MAPICS Selects Optimum Solutions As Certified Partner To Provide Enhanced Payroll And Human Resources Applications To MAPICS Customers

    ATLANTA--June 19, 2003--MAPICS, Inc. , the largest global provider of extended ERP, CRM and SCM solutions committed exclusively to solving the unique challenges of manufacturers, today announced that Optimum Solutions, Inc. ("Optimum") was recently added to its respected list of certified partners. The integration of MAPICS and Optimum products will extend the current capabilities of MAPICS' payroll and human resource functionality.
    Nashville-based Optimum is a global provider of payroll, human resources (HR), employee self serve, applicant tracking, and time and attendance software for companies using the IBM iSeries and Microsoft platforms. As a new member of MAPICS' Certified Partner Program, Optimum will deliver advanced payroll and HR solutions to MAPICS customers and prospects. Leveraging advanced functionality from Optimum against their existing investments in MAPICS will enable customers to more easily execute, manage and access payroll, benefits and HR data and processes.
    "As partners, MAPICS and Optimum share a common technology and support vision to deliver best-of-class solutions to our customers," said Kim Treaster, director of strategic alliances and partners for MAPICS. "Teaming with Optimum reinforces our commitment to empower customers with solutions that help them reach world-class levels of performance."
    MAPICS customers that choose to adopt the Optimum solution will be supported by MAPICS directly. MAPICS customer service has been highly rated for providing unparalleled support. In a January 2003 report, Forrester Research named MAPICS as providing the best ERP vendor experience among the 11 leading vendors analyzed.
    "Our payroll and HR processing technology and MAPICS' enterprise solutions are a great marriage, resulting in easier access, analysis and reporting of extensive employee information," said Bill Grainger, president for Optimum. "This winning combination will help organizations bring the difficult and often cumbersome tasks of payroll and HR record keeping under complete control."
    MAPICS and its certified partners are delivering solutions that include industry-specific business processes leveraging best practices gained from customers' experience. Through partnerships, MAPICS is making it possible to provide complementary, targeted solutions and bring them to market more quickly.

    About Optimum

    Optimum Solutions' customers are now processing over 10 million payroll checks annually throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and South Africa. Their customer base is very diverse, serving companies that range in size from small/medium businesses with fewer than 100 employees to large firms with more than 20,000 employees. Optimum Solutions' iSeries products are offered in both character and browser based interfaces. Optimum's Microsoft-based solutions utilize the .NET framework.
    For more information, call Glenda Dever at 800-489-6026 x2213 or you may visit www.optimum-solutions.com.

    About MAPICS

    MAPICS is the largest global solutions provider focused exclusively on manufacturing. Building on more than 25 years of industry experience and proven success, MAPICS helps manufacturers be world class by gaining market share, operating at peak efficiency, and exceeding customer expectations. MAPICS solutions include software--extended ERP, CRM, and supply chain management--and professional services. The solutions are implemented on the two industry-leading technology platforms--Microsoft and IBM.
    Headquartered in Atlanta, MAPICS has implemented solutions in more than 10,000 customer sites in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.mapics.com.
    MAPICS is a trademark of MAPICS, Inc.
    Pacejet and Pacejet Logistics are trademarks of Pacejet Logistics, Inc.
    Other brand and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
    Editor's Note: The correct usage of the MAPICS name is all capitals.
    Statements in this press release or otherwise attributable to the Company regarding the Company's business which are not historical facts, including those related to partner offerings, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "extend," "deliver," "enable," "vision," "commitment," "supported," "help" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, none of which can be predicted or anticipated. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company including, without limitation, relationships with our customers and business partners, the effect of fluctuations in the economy, the impact of competitive products and services, the availability of qualified resources, the ability to develop and enhance products, and other risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10K and other filings with the SEC. The company undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or otherwise.