Axeda Automates Usage Tracking for Remote Devices.

Business/Technology Editors

MANSFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 2003

New Axeda Usage Application Extends Axeda DRM to Enable Automated 

Consumable Re-supply, Pay-for-Use Billing, Service Level Validation 

Axeda Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:XEDA), the world's leading provider of device relationship management (DRM) enterprise software and services, today announced the latest component of its Axeda DRM(TM) system, the Axeda Usage(TM) application. Axeda Usage enables original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their service providers to leverage the Internet to automatically retrieve usage data from large populations of devices deployed at their customers, reducing costs and increasing accuracy over manual methods. By making this data instantly available to enterprise business applications, and by providing powerful data analysis and reporting tools for management and service personnel, Axeda Usage automates a wide range of revenue-generating business processes including pay-per-use billing, preventative maintenance, up-selling, consumable re-supply and verification of service level agreements.

"For OEMs in every industry, knowing how the devices they sell are used throughout their lifecycle is the key to transforming their business into a real-time enterprise that anticipates customer needs and operates at peak efficiency" said Richard MacKeen, senior vice president of Research and Development, Axeda Systems. "With Axeda Usage, company executives are now able to implement innovative new business models that were previously constrained by people and technology".

Axeda Usage Benefits the Enterprise and Its Customers

The Axeda Usage application benefits service, support, sales, finance, production, marketing and product management through increased efficiencies in maintenance, forecasting, re-supply and billing. By providing a window into customer behavior, Axeda Usage allows companies to proactively identify usage trends. The product's flexible design lets it measure a wide variety of usage types as appropriate to the targeted device. Its built in intelligence enables automatic interactions with existing enterprise applications. For example, medical device manufacturers can measure the number of tests performed by their instruments; service providers for printers and copiers can track toner usage or predict remaining equipment life; and enterprise technology makers can track system performance or disk space utilization in data storage equipment. Axeda Usage lets manufacturers:

-- Automatically bill for device operations performed, and provide instant updates to the real-time forecast of anticipated output or revenue

-- Schedule preventative maintenance based on device usage rather than elapsed time for maximum service efficiency and uptime

-- Automatically calculate consumable usage and trigger replenishment actions to the supply chain

-- Enforce service level agreements by tracking the total time that a device is available

-- Leverage usage insight to up-sell or target marketing campaigns for new premium services or products

The Axeda Usage application also helps alleviate the administrative burden on customers themselves by generating usage reports for billing or re-supply purposes, because the entire usage data retrieval process is now automatic, transparent, timely and, most important, secure.

Advanced Features Automate Processing and Analysis

The Axeda Device Relationship Management System(TM) is a distributed software solution that enables manufacturers and service providers to utilize the Internet to remotely monitor, manage and service intelligent devices. The new Axeda Usage application leverages the patent-pending Firewall-Friendly(TM) data security, user authentication and auditing mechanisms of the Axeda DRM system for fast, reliable, secure, scalable and cost-effective collection of remote device usage data without end-user involvement.

The three components that comprise the Axeda Usage application are automatic usage data collection, rule-based analysis and actions, and sophisticated analytics. Data is collected from remote devices through the Axeda DRM system on a pre-defined schedule and then acted on by the powerful Axeda Usage rules engine. This engine processes the usage data and compares it to specified conditions such as previous values, averages, expected minimum and maximum targets, etc. Based on results, the system can trigger notifications to personnel or business applications.

The Axeda Usage application features a decision support system that allows usage data from individual devices or entire device populations to be analyzed by customer, location, model, group, and usage type within specified time frames. Authorized managers and service personnel can utilize tables, reports, and charts of this data to derive valuable insight into their customer base.

Axeda Usage is available from Axeda Systems Inc. and its authorized distributors. Contact Axeda at www.axeda.com or call [phone] for more information.

About Axeda

Axeda Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: XEDA) is the world's leading provider of device relationship management (DRM) enterprise software and services. Axeda helps businesses become more competitive by using the Internet to extract real-time information hidden in their intelligent devices. The company's flagship product, the Axeda Device Relationship Management System(TM), is a distributed software solution that lets businesses remotely monitor, manage and service intelligent devices, deployed around the world, allowing them to optimize their service, development, sales and manufacturing operations. Axeda customers are Global 2000 companies in many markets including Medical Instrument, Enterprise Technology, Printer and Copier, Industrial and Building Automation, and Semiconductor Equipment industries. Axeda has sales and service offices in the US, Europe and Japan, and distribution partners worldwide. More information about Axeda is available at www.axeda.com.

About Device Relationship Management

Everyday intelligent devices such as copiers, elevators, vending machines, building control units, medical devices, computers and storage systems, and industrial machines are an important new source of business information. Device relationship management systems allow companies to tap into this valuable information anytime anywhere. Pioneered by Axeda, device relationship management technology provides a distributed information management system that leverages the Internet to allow timely, accurate, and unbiased information to be communicated automatically between intelligent devices, wherever they are deployed around the world, and service personnel or enterprise business systems. Device relationship management helps turn reactive businesses into proactive businesses providing new sources of revenue, increased operational efficiency and lower costs, with an ROI that is often measured in months.

(c)2003 Axeda Systems. All rights reserved. Axeda, Axeda Systems, Axeda DRM, Axeda Device Relationship Management System, Axeda Agents, Axeda Applications, Axeda Enterprise, , Axeda Usage, Axeda Access, Axeda Administration, Axeda Device, Axeda Software Management, Axeda Service, Automatic eCommerce, Firewall-Friendly, and Access. Insight. In Real Time. are trademarks of Axeda Systems. DRM Leadership Alliance, DRM Leadership Forum, DRM Leadership Council, and DRM Integration Program are service marks of Axeda Systems. The Axeda logo and stylized bitstream design are trademarks of Axeda Systems. All other trademarks are either property of Axeda Systems or property of their respective owners.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that relate to Axeda's future performance. These forward-looking statements include those regarding the Axeda Usage(TM) application, its functionality in future installations and benefits derived therefrom, and may include implied statements concerning market acceptance of Axeda's products and its growing leadership role in the DRM market. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual events or future results to differ from those discussed herein. Such factors include, among others: Axeda's customers' ability to implement or integrate Axeda's DRM solutions successfully and in a timely fashion, receive expected functionality and performance, or achieve benefits attributable to Axeda's DRM solutions; uncertainties in the market for DRM products and the potential for growth in the DRM market; the long sales cycle for DRM products; limited distribution channels; the difficulty of protecting proprietary rights; present and future competition; and Axeda's ability to manage technological change and respond to evolving industry standards. Investors are advised to read Axeda's Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those sections entitled "Factors Affecting Operating Results" and "Risk Factors" for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. Axeda assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.