Atlas Commerce Unveils New Class of Software for Building Collaborative Business-to-Business eHubs.

Business/Technology Editors

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2000

Atlas Metaprise Software Allows Companies to Move Beyond Trading Exchanges to Form Interdependent Value Chain Relationships and Improve

Business Process Efficiency

Atlas Commerce, the leading provider of advanced software for collaborative Internet markets, today announced the introduction of Atlas Metaprise Software, an eBusiness infrastructure solution that enables collaborative eHubs and Online Buying Communities to maximize business process efficiencies by reducing costs and cycle times throughout their value chains. Atlas Metaprise Software is the first enabling technology built expressly to manage and streamline relationships, interactions, business processes and transactions that occur within distributed, multi-layered and global Internet markets.

"eHubs go far beyond the more basic transactional capabilities of today's exchanges," said Dan Tiernan, president and co-founder of Atlas Commerce. "By sharing business processes and information, eHub members form interdependent relationships that bring stability and increased efficiency to the supply chain. Atlas Metaprise Software is the most flexible and comprehensive software available to help Market Makers keep pace with the evolving needs of eHubs and Buying Communities."

Atlas Metaprise Software is an Internet based solution for developing, implementing and managing collaborative eHubs and Online Buying Communities. Enterprise based applications such as eProcurement and Supply Chain Planning were not originally designed with stable Internet communities in mind. As a result, attempts to extend these applications for an Internet environment are often limited to simple buying and selling mechanisms. Few if any of these applications deliver an end-to-end solution capable of managing the complex requirements of an eHub. Atlas Commerce focuses exclusively on these requirements, providing eHubs with closed-loop functionality. From sourcing and contracting, to order management, logistics, and settlement, Atlas Metaprise Software allows marketplace participants to complete business interactions entirely online. The end results are collaborative value chain relationships that streamline inter-enterprise business processes, reduce costs and shorten cycle-times for all marketplace participants.

"Atlas provides a software platform called Atlas Metaprise Software that enables companies to build b2b supply chains within Internet-based electronic marketplaces," said James Kobielus, analyst for The Burton Group. "The company clearly has thought through the requirements for the next generation of trading and collaboration b2b hubs, especially the need to support complex but flexible workflows. E-marketmakers will increasingly rely on products like this that allow them to configure policy-driven, transactional workflows between buyers and sellers."

Atlas Metaprise Software can be deployed rapidly, in under 45 days, with fewer people and information technology resources. This allows Net Market Makers to focus on growing their business, rather than on building a systems infrastructure.

Unique Features Of Atlas Metaprise Software Include:

Metaprise Business Model

Atlas provides a flexible model for defining business process and complex relationships. Based on the idea of "any-to-any" interaction, marketplace members are not forced to use strict buyer / seller definitions. Individual traders can function in buying or selling roles, and can be associated with multiple communities.

The Transaction Workflow

The Transaction Workflow manages all communications and relationships between metaprise participants. The workflow process is triggered by events, such as the receipt of a purchase order or invoice, which it then acts upon according to business rules defined by each member.

Pricing Service

Atlas Pricing Service was designed to support even the most complex pricing scenarios. One reason eProcurement solutions focus on indirect materials is their limited ability to support pricing beyond the item level. For the purchase of direct materials, this lack of flexibility is a great restriction. Atlas Metaprise Software does not restrict the type of price arrangements that can be supported, including order-level pricing adjustments and adjustments based on an overall contract.

Language and currency support

As Internet Markets grow to include international suppliers, the ability to translate information and convert currencies on the fly becomes critical. Atlas Metaprise Software was designed for global trade, so multi-language and multi-currency translation were included from the beginning. Language preferences, which can be specified at the end user level, include actual data - such as product descriptions - as well as screens. Both currency and weight/measure conversion can be localized. And currency exchange rates can be updated in real-time.

Atlas has partnered with several companies including webMethods and Mercator Software to facilitate linking Atlas Metaprise Software-based eHubs with existing networks or ERP solutions. These integration solutions provide organizations with a rapid means for leveraging existing back-end information and translating application logic using XML, EDI, and other open and proprietary standards to improve the flow of information between all participants of an eHub.

Availability and Pricing

Atlas Metaprise Software 2.1 is immediately available. In addition to software, the company's offerings include system set-up and consulting services, immediate access to pre-negotiated supplier contracts, and an application service provider option. The pricing model includes a combination of subscription, usage and marketplace value based fees. Detailed product and services information is available at the company's website: www.atlascommerce.com.

About Atlas Commerce

Atlas Commerce is a leading enabler of Internet Marketplaces - from Supply Chain eHubs to Online Buying Communities - and delivers the premier business-to-business (B2B) eCommerce applications for managing relationships, interactions, processes and transactions among marketplace participants. Atlas Metaprise Software was specifically designed to meet the unique needs of Internet Market Makers, who require specialized eCommerce software capable of managing high value business relationships among marketplace participants - including all elements of a transaction, from sourcing to settlement. Founded in January 1998, Atlas Commerce has established an innovative partnership with Safeguard Scientifics (NYSE:SFE), a leading eBusiness incubator and operator, allowing the company to focus on meeting the long-term needs of its customers. The company is headquartered in Malvern, PA, and has offices worldwide. For additional information, please call 610.240.0600, or visit the website at http://www.atlascommerce.com.