---

Sterling Commerce Announces PC-Based EDI Solution

31 August 1998

Sterling Commerce Announces PC-Based EDI Solution for Auto Industry Suppliers

    Auto Industry Kit Supports Electronic Trading Needs of Automakers and
                            Their Trading Partners

    DETROIT, Aug. 31 -- Sterling Commerce , a leading
worldwide provider of electronic commerce (EC) value-added services and
software, today announced availability of a PC-based software and services
solution that streamlines electronic data interchange (EDI)-based
relationships between automakers and their suppliers.  The announcement was
made at the Auto Tech '98 conference and trade show in Detroit.
    The package features the 32-bit version of Sterling Commerce's
GENTRAN:Director Pro PC-based EDI message management and translation software,
plus customized, pre-formatted EDI documents that meet the trading
requirements of the Big Three automakers.
    The Sterling Commerce solution includes a full range of capabilities that
allow suppliers to exchange EDI documents with Ford, Chrysler and General
Motors efficiently and effectively, including:

    -- Simple, automatic importing of EDI trading partner profile information
       for each manufacturer, including addressing information and enveloping
       specifications

    -- EDI documents used by each of the three companies

    -- Internet-enabled communication scripts that allow suppliers to exchange
       EDI documents with manufacturers via Sterling's COMMERCE:Network, a
       direct connection, or connection via the Automotive Exchange Network
       (ANX)

    -- The Accum Tracking Extension, which helps suppliers accommodate auto
       manufacturer requests for year-to-date tracking of components shipped

    "This solution provides virtually everything an auto industry supplier
needs to exchange EDI standard information with any of the Big Three
automakers," said John Morris, industry sales manager for Sterling Commerce's
Commerce Services Group.  "The ability for users to automatically import the
required EDI configurations in just a few simple steps allows them to be up
and running with a trading partner in a matter of minutes."
    Sterling Commerce also offers an auto industry-specific integrated bar
code/advanced ship notice (ASN) solution in partnership with Bar Code
Solutions, a software development company specializing in the integration of
automotive ASN shipping information and inventory tracking systems.

    About Sterling Commerce
    Sterling Commerce is a leading global provider of business-to-business
electronic commerce software and value-added services.  The company is ranked
eighth on the Forbes Magazine list of the Best-Performing Small Companies in
America.  Software Magazine's 1998 annual Software 500 feature awarded
Sterling Commerce an Editor's Choice award and named it the number one E-
commerce company in its class.  Sterling Commerce has been providing
electronic commerce solutions for 20 years, and has 36 office locations and
more than 40 distributors worldwide.  Sterling Commerce had 1997 revenues of
over $350 million, and has more than 42,000 customers worldwide and 2,300
employees.  For more information, visit the Sterling Commerce Web site at
http://www.sterlingcommerce.com.
    The GENTRAN and COMMERCE suites of services and product names are marks of
Sterling Commerce, Inc.  Other product or company names mentioned herein are
used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
    This software has not been officially endorsed by Ford, Chrysler or
General Motors.