Epicor resells SmartForecasts and has developed an interface that seamlessly integrates it with Epicor eDistribution through Microsoft's SQL Server. This capability provides Epicor's customers with quick, accurate demand forecasts and enables them to share forecasts easily with other Epicor applications to improve demand planning. Additionally, SmartForecasts' inventory stocking level recommendations enable Epicor users to reduce inventory costs, improve customer service, and better deploy production and distribution assets.

"The increasing adoption of SmartForecasts within our customer base is a testament to the growing need among midmarket companies for comprehensive forecasting, planning and inventory management solutions," said John Hiraoka, senior vice president of marketing and business development for Epicor. "Our customers need to be able to quickly react to changes in demand, while at the same time managing relationships with suppliers and customers. Epicor eDistribution and SmartForecasts provide a powerful solution that companies can leverage to optimize business performance."

Epicor customer, Institutional Financing Services, a California-based company that sells fund raising products and specializes in programs for elementary, junior high and high schools throughout North America and the Caribbean, recently purchased SmartForecasts. Most of IFS's sales are made at the beginning of the school year, between October and December. IFS is planning to use SmartForecasts to provide accurate demand forecasts and better inventory management.

"Because of seasonal swings in our business, forecasting is a big challenge for us," said Andre Brantome, IT director at IFS, Inc. "We need good tools to help us with forecasting our sales and product planning. We expect SmartForecasts with its intermittent demand forecasting capability along with Epicor's eDistribution will help us better manage our business."

"We are looking forward to using SmartForecasts to understand our demand data in eDistribution better," said Charles Rivera, chief information officer at Florida-based Steiner Management Services, another Epicor customer using SmartForecasts. Steiner's affiliates provide spa services and skin and hair care products on cruise ships worldwide, as well as at land-based facilities.

Other companies that have purchased SmartForecasts in conjunction with Epicor eDistribution include:

• Salts Healthcare, a U.K.-based manufacturer and supplier of healthcare products;
• The Lenbrook Group, a privately owned, vertically integrated Canadian corporation with core businesses in electronic components and two-way radio products;
• Residex, a New Jersey-based nationwide distributor of pest control products, recently acquired by Western Pest Services (a division of Western Industries).

About Smart Software, Inc.

Founded in 1984, Smart Software, Inc. is a leader in providing businesses with enterprise-wide demand forecasting, planning and inventory optimization solutions. Smart Software's flagship product, SmartForecasts, has thousands of customers worldwide, including midmarket enterprises and Fortune 500 companies, such as Mitsubishi, Siemens, Labatt Breweries, Coca-Cola and Bristol-Myers Squibb. SmartForecasts gives demand planners the tools to handle sales seasonality, promotions, new and aging products, multi-dimensional hierarchies, and intermittently demanded service parts and capital goods items. It also provides inventory managers with accurate estimates of the minimum inventory necessary to meet customer service level requirements. Smart Software is headquartered in Belmont, Massachusetts and can be found on the World Wide Web at www.smartcorp.com.

About Epicor Software Corporation

Epicor is a leading provider of integrated enterprise and eBusiness software solutions for midmarket companies around the world. Founded in 1984, Epicor has over 15,000 customers and delivers end-to-end, industry-specific solutions that enable companies to immediately improve business operations and build competitive advantage in today's Internet economy. Epicor's comprehensive suite of integrated software solutions for Customer Relationship Management, Financials, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Professional Services Automation and Collaborative Commerce provide the scalability and flexibility to support long-term growth. Epicor's solutions are complemented by a full range of services, providing single point of accountability to promote rapid return on investment and low total cost of ownership, now and in the future. Epicor is headquartered in Irvine, California and has offices and affiliates around the world. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.epicor.com.

SmartForecasts is a trademark of Smart Software, Inc. Epicor is a registered trademark, and eBackOffice and eDistribution are trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.