tech Writers

ADVISORY...for Monday (Aug. 11)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

RAPID, Inc.

WHEN:   August 11, 2003
        RAPID, Inc., 2003 Summer Working Conference

WHERE:  The Embassy Suites Historic Charleston
        337 Meeting Street
        Charleston, South Carolina

WHO:    The focus of this conference is intended to help technology
        executives in the agriculture industry, who belong to RAPID,
        become familiar with AGIIS (Ag Industry Identification
        System), the new integrated industry database, realize its
        advantages and become accustomed to its usage.

WHAT:   RAPID, a not-for-profit agency that enables agri-business to
        achieve the economic and stewardship benefits of electronic
        business, is introducing AGIIS, the first of its kind
        integrated e-commerce agricultural database, to its members,
        at its' annual summer conference in Charleston, SC.

WHY:    Agriculture is the world's oldest and most essential industry.
        For thousands of years the manner in which agricultural
        business was conducted remained essentially the same. But,
        over the last 20 years, technology has dramatically improved
        the way that business is done in the Agriculture (Ag)
        industry. Databases of varying sizes and dimension have been
        created to help stimulate an increase in efficiency in Ag
        Industry electronic messaging.

        Since 1995, RAPID has managed one and developed two other
        separate, but related databases, intended to increase
        efficiency in the e-business realm of the Ag Industry. These
        databases have effectively led the Ag industry to a better
        business model. Now it is time for the next step.

        Working with Covansys Corporation (Nasdaq: CVNS), a global
        consulting and technology services company, RAPID is
        consolidating their databases to allow, for the first time,
        major players within every segment of agriculture to be able
        to transact business through a standardized technology
        platform.

        AGIIS will provide buyer, supplier, consumer and product
        information in a standard format that is readily accessible to
        subscribers.

        For more information, visit www.rapidnet.org or call: