IDS Interfaces Its Business Management Software With ARI's Traderoute; Interface with System Favored by Big Dealers Adds to ARI's RV Industry Presence

    MILWAUKEE--May 17, 2001--ARI Network Services, Inc. , a leading provider of Partner Relationship Management (PRM) and business-to-business (B2B) Internet e-Commerce solutions that connect equipment manufacturers with their service and distribution networks, announced that Integrated Dealer Systems (IDS), a major supplier of RV dealer business management systems, has completed an interface of its business management software with ARI's TradeRoute(R) dealer communications software.
    IDS of Pickering, Ontario, Canada provides dealer business management systems to RV and marine equipment dealers throughout the US and Canada.
    "IDS has completed an interface to TradeRoute, written especially to support Fleetwood's customization of the software," said Brian E. Dearing, chairman and chief executive officer of ARI. "Adding IDS as an active COMPASS Partner means that our dealer communications and electronic catalog software will interface with the majority of the business management systems in use today in the RV business." ARI's COMPASS Partner program supports strategic partnerships with over 100 companies that supply internal systems to dealers and manufacturers in the recreation vehicle, marine and outdoor power industries.
    The business management systems interface streamlines the administrative aspects of an RV dealership by eliminating re-keying of data and allowing their dealer business system to exchange data seamlessly with suppliers. The interface enables dealers to integrate the functions of their business system software, such as inventory, invoicing and accounting, with the parts ordering, product registration and warranty claims functions of TradeRoute and the electronic parts and service information provided by EMPARTviewer(TM). "Dealers will be able to devote more time to sales and customer service and less time to record keeping functions," said Dearing.
    "Because ARI works with six major manufacturers and over 1,500 dealers in the RV industry, virtually every dealer can benefit from the interface between its business system software and ARI's popular TradeRoute and EMPARTviewer software," said Dearing.
    Fleetwood Enterprises, a leading manufacturer of recreation vehicles, feels similarly about the advantages of having the systems mesh. "Since approximately 30% of Fleetwood's larger dealerships use the IDS business management system, having an interface with TradeRoute is a major advantage for Fleetwood and our dealers because of the many process efficiencies that come with interfacing," according to John Crowe, director of parts and service for Fleetwood's Motor Home Division. Fleetwood manufactures nearly one in three new RVs on the road today under 30 different nameplates through a retail channel that is 1,200 dealers strong.
    Mark Mueller, president and CEO of IDS, says that Fleetwood Enterprises' support of the interface project will result in a strategic step forward for the whole industry. "Due to the growth of e-Commerce in the RV industry, and the tremendous potential for cost savings, providing an interface between ARI's software and the IDS' Astra system is a real boost for productivity and customer service for the entire RV industry. When the dealer's business management software is interfaced with ARI's software, time consuming tasks such as purchase orders, warranty claims and vehicle registrations will occur automatically, freeing up valuable employee time and reducing paperwork," says Mueller.

    ARI Network Services, Inc. is a leading provider of PRM/e-Commerce solutions for sales, service and life-cycle product support in the manufactured equipment market. ARI currently serves over 100 manufacturers and 20,000 dealers in more than 100 countries in 12 segments of the worldwide manufactured equipment market including outdoor power, recreation vehicle, floor maintenance, auto and truck parts aftermarket, powersports, marine and construction. The Company builds and supports a full suite of multi-media electronic catalog publishing and viewing software for the Web or CD. ARI communications systems provide a global electronic pathway for parts orders, product registrations, warranty claims and other transactions between manufacturers and their networks of sales and service points. ARI currently operates three offices in the United States and one in Europe and has sales and service agents in Australia, England and France providing marketing and support of its electronic catalog and dealer communications products.