SmartCompany Announces January '05 Release, Featuring File Sharing And One-Button Data Import.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Latest Version of Combined CRM/ERP Business Platform for Growing Businesses Also Expands to Two Editions to Meet Different Budgets, Operational Needs

SmartCompany, Inc., provider of SmartCompany, a leading Web-based business platform that uniquely integrates CRM and ERP to benefit growing businesses, today announced the availability of the SmartCompany January '05 Release, featuring a wide range of usability enhancements that increase sales, transactions and order efficiency. Led by strong new file sharing and data import tools, the SmartCompany January '05 Release gives SMEs (Small-to-Medium Enterprises) more power than ever to manage and control their business.

SmartCompany redefines the notion of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) for SMEs, even taking them beyond the capabilities found in large enterprise systems. As a hosted, Web-based service, SmartCompany lowers costs while integrating customer service, accounting, fulfillment and other key business processes into a single operation that both talks with other mission-critical software while enabling cutting-edge analysis and reporting.

SmartCompany is a totally horizontal solution designed for companies in any industry and all lines of business. The focus for the SmartCompany January '05 Release is to expand upon the solution's already strong sales automation capabilities. Major new features include:

--File Sharing--Users who purchase this option can upload any common file--e.g., Microsoft Word or PowerPoint files, ZIP or PDF files and more--and attach it to any data element in the system, including accounts, contacts, opportunities, orders, and so on, where it is visible to every user in their organization;

--New One-Button Import--Allows one-step importing of contacts and other data from Salesforce.com, ACT, Goldmine, Outlook and other products;

--Account Hierarchies--Enables easier tracking/organization of activity within large, multi-divisional client companies, with no limit to the number of available levels;

--Auto-Assigned Order/Opportunity Numbers--Supports the customization of assigned tracking numbers to opportunities and orders, including prefixes or business types;

--Multiple Locations--For customers who have multiple street locations for shipping, billing, personal contact or other business locations, the SmartCompany January '05 release allows any number of locations to be stored for accounts, contacts, opportunities, and orders;

--One-Button Roll-Up--With a single click, users can now drill down, cross-reference and analyze data common to accounts, contacts, or opportunities, for account or project analysis;

--Follow-Up Tasks--Upon completion of a task, this new feature enables follow-up tasks to be quickly and easily set without leaving the original task screen.

"The SmartCompany January '05 Release continues our commitment to finding

new and more effective ways to help companies become more efficient and profitable," said Joe Zuffoletto, CEO and co-founder of SmartCompany. "We believe the additional features in this new version will greatly simplify day-to-day management tasks, adding convenience while giving decision-makers throughout the enterprise faster and more complete information, from prospect to cash and beyond."

Adds Capabilities

Among the companies already using the SmartCompany January '05 Release is CORE Support Systems, Inc., an Irvine, California supplier of mission-critical computer facility systems. "SmartCompany is changing the way we operate as a sales team," said Rick Brotherton, president and managing partner. "In the most recent upgrade we now have the ability to attach documents to an opportunity record from any file that is stored on a user's local desktop PC or from our central server. This allows us to have all of a client's project's project details right at our fingertips, and allows our sales engineers to pinch hit when someone is out of the office."

As a hosted system delivered via the Internet, SmartCompany is able to provide its valuable capabilities at relatively small cost. SmartCompany combines state-of-the-art sales automation with project management, order tracking, accounting, product catalogs, and extensive reporting and security capabilities, enabling users to analyze a customer's purchasing history, track payments and commissions, determine gross and net profit on a per-product or per-order basis--capabilities ordinary CRM cannot provide.

Pricing and Availability

With this release, SmartCompany is now available in two editions that allow businesses to choose the best solution for their individual needs:

--SmartCompany Startup, priced at $995 for 5 users for one year ($199 for each additional user), provides calendar management and tracking of accounts, contacts, and opportunities;

--SmartCompany Pro, priced at $1,995 for 5 users for one year ($399 for each additional user), provides all the capabilities of SmartCompany Startup plus file sharing and order management (including payment and commission tracking, and job costing).

Both editions are available now. Existing customers can upgrade to SmartCompany Pro by paying the difference in subscription fees.

To learn more about the SmartCompany hosted CRM solution, visit www.smartcompany.net.

About SmartCompany:

SmartCompany was founded in 2003 to provide a single online destination for tracking and managing all aspects of a company's business operations, including sales, marketing, customer service, human resources, accounting, and more. The company's products are focused on increasing productivity and efficiency within an organization while reducing costs and boosting profits. SmartCompany is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California and can be reached by phone at 877-934-6355, by email at [e-mail], or on the Internet at www.smartcompany.net.