House2Home Drives B2B Connectivity With Supplier Incentives, Offers Free IPNet Software, Installation and Maintenance
For more information contact:
Amy Gray
IPNet Solutions Inc.
949-838-1016
agray@ipnetsolutions.com
IPNet Roll-out Services Enables Rapid Partner Adoption
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., May 29, 2001 — IPNet Solutions Inc., a provider of software that connects Global 2000 companies and their business partners, announced today it has teamed up with House2Home to help establish the new company’s Internet-based EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) supply chain program. In an effort to drive participation, House2Home is picking up the tab for IPNet eBizness Transact Lite, installation support and first-year maintenance for companies that pre-qualify based on type of transactions and number of SKU’s (Stock Keeping Unit).
The company plans to eventually send and receive 100 percent of its purchase orders (P.O.s), advance ship notices (ASNs) and invoices via EDI over the Internet. Currently, P.O.s for 80 percent of the company’s SKUs are transmitted electronically over a combination of transports including VANs (Value Added Network), AS1 and Web forms.
“Because quick deployment means faster cost savings for everyone, House2Home is taking this innovative approach and aiming to complete the first phase of its rollout by Aug. 30, 2001,” said Nick Brox, senior vice president of sales and marketing for IPNet. “This aggressive schedule is achievable because of IPNet’s rollout services team’s ability to rapidly deploy and implement its solutions throughout large exchanges.”
“With eBizness Transact Lite, only a few hours are required for installation, making it significantly faster than competitive alternatives,” said Glen Hamilton, manager of quick response for House2Home. “Additionally, eBizness Transact Lite integrates seamlessly into the trading partners’ current EDI processes, eliminating potential complications with their current transaction management processes. It will allow us to build efficiency into our House2Home supply operation right from the start.”
As part of the agreement between House2Home and IPNet, the two will use co-marketing tools such as direct mail, a webinar and telemarketing to help educate suppliers on the benefits of moving to the single electronic system.
The smaller, PC-based suppliers that House2Home is targeting for this initiative may already be using EDI to transact business, but unlike larger partners, EDI may not be an integral component of their overall enterprise systems strategy. eBizness Transact Lite takes standard EDI information and performs a number of functions. At the most basic level, the product can transmit EDI documents over various transport protocols, using any number of security and encryption algorithms, to the vendor. The vendor software decrypts data, checks it and passes it on to the vendor’s translator as normal EDI.
The agreement with House2Home includes rollout services provided by IPNet including assistance with education, training and marketing the program to all of House2Home’s trading community.
IPNet eBizness Transact is a component of IPNet eBizness Suite, an open, standards-based solution that enables trading partners to securely transact and collaborate in real-time throughout the supply chain. It provides transaction tracking, auditing and management and ensures reliable, secure communications.
eBizness Suite is the only offering that effectively addresses the connectivity and participation requirements of the entire supply chain, providing increased effectiveness and efficiency, and significant ROIs.
About House2Home
Spanning over 100,000 square feet, House2Home stores offer an expansive selection of specialty home décor products at value prices. With everything to beautify, accessorize and organize the inside and outside of your home, the store incorporates a unique mix of businesses in four specialty businesses under one roof:
Outdoor living: including patio furniture, Bar-B-Q, nursery and garden, outdoor lighting, fountains and other décor;
Indoor living: offering a wide selection of flooring, carpeting, lighting, window covering and selected furniture;
Home décor and accessories: with everything from tabletop, kitchen, storage, bedding and bath to candles, silks flowers, picture frames and variety of other decorative items;
Seasonal and party goods: with a vast array of specialty items for all seasons and almost every occasion, with customized balloon bouquets and party favors, as well as holiday merchandise.
HomeBase, Inc. is a retail company with HomeBase home improvement warehouses and House2Home home decorating superstores throughout the western United States. For more information on the company and its stores, please visit www.homebase.com.
About IPNet Solutions
IPNet Solutions Inc. connects Global 2000 companies and their business partners. Its open, flexible and scalable solutions support leading Internet standards, XML and EDI. IPNet allows business partners of any size to participate B2B initiatives by offering server, PC, Java-client and browser options. Its patented technology helps companies migrate risk-free from legacy systems to the Internet. Recent industry recognition includes UPSIDE Magazine’s “Hot 100 Private Companies,” Computerworld’s “Top 100 Emerging Companies to Watch in 2001,” Managing Automation’s “25 Emerging Companies to Watch,” American Electronics Association’s “Best Innovative New Product/Technology,” iSource’s “Top 100 Premier E-Procurement Providers” and RIS News’ “Top 50 Retail Software Vendors.” More information about the company can be found at www.ipnetsolutions.com or 866-476-3848 (866-IPNET4U).
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