EC Directions Conference Targets Specific Supply Chains; MISG User Group Meeting Developed for Automotive, Publishing, Battery, Plumbing, Heating Cooling and Piping Industries

22 December 2000
EC Directions Conference Targets Specific Supply Chains; MISG User Group Meeting Developed for Automotive, Publishing, Battery, Plumbing, Heating Cooling and Piping Industries
    RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 22 Management
Information Systems Group, Inc. (MISG) has announced it is launching EC
Directions 2001, a unique user group conference designed to bring new
technology solutions to specific markets.  The conference, scheduled for
March 18-20, 2001, in Atlanta, is supported by leading trade associations
representing the automotive and trucking, industrial, plumbing, heating,
cooling, piping, publishing and battery industries.
    Associations participating in EC Directions 2001 include the:

    *  American Booksellers Association,
    *  American Supply Association,
    *  Association of American Publishers,
    *  Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association,
    *  Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association,
    *  Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association,
    *  Battery Council International,
    *  Evangelical Christian Publishers Association,
    *  Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association,
    *  National Association of College Stores,
    *  Overseas Automotive Council, and
    *  Performance Warehouse Association.

    E-commerce, EDI and Internet solutions for supply chains will be presented
and discussed during the event, which will include customer and supplier panel
discussions to help attendees identify practical strategies that have worked
for others.  Invited attendees include those participating in one of the
listed industries or any client or potential client of MISG services,
including TransLink(TM), Direct Connect(TM), MISG/TRANSNET(R), ANSINET(R),
X.net(R), Pubnet(R), ASA ANSINET(R) and MISG Internet/Web Solutions.  In
addition, anyone needing to learn more about electronic commerce in general
will be interested in EC Directions.
    "We have established relationships with the leading trade associations,
and through our joint efforts and their strong support, we have become a
leading E-commerce provider in each industry," said Alan Jones, managing
director of MISG.  "Many supply chain issues in each of these industries are
similar, so bringing the markets together to discuss the latest E-commerce
trends and initiatives makes a lot of sense."
    Leading business and technology experts will present future trends during
EC Directions, including Jack Shaw, a recognized author and E-commerce
consultant; Dan Ferguson, Vice President and Manager of Faulkner & Gray EC
Research; and Jay Hutton, CEO of Voice Mobility.  Session topics include
online exchanges, XML, future of EDI, ASP (Application Service Provider)
models and supply chain management tools.
    Break-out sessions are scheduled for each industry to conduct meetings and
entertain presentations relative to their respective supply chains.  Sponsors,
which will be technology solutions providers, will set up exhibitor areas to
encourage interaction and provide information regarding the latest Internet,
EDI and E-commerce developments.  Sponsors include Manugistics and GE Global
eXchange Services.
    "We are supporting EC Directions because MISG has established itself as a
leading provider of EDI and E-commerce services and is enabling trading
communities to communicate critical data," said Jim Kowalski, Vice President
of automotive for Manugistics.  "This event is an excellent forum for the
exchange of ideas and issues between leaders in these industries, and we look
forward to playing a significant role in the event."
    Information regarding EC Directions 2001 is available at
http://www.ecdirections.com or info@ecdirections.com .
    MISG, headquartered in Research Triangle Park, N.C., is a leading supplier
of electronic commerce and EDI solutions, managed network systems and
software, trading community management and Internet services to the
automotive, industrial part, battery, plumbing, heating, cooling, piping and
publishing industries.  MISG's Internet-based services include Web site design
and hosting, development of E-commerce-enabled Web sites, Web-to-EDI-to-Web
application integration and management of industry-specific Web sites.

    Trademarks
    MISG/TRANSNET(R) and ANSINET(R) ASA ANSINET(R) are registered trademarks
of Management Information Systems Group, Inc.
    X.net(R) is a registered trademark of the Evangelical Christian Publishers
Association.
    Pubnet(R) is a registered trademark of Pubnet LLC.