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ARI Signs First RV Industry Supplier to Complete Dealer System

23 February 1999

ARI Signs First RV Industry Supplier to Complete Dealer System; Contract with Workhorse Custom Chassis Opens New, But Related Market for ARI

    MILWAUKEE--Feb. 23, 1999--ARI Network Services, Inc. , a leading provider of Internet-enabled e-commerce services for shared distribution and service networks, announced that Workhorse Custom Chassis of Union City, Ind., a manufacturer of chassis for commercial and Class A motor home models, became the first RV industry supplier to select a complete ARI dealer communications and electronic publishing system.
    As the de facto standard for dealer communications and electronic publishing among RV producers and dealers, the signing of a supplier to the RV industry strengthens ARI's position in the industry and opens a new, but related market.
    Workhorse Custom Chassis is a new company that recently purchased a division of the GMC Truck and Chevrolet chassis business from General Motors Corporation. Workhorse has obtained all tooling, equipment and rights to produce chassis identical to those the GMC division was manufacturing.
    "We want to develop close relationships with our dealers and customers right from the start," said Andrew Taitz, chairman and chief executive officer of Workhorse. "The ARI system will help us better serve both dealers and customers. This system will enable us to do a thorough and timely job of warranty reimbursement and make sure that correct parts are ordered the first time."
    Workhorse is implementing a transition process with approximately 300 GMC Truck and Chevrolet dealers who are authorized to sell and service the General Motors motor home chassis line according to Jeff Meyer, director of dealer operations for Workhorse. "We'll be getting these dealers situated to handle the Class A chassis under the Workhorse brand. The ARI systems should help make sure the transition is smooth and trouble free since the ARI software is compatible with systems that the dealers have been using with General Motors," said Meyer.
    Meyer also said that Workhorse would be working to develop direct relationships with independent RV dealers, enabling the dealers to be authorized service centers for the Workhorse Class A motor home chassis. "We feel that dealers will be better able to serve customers by being able to work directly with Workhorse," Meyer said.
    Workhorse has licensed TradeRoute(tm), ARI's dealer communications software and EMPARTviewer(tm), ARI's electronic catalog viewing software for use by their dealers. In addition, Workhorse has licensed EMPARTpublisher(tm), ARI's electronic catalog creation software.
    "The large number of RV manufacturers that have selected ARI software makes the ARI system the logical selection for us," said Taitz. "There are definite benefits for us as a supplier to the RV industry as the number of producers and dealers using ARI systems expands. TradeRoute and EMPART have become the de facto standard for the RV industry, allowing dealers to communicate with multiple manufacturers through a single system."
    ARI has contracts with seven of the major RV manufacturers for complete dealer communications and electronic catalog creation and viewing systems. "Collectively, that means that over 1,100 dealers will be using ARI systems," according to Brian E. Dearing, ARI's chairman and chief executive officer. "That's nearly one-third of the RV dealers in the U.S."
    TradeRoute enables dealers to check parts availability, place parts orders, submit product registrations, submit warranty claims, and verify order or warranty claim status directly with the manufacturer, all without re-keying the information. The ARI system shortens the time it takes for a dealer's warranty claim to be paid.
    EMPARTpublisher enables manufacturers to create electronic catalogs and to structure and link catalogs, service manuals, engineering drawings and installation instructions into EMPARTviewer. EMPARTviewer enables dealers to view the information on their desktop computer.
    "ARI software brings additional value to Workhorse dealers because it can be integrated with dealers' internal business systems, like those used for inventory management, invoicing and accounting," according to Dearing. "Streamlining the administrative side of their business and being able to do multiple functions without re-keying the information can mean substantial time savings for dealers." The Workhorse dealer communications network is expected to be rolled out in mid-1999.
    ARI Network Services, Inc. provides Internet-enabled e-commerce services for manufacturers and their distribution channels. ARI currently serves the manufactured equipment, agribusiness, freight transportation and newspaper publishing industries. The Company's communications systems provide an electronic pathway for sales reports, product orders, warranty registrations and other transactions between manufacturers and their networks of sales and service points. ARI also builds and manages electronic commerce databases, including electronic parts catalogs and industry-common directories of products, companies and locations.