Ascentis software and Blue Link Associates announce strategic partnership.

Agreement Opens U.S. and Canadian Distribution Channel for HROffice

Ascentis Software, a provider of human resource and benefit management software (HRMS), recently announced a strategic reseller partnership with Blue Link Associates Limited, a market leader in business and accounting software in Canada, to provide small and medium sized organizations in the U.S. and Canada with an integrated solution to help manage critical HR and business needs.

As part of the agreement, Blue Link will market HROffice to U.S. and Canadian companies seeking to streamline management of HR, accounting, and other business needs. HROffice products help HR managers and administrators track employee information, administer employee benefits, track compensation and reviews, administer COBRA, manage job applicant information, and produce comprehensive employee reports. Blue Link provides integrated accounting and business management products including Solutions Accounting, business and accounting software, Web.Venture, an e-commerce software product, and Business Alerts, which monitors any database and provides automated alerts.

"Our partnership with Ascentis opens up a new vertical market for us in the human resource industry, and also the U.S. market," said Mark Canes, president of Blue Link Associates. "HROffice is a very solid HR solution that will fit in very well with our product line. Organizations will benefit from a very cost effective HR solution, and will also benefit from being made aware of Blue Link Solutions and what we can deliver to their organizations."

"We are excited by our partnership with Blue Link Associates as it opens new doors for Ascentis into the Canadian market, as well as additional reseller channels in the U.S. market," said Mike Hayes, vice president of sales and marketing for Ascentis Software. "Blue Link is highly regarded as a leading provider of quality business solutions for small to medium sized businesses and their level of service fits well with our own strategic vision."

Blue Link Associates Limited (www.bluelink.ca) is the premier developer of business, accounting and e-commerce software for small and medium sized businesses, based exclusively on Microsoft development tools. Blue Link products integrate seamlessly with Microsoft Office, and can be tailored to meet specific and unusual business needs. Blue Link's product offerings include Solutions Accounting (business and accounting software) and Web.Venture (B2B e-commerce software) and Business Alerts (monitors any database and provides automated alerts).

Founded in 1994, Ascentis Software, based in Bellevue, Wash., is a leading provider of employee benefit and human resources information management software to the small to mid-sized market. The company's product, HROffice, helps HR departments work strategically towards key company objectives, realize greater administrative efficiency, improve employee satisfaction, and cost savings by providing quick access to employee information.