IDS Scheer Announces Interface between ARIS Platform and IBM WebSphere Integration Developer.

BERWYN, Pa. -- IDS Scheer, the leading provider of solutions for business process excellence, today announced a partnership with IBM to develop a new interface between the ARIS Platform and IBM WebSphere. The new interface enables customers to automatically execute processes modeled in ARIS on the IBM WebSphere Integration Developer platform easily and directly. Under the terms of the partnership, both companies agreed to allow the seamless implementation of technical processes using IBM execution engine technology as well as the integration of current applications. The new interface, which will bridge the gap between the technical description of processes and the practical implementation, optimizes a unique connector based on the BPEL standard that reduces project times, increases the efficiency of the systems implemented and prevents media breaks.

This partnership is part of IDS Scheer's ARIS P2A initiative that expands its product portfolio to integrate with other vendor's Enterprise Architecture offerings. This solution provides thorough implementation of optimized business processes in current applications, offers time and cost savings in the development of individual software and implementation of the middleware (EAI, Workflow, portal software, .NET, J2EE), enables the orchestration of Enterprise and Web Services by BPM standards (BPEL, BPML, XML, XMI) and offers complete documentation for better communication between technical and development departments.

From strategy to design to implementation, the process information available in ARIS is transformed into technical processes that are executed on WebSphere Process Server. The new partnership will also allow customers to import existing and new ARIS models directly into the IBM WebSphere Integration Developer tools. "This first-time shared integration of two leading BPM products offers mutual benefits to customers of both solutions - even if used separately," said Dr. Mathias Kirchmer, CEO of IDS Scheer in the Americas. "The power of this joint integration adds tremendous value to prospective customers who are considering modeling their business processes but have not yet selected a platform, especially one that offers an open, service-oriented architecture."

In early 2006, both companies will showcase the first implementation of the new methodology in pilot projects with customers such as Audi and HypoVereinsbank.

"The interface is the first step towards meeting the pressing demands of our customers for process orientation while simultaneously giving them the freedom of choice regardless of the IT platform. Future integration developments may include linkage of data from the IBM runtime environment with our ARIS Process Performance Management tool," added Dr. Kirchmer.

"IBM software is synonymous with openness. Using open standards, together with IDS Scheer we have built a bridge between our products that provides our customers with a new perspective on the flexible design and modeling of critical business processes on the basis of a reliable platform," says Sebastian Krause, Vice President of the IBM Software Group in Germany. "Cooperation with partners such as IDS Scheer is particularly important for us. This example shows how a successful partnership adds value for all those involved."

About IDS Scheer in the Americas

IDS Scheer is the leading provider of solutions for business process excellence. The company's ARIS-based solutions offer a complete portfolio for "Business Process Excellence," including the services, software and methods to address all phases of the business process lifecycle: design, implementation, execution and continuous improvement. From small/medium enterprises to Global 1000 organizations, IDS Scheer provides a wide array of solutions to help customers optimize, and profit from, their investments in Supply Chain Management (SCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and Next Generation Business Process Automation solutions. As a SAP Global Services Partner, IDS Scheer enables customers to maximize their SAP investment and build winning businesses. As part of an organization of more than 2000 employees worldwide and over 250 in North America, IDS Scheer is built upon a foundation of business process excellence that began when the company was founded in 1984 by August-Wilhelm Scheer, widely recognized as a founding father of Business Process Management. For more information on IDS Scheer in North America, visit http://www.ids-scheer.com/us.

Copyright (C) 2005 IDS Scheer All rights reserved.

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