Press Release - Clientele Company Profile SMART Technologies Inc. Chooses Epicor to Enhance Customer Service Through Integrated Business Performance Solution Worldwide Provider of Collaboration Products to Implement Epicor’s Platinum ERA for Comprehensive Integration of its Front and Back Office Operations IRVINE, Calif., August 3, 1999 – Epicor Software Corporation (NASDAQ: EPIC), the largest provider of enterprise business performance software exclusively for midmarket companies, today announced that Calgary-based SMART Technologies Inc. will implement Epicor’s Platinum ERA integrated business performance solution. By selecting Platinum ERA, SMART Technologies, a leading provider of collaboration products, aims to improve communication with customers by providing a single repository for customer information that can be accessed across all customer touch points. Using Platinum ERA, departments including customer service, senior management, marketing and sales will have access to information residing in Epicor's Clientele customer relationship management (CRM) solution, enabling employees to provide timely answers to questions and inquiries. As a midmarket organization, SMART Technologies needed a solution that was scalable and could grow with the company, but sought to avoid the high installation costs that are associated with traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions. The solution also needed to be fully compatible with Microsoft BackOffice. After evaluating solutions from several vendors, SMART Technologies selected Epicor’s Platinum ERA because of its proven track record in providing solutions for mid-sized companies and its superior ability to integrate front and back office systems. “We chose Epicor’s Platinum ERA because it offered the highest level of integration of front and back office systems in the midmarket,” said Eric Bjarnason, vice president, information systems of SMART Technologies Inc. “Other vendors that we explored typically partnered with other companies in order to provide both front and back office solutions. Not only does Epicor's Platinum ERA address our current need for integration using only one operating platform, but it's flexible and scalable to grow with us as our business grows.” Prior to choosing Epicor, SMART Technologies relied on different vendors for their individual manufacturing and financial needs. As a result, access to business system data was limited. As SMART Technologies grew, it became imperative to find a way to share full client information within all levels of the organization. Using Epicor, SMART Technologies expects to improve the efficiency of its business operations by creating smooth transitions between the Calgary headquarters and the Ottawa-based manufacturing facility and by improving the accuracy and speed of financial reporting. “Once we have integrated all of SMART Technologies’ financial, distribution, manufacturing, helpdesk, customer support, and sales and marketing systems, every department within the company can work with consistent information,” said Mike Pennell, vice president of product marketing for Epicor. “In today’s competitive ERP marketplace, SMART Technologies’ decision to implement Epicor’s Platinum ERA reflects the growing need for mid-sized companies to have a comprehensive, integrated front and back office solution. Epicor is perfectly positioned to provide these business performance solutions to any midmarket organization.” SMART Technologies Inc. is both the industry pioneer and market leader in versatile, easy-to-use Roomware tools. Roomware includes the award-winning SMART Board and Rear Projection SMART Board (interactive whiteboards), SMART Meeting Pro™ (meeting information management software), SMART Expression™ (a mobile, multimedia cabinet) and SMART Matisse (an interactive overlay for plasma display panels). Using SMART’s Roomware solutions, groups are able to access and share the information they need to meet, train, teach and present. In 1992 SMART formed a strategic alliance with U.S. computer giant Intel Corporation. This alliance resulted in joint product development, joint marketing efforts and Intel’s equity ownership in SMART. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, SMART is a private company employing over 200 people. SMART products are sold through dealers across North America and through distributors worldwide. Visit www.smarttech.com for more information. About Epicor Software Corporation Epicor, the company formed following the merger of Platinum Software and DataWorks, is the largest enterprise software supplier focused exclusively on the real-world requirements of midmarket companies. Epicor delivers business performance solutions that enable companies to automate on their own terms and outperform their competition by capitalizing on customer relationships, without the risks and upheaval of conventional enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Founded in 1984, Epicor is ranked among the industry's ten largest enterprise business solutions providers by industry analysts, with more than 10,000 enterprise customers worldwide. Epicor is headquartered in Irvine, California and employs over 1,600 employees globally. More information about Epicor, its products and services is available at www.epicor.com. Epicor is a trademark of Epicor Software Corporation. Platinum is a registered trademark of PLATINUM technology International, Inc. The product and service offerings depicted in this document are produced by Epicor Software Corporation. *The Epicor Up-Front Guarantee program is subject to specific terms and conditions and customer qualification requirements. http://www.epicor.com Contact: Allyson Husted Clarify Inc 408-573-3071 Kathryn Lang Focal Point Communications 415-665-8200 Search the News Archives Home | Daily Report | Resource Center | Company | Affiliations | Research | Contact Us © 1998 Real Market Research Corporation.          Real Market is a registered trademark of Real Market, Inc.