Celarix Introduces Data Management Services to Deliver High Quality Supply Chain Information.

Business Editors

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2002

New Service Offering Expands Value of Supply Chain Visibility

with Better Decision Making

Celarix, Inc., the leading provider of supply chain visibility and connectivity solutions, today announced the availability of Data Management Services to improve the quality and timeliness of supply chain information, and ultimately the value that customers realize using Celarix Visibility(TM).

Data Management Services complement Celarix' technology-based data cleansing capabilities by providing trained analysts that manage data quality on behalf of a customer. Using Celarix Data Management Services, customers make better decisions with complete, accurate and timely supply chain information.

"Today, it's a necessity to gain visibility into product movements to improve efficiency, stay competitive, and manage the cost of carrying inventory," said John Pindred, vice president, treasurer, ShopKo Stores, Inc. "Receiving the data isn't enough, however. The quality of information received must be verified or it's useless. If our transportation service providers don't enter the correct information about our shipments in transit, it's no better than not getting the information at all. Celarix Data Management Services is offered for customers, like ShopKo, so the logistics team can manage freight - not data - and ultimately improve inventory allocation and decrease carrying costs."

Data Quality has become an increasingly important element of any successful enterprise system deployment. A recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers indicated that 1 in 3 systems were either delayed or scrapped due to data quality issues. Challenges that exist today, within the enterprise, are magnified ten-fold as companies begin to look outside the four walls for the next source of competitive advantage. Successful supply chain visibility and collaboration solutions must go beyond software-only solutions and build upon existing networks that can provide high levels of data quality.

Celarix data quality capabilities start with sophisticated rules and resolution tools that are built into the Connexion(TM) Business Network. Data Management Services adds the human touch with trained analysts that resolve specific data quality issues on behalf of Celarix customers. To ensure high, consistent levels of data quality, the analysts also initiate continuous improvement cycles with trading partners and transportation service providers to improve data quality at the source.

"The management of a company's supply chain is directly dependent on the timeliness and accuracy of the data provided from its own internal systems, consolidators, suppliers, carriers, brokers and other trading partners," said Jim Daniell, CEO of Celarix. "Celarix recognizes that the very fundamental challenge of accepting, maintaining and correcting the data from these sources requires constant attention in order to ensure the integrity of the information. We have devoted a team and resources to specifically manage data quality, taking that burden off our customers so they can focus on running their own businesses and improving customer service levels."

About Celarix

Based in Cambridge, Mass., Celarix (www.Celarix.com) is the leading provider of supply chain visibility and connectivity solutions for Global 2000 companies striving to realize performance improvements beyond the "four walls" of their enterprise. Celarix solutions enable customers, including Agilent Technologies, Sharp Electronics, Lowe's, Abercrombie & Fitch, and TruServ, to quickly realize new supply chain performance improvements through improved customer service, lower transportation costs, and reduced inventory investment.