DataFlux Introduces Version 5.0 for Extensible Data Quality Management - EDQM -; Bringing Data Quality to the Enterprise: Anywhere, by Anyone, at Anytime, on Any Data.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CARY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2002

DataFlux Corporation, a SAS Company and leading provider of data quality and data integration solutions that increase the accuracy and reliability of enterprise-wide data assets, today announced the availability of the Version 5.0 release for dfPower(R) Studio, Blue Fusion(R) SDK, and dfIntelliServer(TM) (formerly called Blue Fusion CS).

DataFlux has re-engineered its product set, allowing customers the ability to use a completely integrated set of products that enables either virtual or physical integration of any type of data. Additionally, sophisticated international support is an aspect of the new framework that will appeal to multinational organizations. Version 5.0 provides enabling technology for various scenarios, including Customer Relationship Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Intelligence, Data Mining, Data Warehousing, etc.

According to Peter Harvey, CEO of Intellidyn, a customer data optimization company, "DataFlux's Version 5.0 data quality suite lets us pull together data enhancement information that can appear in very obscure forms. After customizing the matching rules to handle anomalies in our data, we were able to achieve higher matching rates."

Version 5.0 from DataFlux allows customers to apply data quality to all data types and link data together seamlessly and effortlessly from any location/line of business within an organization. Extended functionality for non-name and address data types allows support for data such as part numbers, data feeds, VIN numbers, lab tests, shipping descriptions, etc. It also offers locale packages that enable the engine to identify the locale to which a piece of information belongs and can then process the information according to the locale specific rules. Locale identification and processing can be accomplished through one pass of the data.

"By reconceptualizing what data quality can and should be, and underpinning it with deep technical know-how, DataFlux has ushered in the ability for enterprises to apply the right increment of data quality to applications at the right time," said Guy Creese, Research Director of Internet Analytics and Data Quality at Aberdeen Group. "Although the result will be happily different for every enterprise, the commonality is that DataFlux has finally enabled data quality to become a business function. Whether business users or technologists apply the data quality is the decision of the enterprise, a dramatic departure from the ills of previous, often cost-forbidding, data quality initiatives."

dfPower Studio, BlueFusion SDK, and dfIntelliServer solve complex data quality problems at the source, are customizable and enable the entire organization. Some primary features include:

-- Automatic language recognition

-- Intuitive GUI for business rules editing and customization

-- Completely customizable parsing, standardization, and matching algorithms

-- Ability to create parse, standardize, and match types based on users own data

-- Ability to handle international data in a single pass

According to Tony Fisher, president and CEO of DataFlux, "Intelligent data integration is all about providing a single, accurate, consolidated view of an organization's data. Our integrated product suite and methodology offers the power and flexibility to tailor a solution to precise needs of an organization. DataFlux provides our customers with the infrastructure for transforming raw data into accurate, consistent, and usable corporate information assets. DataFlux provides all the functionality for less cost, with the easiest to use GUI of any Data Quality and Data Integration vendor."

BlueFusion SDK and dfIntelliServer platforms include: AIX, HP-UX, Linux, Solaris, Tru64, Windows NT, 2000 and Windows XP; BlueFusion SDK also includes OS/390. dfPower Studio is available on Windows 95/98, Windows NT, 2000 and XP. Prices begin at $15K, depending on machine class, and number of users. Add-on components (FusionPacks, ServerPacks and PowerPacks) are available for the above products with prices starting at $6500. Client interfaces are available for $3K per interface.

About DataFlux Corporation

DataFlux provides leading edge technology for data cleansing, data linking and consolidation, and data enhancement. The versatile DataFlux products are designed to significantly improve the accuracy, consistency and reliability of an organization's critical data, enhancing the effectiveness of data-driven applications and initiatives such as data warehousing, business intelligence, e-commerce systems, data mining, customer information systems, sales force automation, marketing databases, customer/prospect profiling and list management. DataFlux is a wholly owned subsidiary of SAS Institute, the market leader in providing a new generation of business intelligence software and services that create true enterprise intelligence. For more on DataFlux, visit: www.dataflux.com.

DataFlux and all other DataFlux Corporation product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of, or licensed to, DataFlux Corporation in the USA and other countries. (R) indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies.