Batteries Plus Strengthens Its Forecasting and Inventory Planning with SmartForecasts.

BELMONT, Mass. -- Smart Software, Inc., provider of industry-leading demand forecasting, planning, and inventory optimization solutions, today announced that Batteries Plus, the nation's largest chain focused on the $24 billion battery market serving both retail and commercial customers, has purchased its flagship product, SmartForecasts([R])Enterprise.

Batteries Plus and its warehouse distribution subsidiary, Ascent Battery Supply, will use SmartForecasts' demand forecasting capabilities to optimize inventories at its distribution center and help set in-store stocking levels for its assortment of products.

Headquartered in Hartland, Wisconsin, Batteries Plus is the largest U.S. battery retail chain with 290 locations in 41 states and Puerto Rico. The franchise sells more than 15,000 distinct batteries and battery related items from a variety of brand name manufacturers, such as Rayovac, Duracell, Motorola, Panasonic and Sony. Its business comes from both commercial accounts and day-to-day retail customers, both of which are serviced through the company's stores. Stores stock a large assortment of batteries for everything from cell phones to cars. While retail customers normally purchase basic, commonly-used items, commercial accounts can have very specific product requirements characterized by intermittent, "slow-moving" demand.

"Having the right items in stock makes a big difference in sales," said David Cormany, president of Ascent Logistics and Operations at Batteries Plus. "Our rapid growth required us to improve the way we plan and manage our inventories, and our old tools couldn't do an adequate job any more."

After evaluating several forecasting and demand planning options, Batteries Plus selected SmartForecasts. The selection team wanted a system that was robust, yet easy to use, and which also had the ability to scale as the company grows. Three other important considerations were SmartForecasts' unique intermittent demand forecasting capability, its ability to integrate directly to the SQL Server database used by the company's Great Plains ERP system, and its ability to generate accurate safety stock estimates.

According to Wayne Nelson, Senior Forecaster at Batteries Plus, "The implementation went very smoothly. We were up and running in a couple weeks, and in a short time were able to use SmartForecasts' forecasts and safety stock recommendations to improve our inventory planning decisions."

SmartForecasts is a cross-industry solution for demand forecasting, demand planning, and inventory optimization. It integrates easily with host databases, such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and IBM DB2, as well as ERP and SCM systems like Epicor, Adonix, JD Edwards, and SAP. SmartForecasts contains award-winning, patented technology for forecasting hard-to-forecast items with intermittent, or slow-moving, demand. This unique technology, which yields nearly 100 percent accurate estimates of inventory stocking requirements for any lead time and desired service level, is being used by scores of companies in a variety of industries.

About Batteries Plus

Batteries Plus is the nation's largest retail chain of its kind, offering a comprehensive selection of batteries, battery-related products and technical support that meet growing battery demands for consumer and commercial customers. In addition to thousands of batteries, stores also feature a Tech Center that is equipped to design, assemble, rebuild, and test custom battery packs. Accounts include Fortune 500 companies, manufacturers, other retail channels, local municipalities, fire and police departments, the armed forces and school districts. Its product line includes batteries for both the common and hard-to-find items that are traditionally not available at other retail stores. Currently, Batteries Plus has 290 open locations in 41 states and Puerto Rico and 115 additional stores in development. For more information, please visit www.Batteries Plus.com.

About Smart Software, Inc.

Founded in 1984, Smart Software, Inc. is a leader in providing businesses with enterprise-wide demand forecasting, demand planning and inventory optimization solutions. Smart Software's flagship product, SmartForecasts, has thousands of users worldwide, including customers at mid-market enterprises and Fortune 500 companies, such as Monsanto, Mitsubishi, Siemens, Disney, Pfizer, GE and The Coca-Cola Company. SmartForecasts gives demand planners the tools to handle sales seasonality, promotions, new and aging products, multi-dimensional hierarchies, and intermittently demanded service parts and finished goods items. It also provides inventory managers with accurate estimates of the minimum inventory and safety stock required to meet future orders, thereby ensuring the most cost-effective inventory allocation to achieve desired service levels. Smart Software is headquartered in Belmont, Massachusetts and can be found on the World Wide Web at www.smartcorp.com.

For more information, please contact Greg Hartunian at Smart Software at 1-800-SMART-99 (800-762-7899) or [e-mail].

SmartForecasts is a registered trademark of Smart Software, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.