ComVersant Announces eCommerce Consultancy Enabling Businesses to Achieve Innovative and Profitable eResults.

POTOMAC, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 1999--

Dramatic Growth in eCommerce Accelerates Demand for Strategic

Business Solutions; ComVersant Bridges the Gap between

Brick-and-Mortar and Online Worlds

With incredible changes taking place in the online industry, where successful brick-and-mortar companies are entering cyberspace and established online powerhouses are consolidating, ComVersant, LLC has defined a new breed of eCommerce consultancy, called eCommerce Enablement, to help companies deliver the business results, eResults(TM), they desire through an effective sustainable eCommerce initiative.

Dedicated to helping its clients achieve "eResults not ePromises"(TM), ComVersant is a newly-launched eCommerce Enablement firm, located in the growing Washington, DC technology corridor. ComVersant is led by a team of experienced professionals with years of experience handling issues companies face in the transition from traditional business to online sales.

ComVersant's eCommerce enablement strategy helps clients integrate online initiatives with business results. ComVersant analyzes a client's market, competition and product positioning to formulate a sustainable, competitive eCommerce business strategy. Once a strategy is in place, ComVersant helps to define the client's architecture, perform a gap analysis and implement the proper mix of skills, capabilities and technologies that will all lead to sustainable results utilizing an eCommerce business model.

"Today, competition is between business models and not between products," said Jim Datovech, president of ComVersant. "So many companies begin their online presence by duplicating their brick-and-mortar business model, which often isn't effective. We study the company's eCommerce expectations and enable solutions that meet their real-world business goals."

ComVersant's experience in delivering a wide range of eCommerce results gives the company an in-depth knowledge of the challenges companies face going online. Virtual global competitors have sprung up literally overnight and are now faced with adding the brick-and-mortar infrastructure to support their businesses, while traditional brick-and-mortar companies are seeking the online presence to expand. ComVersant tailors enterprise services for companies seeking an online presence or looking to improve their existing eCommerce endeavors. These range from defining strategy and estimating value to project management of the business model and system deployment.

For companies who deliver eCommerce product solutions, ComVersant provides a suite of solution services for product and quality management. Some of these include business plan development, product marketing/management, due diligence and professional services support.

"ComVersant has taken the experience and history of its principals and applied that knowledge with a unique approach to eCommerce," said Dr. Stephen W. Ritterbush, Managing Director of Fairfax Partners. "Most eCommerce consulting firms just implement a technology but don't actually consider the differences companies encounter between the online world and the more traditional sales channels. ComVersant incorporates a new business strategy, since eCommerce is a new business venture, not just an addition to what the company already has in place. I like the way they think."

ComVersant's list of clients includes many Fortune 100 companies including businesses such as OrderTrust, AppNet and MicroAge/Pinacor. OrderTrust CEO Jim Daniel believes ComVersant is successful because they aren't completely based in technology, but in business planning as well. "ComVersant provided us with people who not only know how to implement product marketing and product management in an organization but who are experts in eCommerce," said Daniel. "In our fast paced environment, they provided focus and consistency to help us

meet our market demands."

About ComVersant, LLC

ComVersant is a new breed of eCommerce Enablement consulting company that helps businesses achieving eResults(TM) through strategic eCommerce business initiatives that increase sales, market share and customer loyalty. ComVersant was founded in 1998 by Strategic Ventures Group. ComVersant provides tailored-to-fit eCommerce services for companies seeking to go online or improve their existing eCommerce efforts. ComVersant has provided services for multinationals as well as focused enterprises in the United States, Canada, Europe and New Zealand. More information about ComVersant can be found at http://www.comversant.com.