ARTS and AfterBOT Announce Collaboration on Digital Receipt Technology

Guide to E-Commerce Technology

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- The Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS), a division of The National Retail Federation (NRF), and AfterBOT Inc., an Atlanta, Georgia based company, announced today a collaborative effort to increase the adoption and use of the Digital Receipt Schema released by the ARTS IXRetail Group earlier this year. The IXRetail schema details the purchase information necessary to create an atomic-level marketing database which provides secure, unique views of the data across the retailer`s extended enterprise, enabling access both internally and externally to their employees, suppliers and consumers.

Using the ARTS IXRetail digital receipt standard, AfterBOT developed and implemented the first successful digital receipt solution at Smart & Final Stores, Inc. in June, 2002. Smart and Final, a 241-store warehouse grocery retailer based in Commerce, CA, anticipates significant savings from its implementation of AfterBOT`s Retail InSIGHT Management(TM) solution.

AfterBOT currently has a patent pending for the full functionality of their ReceiptsPLUS(TM) application, the enabling technology behind a suite of post-sales consumer service and marketing initiatives. Both AfterBOT and ARTS are committed to expand the use of digital receipts throughout the retail industry and have agreed that if AfterBOT is granted this patent:
* AfterBOT will use the ARTS digital receipt schema and acknowledges that all ownership rights to this standard format belong to ARTS.
* ARTS and AfterBOT will cooperate in maintaining and promoting the adoption of the ARTS XML Digital Receipt Schema.

"We are very pleased to be working with the NRF and ARTS on this initiative. We believe the adoption of the digital receipt infrastructure is a key first step in revolutionizing the way retailers and suppliers communicate with the consumer after the sale," commented Jim Nadler, Vice President Marketing and Business Development at AfterBOT. "This enhanced consumer service will enable early adopters of this technology to improve customer service and begin the process of building top-line growth."

Richard Mader, Executive Director ARTS said, "AfterBOT has played a key role in the development and release of the digital receipt schema. The program implemented at Smart and Final has demonstrated the potential of Digital Receipt technology to improve many areas of the retail enterprise. We are pleased that AfterBOT selected the ARTS Digital Receipt and will be working to promote this standard as a strategic retail industry initiative."

AfterBOT`s Retail InSIGHT Management(TM) combines technology and professional services to provide a comprehensive business management solution driving top and bottom line growth through a variety of customer, marketing and business services. AfterBOT was founded in 2000 and is privately held. AfterBOT`s investors include Chrysalis Ventures, River Cities Capital Funds, Prosperitas Investment Partners, and e-RM Ventures. For more information visit http://www.afterbot.com/.

The Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS), a division of the National Retail Federation, is a retailer-driven membership organization dedicated to creating an international, barrier-free technology environment for retailers. ARTS was established in 1993 to ensure that technology works to enhance a retailer`s ability to develop store level business solutions and avoid situations that limit a retailers` ability to implement change while providing industry standards designed to provide greater value at lower costs.

CONTACT:
National Retail Federation
+1-202-783-7971
Scott Krugman
krugmans@nrf.com

Ellen Tolley, tolleye@nrf.com

Sonya Ruppel or Alex Armstrong
AfterBOT Inc.
+1-770-564-5554
sruppel@afterbot.com