CHICAGO, Nov 13, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

PB TMS Enterprise Edition(TM) Web-based solution centralizes and consolidates enterprise-wide shipment processing and data

Pitney Bowes Distribution Solutions today announced the availability of its PB TMS Enterprise Edition(TM) software, which is powered by Vertex Interactive. The transportation management system is a Web-based, enterprise-wide multi-carrier system operated from a centralized server.

PB TMS Enterprise Edition manages the transportation processes of multiple warehouses and distribution centers from a centralized server location while permitting access and distributed processing over the Web, from any remote location. By centralizing the application and all enterprise-wide data at one location, PB TMS Enterprise Edition saves money and reduces shipping and operating costs for companies with more than one warehouse or distribution center.

"Customers with multiple warehouses have access to complete transportation processing, visibility and reporting capabilities with PB TMS Enterprise Edition," said Stephen Smith, president of Pitney Bowes Distribution Solutions. "Access to shipping data from any location within your company is essential for accurate supply chain reporting. When negotiating carrier rates, presenting the data from all warehouses can result in larger discounts and better carrier service."

The application is installed on a central server and accessed from remote locations through a Web browser without any specialized software. A simple applet can be downloaded for running local printing, scanning and weighing devices. Administration, configuration, upgrades and ongoing maintenance tasks are conducted at the central server location and immediately applied to all processing locations. This eliminates the need for consultants or extra travel expenses for IT staff to perform upgrades. In addition, by maintaining business rules, carrier rates and shipping settings at one location, users can set guidelines on an enterprise-wide basis or customize guidelines for each location.

"With PB TMS Enterprise Edition, we can set our shipping guidelines at our main InSTEP warehouse and know those guidelines are implemented in our other warehouses," said Tim Galligan, CFO of InSTEP, Inc., a Minnesota-based manufacturer of jogging strollers. "So, if we are able to negotiate a carrier discount, that discount is immediately reflected in shipments across the board, saving our customers money and helping us run more cost-effective shipping operations."

The benefits and strength of PB TMS Enterprise Edition comes from its Web-based architecture. Web-based applications incorporate Web-interfaces within each functional component of the application to provide full processing and visibility of that function to anyone in supply chain with secure access, including partners and customers. Most other enterprise TMS products are not Web-based, but Web-enabled. While many of these programs can be accessed using an attached Web interface, their Web capabilities are restricted due to the limitations of the underlying technology. Sophisticated e-business operations between these "Web-enabled" programs, from inside company walls to outside trading partners, often requires custom data-exchange and translation programming and support. Although Web-enabled software can provide visibility and even transactions from the legacy application to partners and customers, it cannot provide real-time collaboration across the supply chain network.

PB TMS Enterprise Edition is a fully scalable shipping solution that can support hundreds of processing locations and thousands of users. As business and shipping volumes grow, the software has the ability to use separate application versus database servers, multiple CPUs within each server and load balancing across multiple application servers.

    Additional features of PB TMS Enterprise Edition include:
    eQuery

eQuery is a browser-independent Web-based feature that provides employees, customers and partners around-the-clock global supply chain visibility. Any user that has access to an Internet connection and Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator browser versions 4.0 or higher can view real-time shipping information and order fulfillment status. Employees, customers and partners can access shipment information by tracking number or bill number, check delivery status and view packing information from their desktops. The application is hosted on the central server and can be accessed from LAN, Intranet or Internet connections.

    Upfront rating

The rate shopping screen allows users to view carrier's rates, discounts, routes, destination ZIP codes and delivery requirements. From a single screen, users can compare carrier prices and then select a carrier that complies with business standards and fulfills customer and partner shipping requirements.

PB TMS Enterprise Edition can be used simultaneously with PB TMS Client/Server Edition to centralize pack verification and export and retail compliance labeling features. PB TMS Enterprise Edition is a true Web-based version of Pitney Bowes' industry leading PB TMS client server application. The software supports small package, less than truckload (LTL), truckload (TL) and local carriers.

    About PB TMS(TM)

PB TMS, powered by Vertex Interactive, is a multi-carrier order processing and shipment management software system that provides visibility to logistics information to customers, trading partners and employees. The transportation management system automates all order and shipment processes, from pack verification and shipping to delivery tracking and export documentation and provides real-time data access through a web browser. PB TMS integrates with most ERP, WMS and accounting systems to seamlessly share data between different business departments. The application runs on Windows 2000 Server and uses Microsoft SQL Server database. PB TMS is available in both Client/Server and Enterprise Editions.

    About Pitney Bowes

Pitney Bowes Inc. is a $4 billion global provider of integrated mail, messaging and document management solutions headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. The company serves over 2 million businesses of all sizes through dealer and direct operations. The Pitney Bowes Distribution Solutions division, formerly Pitney Bowes TranScape, is a global provider of software and services that extend control and visibility of the supply chain throughout the enterprise, and enable electronic transactions between business partners and suppliers. Its web-based suite of products, Pitney Bowes Supply Chain Solutions, powered by Vertex Interactive, provides customers with modules for transportation management, order management and warehouse management.

CONTACT:          Pitney Bowes, Minneapolis
                  Vicki Javner, 952/885-7121            
                  vicki.javner@pb.com     
                  or
                  Weber Shandwick Worldwide        
                  Angela Seutter, 952/346-6314                     
                  aseutter@webershandwick.com      

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