Mitsubishi Executive Named Manugistics eVision Award Winner for 2000
18 April 2000
Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America Executive Named Manugistics eVision Award Winner for 2000
Greg O'Neill Recognized for Success Linking MMSA's North American Car
Dealerships Into Internet-Based Collaboration System
ROCKVILLE, Md., April 18 Manugistics Group, Inc.
(Nasdaq: MANU), a leading provider of eBusiness solutions that enable
intelligent decisions across trading networks, today honored Greg O'Neill,
senior vice president and general manager at Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America
(MMSA), with the company's 2000 eVision Award. O'Neill is the first recipient
of the annual award, which recognizes excellence in the implementation of
Manugistics intelligence for eBusiness trading networks. Under O'Neill's
guidance, MMSA linked all of its 526 North American car dealerships into a
Manugistics-powered Internet-based collaboration system.
The order-to-delivery solution, believed to be the first of its kind in
the North American auto industry, allows MMSA to develop a profile of each
dealership based on factors such as dealer geography, customer buying
patterns, product promotions, and sales seasonality. Dealers help refine these
profiles, which can be shaped to cover key issues, such as required materials
and lead times, to help dealers forecast how many vehicles they should order
to meet demand. Vehicle orders are then submitted by the dealers via the Web
to MMSA, enabling the distributor, its manufacturing plants, and its dealers
to track sales, shipments and orders with real-time data updates.
"I am truly honored to be named a Manugistics eVision Award Winner for
2000," said O'Neill. "MMSA's new order-to-delivery system, and the
extraordinary results it has already produced, would not have been possible
without a team-effort -- from the services provided by Deloitte Consulting, to
the countless additional hours put in by my dedicated team. All of these
people, and many more too countless to mention, share in this award."
Since going live in June 1999, the order-to-delivery solution has helped
slash collective vehicle inventory -- the number of cars MMSA and its dealers
have on the ground at any given time -- from a high of 80,000 units to less
than 40,000 units at the same time sales have increased almost 40 percent per
month. The average age of vehicles on dealer lots has also decreased, from 166
days down to 38 days, resulting in fresher, higher quality products reaching
customers.
In addition, vehicle lead times have decreased by more than 60 percent,
reducing port and distribution center inventories. Port stock has fallen from
45,000 units at the start of 1998 to zero today, creating millions of dollars
in savings for MMSA.
"Greg O'Neill exemplifies the type of Internet savvy, forward thinking
executive today's companies need to become more agile, and responsive to
customer demands," said Jim Kowalski, Manugistics' vice president of motor
vehicles and parts. "As demonstrated by MMSA, bottom-line success is
achievable using the power of intelligent Internet collaboration to create an
eBusiness trading network of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors that
communicate and execute in real time."
MMSA has also begun a pilot program designed to allow consumers to access
a Web site for self-directed guidance through the buying process, with final
price, payment, trade-in allowance, and financing information available in
about 20 minutes. Customers will be able to book a delivery date, and arrange
for vehicle pick-up at their local dealer. Web access to this same information
is also expected to be made available through kiosks located on the dealer
showroom floor so that customers can shift seamlessly from an Internet to a
showroom shopping experience whenever they choose during the buying process.
Ultimately, MMSA intends to provide end customers with access to the same
shipment and order information MMSA and its dealers now share.
About Manugistics, Inc.
Headquartered in Rockville, Md., Manugistics Group, Inc. is a leading
provider of eBusiness solutions that enable intelligent decisions across
trading networks. With more than 900 clients, Manugistics powers intelligent
decisions for profitable growth in leading companies such as Coca-Cola
Bottling, Compaq, DuPont, General Electric, Harley-Davidson, Hormel, Mobil,
Nestle, Timberland, Unilever, United Distillers and Vintners, and Wal-Mart.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT THE MANUGISTICS NEWSBUREAU HOTLINE AT
301-984-5330.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties that include, among others, Manugistics limited operating
history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential
fluctuations in quarterly operating results, competition, risks related to
quarterly performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential
growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business
combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that
potentially could affect Manugistics financial results is included in
Manugistics filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 1999 and Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended May 31, 1999, August 31, 1999, and
November 31, 1999.
Manugistics is a registered trademark, and the Manugistics logo and the
phrase "Leveraged Intelligence" are trademarks, of Manugistics, Inc. All other
product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only
and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Additional information about
Manugistics can be found at the company's site on the World Wide Web, at
http://www.manugistics.com.