Communication Concepts Inc. Launches Industry's Most Advanced Suite of Online Decision Management Tools for Direct Marketers.

Business Editors

IVYLAND, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2001

Customer Involvement Ensures Services Boost Profitability,

Productivity

Direct marketing and mailing service provider Communication Concepts Inc. (CCI) announced today that it is now offering CCI Online Suite, an industry-standard-setting package of online tools that allows clients to better manage mail programs while saving time and money. Designed and built in coordination with a team of CCI clients, including leading life insurance direct marketer Conseco Direct and a number of Fortune 500 companies, the offerings cover a wide range of mission-critical functional areas.

"As we have increasingly built our technology base to handle even the most complex direct marketing and customer relationship challenges, our clients told us that they also needed ways to simplify their work," said Don McKenzie, CCI President and CEO. "All elements of this package were crafted with client ease-of-use, control and profitability in mind, and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

The CCI Online Suite offers client-control opportunities in two primary ways:

Information Management Functions

- Inventory Level Management - Allows clients to instantly check real-time
inventory levels and know what is allocated to production runs and what will be
in stock at any point in time. Clients, therefore, have an easy-to-use
information source that can guide their decisions to add, reorganize or discard
inventory.

- Kit Content Management - Kit explosion function allows clients to view and
query allocated kit components, as well as alter composition when inventories
or other factors demand changes.

- Inventory Sample Requests - For those clients with thousands of units in CCI
inventory, samples of any or all components can be requested online.

- Customizable Kit Identification - Inventory can be classified with clients'
own identification codes, as well as systematized kit numbers.

- Archiving - Production reports are archived for ongoing online access.

- Multiple Formats - Given diverse client information needs, downloadable
reports are available in HTML, PDF and text formats.

- Built-in E-mail Access to CCI - Throughout the system, e-mail access
opportunities allow for easy e-mail linking to CCI customer service
representatives.

- Security - State-of-the-art security ensures client data remains
confidential.

Electronic Proofing and Online Collaboration

- Instant E-mail/Telephone Notification - Clients are alerted

immediately via e-mail, and by telephone, if requested, when a

proof is available online.

- True-to-Life Document Imaging - Unlike other approval systems that

employ desktop-published PDF files that do not exactly represent

proofs, CCI's online proofing allows clients to view images that

perfectly reflect the finished product, even after cutting and/or

folding.

- Non-Linear Proofing and Collaboration - As compared to systems

through which individuals must view proofs in succession, this

unique online review system allows multiple client contacts to

concurrently review proofs and view all colleagues' comments made

before or during their own online review.

- Online Field Access - Actual database record of fields, used to

generate a mailing, is available online for detailed proofing

purposes.

- Archiving - All comments and records created throughout the

proofing process are archived online for 24/7 access.

- Security - All online proofing and collaboration is conducted in a

secure environment.

"We've spent more than a year developing these first-generation tools, which we know will make day-to-day and end-of-year bottom-line differences to our entire spectrum of clients," said McKenzie. "As corporate America finds it increasingly necessary to identify efficiencies and productivity opportunities, our goal was to create a package of tools that our clients never even expected to be offered at no charge."

"These new tools are excellent," said Conseco Direct's Pam Blair. As a Production Manager for the direct marketer, Blair indicated that CCI Online Suite provides benefits beyond just the direct marketing channel. "The software provides a lot of functionality that will allow us to manage our business more efficiently," she said.

McKenzie said the CCI technology team, led by Matt Graham, CCI's Director of Network Systems, is now working on the next generation of client-support opportunities. "We intend to remain the leader in the critical area of technology-based workflow processes," said Graham. "We just appreciate the help we've had from our clients, and welcome any and all input as to how we might help them further. We're constantly striving to keep an advantage in this competitive industry."

CCI is a premier provider of direct marketing consulting, processing and management services with sophisticated production, control, reporting and Web-based capabilities for leading U.S. corporate and agency marketers. Headquartered in Ivyland, Pa., CCI and its West Coast counterpart, PCCI (Pacific Communication Concepts, Inc.), offer a broad network of custom systems and communications capabilities, including high-volume continuous and cut-sheet laser personalization, as well as simplex/duplex/MICR and multi-page insert statement printing, fulfillment, lettershop and specialty mailings. CCI and PCCI operate as part of the Communication Concepts Group, which also includes direct marketing specialty companies MCS (Marketing Communication Systems, Inc.), DMC (Database Marketing Concepts) and Mail-Gard Concepts, Inc. Together, the companies provide an integrated solution that combines the power of database management, direct marketing, fulfillment and telemarketing with unparalleled industry expertise and strategic insight.