Authoria Announces the Launch of Authoria HR 3.5; Next Generation of Flagship Product Powers Employee Self-Service Initiatives.

Business/Technology Editors

Authoria, Inc., the trusted world leader in personalized, Web-based communication, today unveiled Authoria HR(TM) 3.5, the next generation of the company's flagship software that delivers intelligent, personalized Web-based answers to employee benefit and HR policy questions. Enhancements in Authoria HR 3.5 include support for the Authoria eSPD(TM) product -- the industry's first solution for the creation, maintenance, and distribution of online Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) that satisfy ERISA requirements --and a number of significant workflow improvements to streamline the implementation and maintenance of employee self-service initiatives, including the Web Data Manager tool and support for the SQL 2000 and Oracle databases.

"Working closely with our Global 2000 customers, we identified enhancements most important to streamlining and improving the way Authoria HR delivers enterprise-wide employee communications," said Authoria President and CEO Tod Loofbourrow. "Authoria HR 3.5 not only supports our award-winning Authoria eSPD product, but, through Web Data Manager, enables multiple, authorized users in the HR department to populate the knowledge repository, speeding implementation."

Customers with previous versions of the Authoria HR solution will be able to run their existing Knowledge Applications on the Authoria HR 3.5 Platform. These versions will be migrated to 3.5 via the Knowledge Application Installer.

"Authoria continues to be on the cutting edge of Web-based employee communications," said Dr. Katherine Jones, managing director of Enterprise Business Applications at the Aberdeen Group. "With the introduction of Authoria HR 3.5, it is evident that Authoria has listened to their customers and the marketplace, and enhanced the functionality of its flagship software to improve enterprise-wide employee communications. This is a significant step forward in streamlining the implementation process for employee self-service (ESS) and enhancing workflow processes for HR administrators."

Authoria HR 3.5 Enhancements

Among the enhancements to Authoria HR 3.5 are:

Web Data Manager: The Web Data Manager tool offered with Authoria HR 3.5 allows multiple authors to contribute content to the Authoria Knowledge Repository using Web browsers and the corporate Intranet. This tool requires only a Web browser and allows multiple authors to enter data into the knowledgebase simultaneously. Web Data Manager also enables the user to distribute output as Web pages and attach comments as output. This provides greater reporting flexibility and streamlines the configuration and implementation process.

Support for Authoria eSPD(TM): Authoria HR 3.5 offers support for the Authoria HR eSPD(TM) product, the industry's first solution that allows companies to create, maintain and distribute online and printable Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) that satisfy ERISA requirements. With Authoria eSPD, employees get easy-to-understand, up-to-date SPDs in a print-ready PDF format that is also easily navigable online.

Support for SQL 2000 & Oracle databases: Authoria HR 3.5 offers tools that are database independent. Customers may now choose to author in SQL 2000 or Oracle.

Increased Deployment Options: There are two deployment options now available with the Authoria HR 3.5 platform: the Standard Knowledge Server and the new Advanced Knowledge Server. Each option is optimized for a particular environment and client. Clients with less than 100,000 lives are generally candidates for the Standard Knowledge Server. Clients with more than 100,000 lives are a candidate for the Advanced Knowledge Server. The Advanced Knowledge Server is different from the Standard Knowledge Server in three ways: it has a separate independent tier structure that has been optimized for high scalability and availability; the deployment is a Java application that is J2EE compliant; and it features different functionalities that are not available with the current Standard Knowledge Server, including dynamic real-time requests and even broader ability to integrate with other applications and technologies.

Comparison Reporting: Authoria HR 3.5 offers detailed comparison reporting to ease the upgrade and updating process. This feature allows for one version of a knowledgebase to be compared to another. It is very helpful in upgrading or updating, as users are able to determine any additions, modifications or deletions performed by the client or Authoria.

About Authoria

Authoria is the trusted world leader in personalized, Web-based communication. Authoria's knowledge applications enable organizations to manage and communicate complex information. Authoria's software allows employers and outsourcers to communicate vital information to their employees and customers via the Internet, Intranet or call center - anywhere, anytime. Millions of people rely on Authoria's products through leading outsourcers such as Towers Perrin Administrative Solutions (TPAS) and Exult and Global 2000 industry leaders such as Motorola, Weyerhaeuser, and Wells Fargo. With a unique blend of Internet technology and an unparalleled knowledgebase, Authoria HR(TM) and Authoria eSPD(TM) provide employers and outsourcers with applications to deliver intelligent, personalized, Web-based answers to thousands of benefit and HR policy questions. Authoria's products instantly and dynamically generate answers to employee questions based on their individual needs.

Note to editors: Authoria, Authoria eSPD, Authoria HR, Authoria Outsourcer, and Authoria HR UK Benefits are trademarks or registered trademarks of Authoria, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other product names and references contained herein remain the service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.