CCITRIAD Introduces Ultimate Release 8.0 to Provide More Efficient Information Management for Warehouses; Upgrades a Result of Customer Inputs, Requests in Past Year.

Automotive Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(AutomotiveWire)--Oct. 23, 2000

CCITRIAD, the leading provider of information systems and services to the automotive aftermarket, today announced a new release of their Ultimate software, Release 8.0. This release provides many new features and enhancements to one of the industry's most flexible information management systems for large warehouses. This no-charge upgrade, developed based on customer inputs gathered during the past year, is now available to all customers covered under CCITRIAD's total support program.

"We're very excited to offer our customers these new content and stability upgrades we have added with Release 8.0," said Glenn Crowder, product marketing manager. "We believe the way to improve our products is to listen to our customers who are using them every day. They told us they need more flexibility and increased productivity, and Release 8.0 gives them the tools to do just that."

Crowder said there were four beta customers who tested Release 8.0, and their response has been positive. The four beta customers were: Cal's Automotive of North Brunswick, N.J.; AP&G Sales of Longview, Texas; APW Bond of Barre, Vt.; and Carburetor Exchange of Indianapolis, Ind.

"Release 8.0 provides improved sales information and gives us a better picture of the staff's productivity," said Maryann Schomaker, Carburetor Exchange. "One of the things I like best about it is that CCITRIAD addressed a lot of the issues that were brought up in the last user group meeting. It's great to know they listen to their customers."

A few of the new features and enhancements added to Release 8 from customer input include:

-- Improved Stock Replenishment functions for more precise purchasing.

-- Inter-branch transfer improvements for quicker processing and more flexible
returns management.

-- New Sales Order Entry prompts and procedures to allow better servicing
during customer order activity.

-- Telecommunication enhancements for quicker data transmissions.

One of the new information features Release 8.0 includes is MarketPace(R), a subscription-based service that collects product sales data from systems and creates a detailed inventory ranking report. The report allows stores to focus on selling the parts that will be in demand in their local trading areas. The data used to generate the report will be e-mailed to warehouses so they can upload it and make it available through their Product Inquiry screens.

"Our development team spent countless hours programming and testing all the features and fixes to ensure the quality of this release," said Douglas Booth, director, Software Product Services for Ultimate. The complete re-write of our Sales Order Entry programs will provide a springboard for future enhancements now under development."

Release 8.0 also includes interface-ready features for The Paperless Warehouse(R), which is a hand-held computerized system that virtually eliminates paperwork by using bar code technology in picking and shipping operations. Release 8.0 provides links to the Pick/Ship and Receive/Put Away modules. The Pick application sends picking information to a server, which allows warehouses to use a hand-held device to pick parts without printing paper tickets. The Receive/Put Away module uses the same hand-held technology to receive vendor purchase orders on the Ultimate system.

Further plans for using bar code technology include the scanning of customer returns and store transfers received from the primary servicing location. These projects will be available as an add-on to Release 8.0 in the near future.

Another highlight is Async Telepricing(R), which allows the user to receive CCITRIAD information services Telepricing updates via asynchronous transmissions overnight. This dramatically reduces the time required to update price information, as it eliminates the tape loading process.

"The Telepricing program is beautiful," Salasko said. "It saves me money and about five hours a week."

About CCITRIAD

CCITRIAD, a division of Cooperative Computing Inc. (CCI), has a more than 25-year history of leading the design, development, and servicing of management information systems and solutions to the automotive aftermarket and hardlines and lumber industries. CCITRIAD's system offerings are enhanced by extensive information services featuring highly specialized database products and customer support and maintenance services. CCITRIAD is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and has operations in Livermore, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; Brooklyn Park, Minn., Newton, NJ; San Antonio, Texas; and internationally in Canada, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom. For more information on CCITRIAD, visit the Web site at http://www.cci-triad.com.