ARI's COMPASS Partner Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary; Partnerships Provide Integrated Business Solutions to Dealers Worldwide.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 5, 2003

ARI (OTCBB:ARIS), a leading provider of catalog-enabled business solutions to connect equipment manufacturers with their service and distribution networks announced today that its COMPASS Partner Program celebrated its 10th anniversary. The COMPASS Partner Program, a partnership of ARI and more than 85 providers of Dealer Business Management Software (DBMS), combines ARI's electronic catalog with dealer management functions to provide an integrated business solution for dealers worldwide.

ARI's COMPASS Partner Program was launched in 1992 by Campion Jaques, then president of cd\*.IMG, the creator of PLUS1(R) and a pioneer in the electronic parts and service catalog market. cd\*.IMG merged with ARI in 1996 and Jaques has continued to manage the COMPASS Partner Program. First introduced in the Outdoor Power Industry, the COMPASS Partner Program was created to fulfill two strategic objectives. First, in an industry where microfiche was the prevailing technology of the time, the program grabbed the attention of dealers through the appeal of using an exciting alternative to cumbersome microfiche. Electronic parts catalogs introduced many dealers to computers and the role they could play in saving dealerships time and money, while at the same time increasing customer satisfaction.

The second, more permanent objective of the Program, was and still is to provide significant value through the integration of the catalog with DBMS functionality. The COMPASS Partner Program provides dealers with an integrated computer system capable of viewing inventory, prices, technical information and bin location while transferring selected parts electronically from the catalog page to an invoice or purchase order.

"When Campion presented us with the opportunity to partner with him to create a seamless interface to PLUS1, we immediately recognized the added value that integration between our inventory software and an electronic parts catalog would bring to our customers," said Dennis Haefner, president of Ideal Computer Systems. "When we first introduced the interface to our customers, they quickly adopted the new technology and within a short period of time the majority of them were able to take advantage of the complete business solution. Our partnership with ARI through its COMPASS Partner program has enabled us not only to help our dealers be more successful, but also to increase the sales of our business management system software," added Haefner.

"It's hard to believe, that this revolution in parts look-up has really only taken place within the past 10 years," reflected Jaques. "The results of this partnership -- improved efficiencies, reduced errors, increased sales and profits -- are as important today as it was when we began installing the integrated solution in 1993. The COMPASS Partner Program is a key factor when dealers select a system." According to Jaques, the program has grown to over 85 active DBMS partners worldwide, in more than 10 manufactured equipment industries including Outdoor Power, Power Sports, Recreation Vehicle, Marine, Construction and Agriculture.

"ARI is extremely proud to be affiliated with so many of the premiere DBMS suppliers in the industries we serve," said Brian E. Dearing, president and chief executive officer of ARI. "Regardless of what management system a dealer employs within his/her dealership, ARI and its COMPASS Partners are committed to facilitating the integration of our electronic catalog with all the other functions of the dealership. In today's business environment it is imperative that all the systems a dealer needs to conduct his business work together in a coordinated way," concluded Dearing. According to Dearing, in a recent survey conducted by Versant, Inc., dealers identified integration with popular DBMS applications as a critical feature of ARI's PartSmart(TM) electronic catalog and one that differentiates it from the competition.

ARI is a leading provider of electronic catalog-enabled business solutions for sales, service and life-cycle product support in the manufactured equipment market. ARI currently provides approximately 80 parts catalogs (many of which contain multiple lines of equipment) for approximately 60 equipment manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe. More than 75,000 catalog subscriptions are provided through ARI to over 20,000 dealers and distributors in more than 100 countries in a dozen segments of the worldwide manufactured equipment market including outdoor power, recreation vehicle, floor maintenance, auto and truck parts aftermarket, power sports, marine and construction. The Company builds and supports a full suite of multi-media electronic catalog publishing and viewing software for the Web or CD and provides expert catalog publishing and consulting services. ARI e-Catalog systems support a variety of electronic pathways for parts orders, warranty claims and other transactions between manufacturers and their networks of sales and service points. In addition, ARI also provides a template-based dealer website service that makes it quick and easy for an equipment dealer to have a professional and attractive website. ARI currently operates three offices in the United States and one in Europe and has sales and service agents in Australia, England and France providing marketing and support of its products and services.