Hayter Expands ARI e-Commerce Software, Services; ARI's Full Suite of Catalog Software Will Now Reach All Dealers.

Business Editors

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 2001

ARI Network Services, Inc. (OTCBB:ARIS), a leading provider of technology-enabled business solutions that connect equipment manufacturers with their service and distribution networks, announced that Hayter Limited of Hertfordshire, UK, a Summersong Inc. group company, has signed a new agreement to increase its usage of the full suite of ARI software services.

Under the agreement, the U.K.-based producer of consumer and commercial grass machinery will expand its use of ARI products to include ARI's full suite of catalog software and services. In addition to making PartSmart(R) available to all of its 900 dealers around the world, up from 160 at the present time, Hayter will provide its international dealers with an on-line Web catalog and electronic ordering using ARI's EMPARTweb(TM) electronic parts catalog and ARI's European Lawn and Garden Industry B2B Portal Solution, respectively. Hayter has also licensed ARI's EMPARTpublisher(TM) to allow them to create and publish their own catalog data for use with PartSmart and EMPARTweb.

"Our goal was to provide an e-Commerce solution for all of our dealers, regardless of their size or business volume. After carefully reviewing the options available, we determined that ARI's integrated family of catalog and communications software was best suited to meet both our goals and the needs of our dealers," said Tony Bourke, managing director for Hayter. "Our larger dealers are currently benefiting from their use of ARI's TradeRoute(R) dealer communications software and PartSmart electronic catalog. Now, under our new contract with ARI, all of our customers will have access to the same tools."

"I am very pleased to have a respected European company like Hayter commit to a full suite of our integrated software and network services," said Brian E. Dearing, chairman and chief executive officer of ARI. "Our goal is to provide a single, integrated family of e-Commerce products to manufacturers and dealers that will give them the cutting edge tools they need to succeed now and in the future."

Dearing indicated that ARI's integrated family of catalog and communications software benefits both the manufacturer and their dealers. "For their e-Catalog needs, large volume dealers may be best served by PartSmart, which is compatible with the major business management systems used around the world, while lower volume dealers will find that our Web-based catalog best meet their needs. And, when EMPARTpublisher is added to the equation, manufacturers can publish their data just once to serve both CD and web users," Dearing said.

"We cover the dealer communications side of the equation as well. Larger dealers use our TradeRoute product to send parts orders, warranty claims and other documents to European manufacturers such as Hayter, Textron and EMAK. And all dealers can benefit from the usage of ARI's B2B Portal, which is compatible with both PartSmart and EMPARTweb," Dearing concluded.

Hayter Limited is a part of the Summersong Inc. group. Hayter Limited has provided lawnmowers for over fifty years, since pioneering the rotary mower, putting high quality lawn care within the reach of every gardener. Hayter has earned a unique reputation in Britain for their performance, long life and good value. Up-to-the-minute technology and innovative features coupled with a long-standing tradition of hand-built craftsmanship provide users with a pedigree line of lawn mower products.

ARI Network Services, Inc. is a leading provider of technology-enabled business solutions for sales, service and life-cycle product support in the manufactured equipment market. ARI currently serves over 100 manufacturers and 20,000 dealers in more than 100 countries in 12 segments of the worldwide manufactured equipment market including outdoor power, recreation vehicle, floor maintenance, auto and truck parts aftermarket, power sports, marine and construction. The Company builds and supports a full suite of multi-media electronic catalog publishing and viewing software for the Web or CD. ARI communications systems provide a global electronic pathway for parts orders, product registrations, warranty claims and other transactions between manufacturers and their networks of sales and service points. ARI currently operates three offices in the United States and one in Europe and has sales and service agents in Australia, England and France providing marketing and support of its electronic catalog and dealer communications products.