WWRE and viaLink Formalize Alliance to Enhance Synchronized Trading Relationships for the CPG and Retail Industry
Exchange will use viaLink`s syncLink for trading in North America; cites
speed
to value and billions in quantified supply chain cost savings as key
benefits
Alexandria, Virginia and Dallas, Texas - November 12, 2001 - The WorldWide
Retail Exchange (WWRE), the premier business-to-business exchange for
retailers and suppliers, today announced the signing of a definitive
agreement with The viaLink Company (Nasdaq: VLNK), the first of several
preferred partners for data synchronization services. viaLink will provide
advanced, commerce-level data synchronization services to WWRE members and
their trading partners.
"As the marketplace leader for advanced, commerce-level data
synchronization, no other solution provider came close to matching
syncLinkSM functionality," said Peter Jueptner, chief commercial officer of
the WWRE. "This alliance is an important step towards delivering on the
WWRE`s commitment to eliminate billions of non-value added cost from the
supply chain. Bottom-line, our members and their trading partners can begin
to realize tangible cost savings today by accessing real-time product, cost
and promotional data. viaLink offers an enhanced level of collaboration and
expands our catalog services from base-item to commerce-level data."
viaLink pioneered, and first deployed in 1996, the application of advanced,
commerce- level data synchronization to the CPG and retail industry. The
company`s core service, syncLink, creates commerce "data of record" for each
and every product, cost and promotion in a trading relationship. Suppliers,
distributors and retailers then use "data of record" as the basis for
accurately executing their commerce transactions electronically.
"viaLink also extends WWRE`s value by solving for the inherent complexities
of the multi-tier distribution models like DSD," stated Don Norman, chief
information officer for the WWRE. "viaLink`s capabilities are a key
component of our global catalog solution and are also foundational to
several advanced supply chain solutions, like collaborative planning,
forecasting and replenishment."
"Walgreens is encouraged by this agreement because it executes against the
founding vision of the WWRE," said John Gleeson, the Vice President of
Corporate Strategy for Walgreens. "The Exchange is providing a proven,
standards-based approach to product, cost and promotion that will enhance
collaboration between WWRE retailers and their suppliers."
"viaLink is pleased to have earned WWRE`s full support to accelerate the
deployment of syncLink. Together, we are committed to create and sustain
the critical mass of synchronized trading relationships necessary to the
success of collaborative commerce," stated Bob Noe, viaLink`s president of
consumer packaged goods and retail.
About viaLink
The viaLink Company (Nasdaq: VLNK) is a leading supply chain management
company providing business-to-business electronic commerce services that
enable bricks and mortar companies to manage their highly complex supply
chain information. viaLink`s core service, syncLinkSM, allows
manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, sales agencies (food brokers),
retailers and foodservice operators to communicate and synchronize product,
cost and promotion information in a more cost-effective and accessible way
than has been possible using traditional electronic and paper-based methods.
The viaLink Partner Package is a suite of advanced e-commerce services,
which give trading partners visibility into product movement through the
supply chain and enable more collaborative business processes. These
services include clearLinkSM, promoLinkSM, honor check-in and sbtLinkSM.
For more information, visit viaLink`s website: www.vialink.com.
About the WWRE
The WWRE is the premier Internet-based business-to-business exchange in the
retail e-marketplace. The Exchange was created with the fundamental purpose
of reducing costs and improving efficiencies throughout the supply chain,
employing product and service solutions typical of a global procurement and
supply operation. Designed to facilitate and simplify trading between
retailers, suppliers, partners and distributors, the WWRE currently consists
of 59 retail members from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South
America with combined sales of over U.S. $845 billion. To date, the WWRE has
saved its members over $212 million through the use of online negotiations,
its first product offering. For more information, visit the website at
www.wwre.org or www.worldwideretailexchange.org
Laura Battle
Edelman Worldwide
Ph. 312.233.1374
Fx. 312.240.2906
laura.battle@edelman.com
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