Activant Solutions Introduces Prophet 21 version 12.0

Enhanced User Interface Drawing Rave Reviews

Activant Solutions Inc. announces the availability of Activant® Prophet 21® software version 12.0.

"Before we began writing code for Prophet 21 version 12.0, we did an in-depth analysis of industry trends, including having extensive conversations with our customers, to determine what features to include," said Kevin Roach, executive vice president of Activant. "Our goal with this release of the Prophet 21 software is to help distributors increase efficiencies in their business, helping them through this recession so they will be positioned to take advantage of the opportunities expected to arise during the economic recovery."

Currently more than 1,500 distributors have invested in Prophet 21 software, making it a leading enterprise software solution for the distribution industry. Prophet 21 version 12.0 builds upon existing functionality and is designed to further assist distributors increase sales, improve customer service and reduce operating expenses. Among the many features in Prophet 21 version 12.0 is an enhanced user interface.

"There are a lot of great features in Prophet 21 version 12 that allow us to streamline our processes," said Michael Dean, IT Manger for Power & Pumps Inc. in Jacksonville, FL. "The search bar and my menu options improve our workflow and make it easier to move through the system."

Jennifer Buschmann, president of EA Buschmann Inc. in Lewiston, ME, agrees: "The updated user interface has a lot of potential for the user to customize screens to fit the individual user’s specific needs," she said. "The extended description view and field chooser features are two features we are extremely excited to have."

Many Valuable Features

In addition to the enhanced user interface, new customer relationship management (CRM) tools provide ready access to information, allowing users to streamline their day-to-day processes while improving customer service.

Attributes of the Prophet 21 software's production order and secondary processing functions have been combined into a labor tracking, job costing process that provides true light manufacturing capabilities. Distributors may assign technicians, track labor costs, and issue necessary material through a series of processes that manage the entire production process, whether the manufacturing stages are completed by the distributor or a third party.

The Wireless Warehouse Management Solution (WWMS) Workbench capability is designed as a tool for the warehouse manager/supervisor to dynamically manage the flow of transactions within their warehouse operation. The workbench is a dynamic list of transactions ready to pick that can be sorted, grouped and moved about in an ad hoc manner. Transactions at the top of the list can be quickly pushed to an available employee. Other warehouse tasks are also displayed and sorted by a user-defined hierarchy and can be pushed to the employee in the warehouse in accordance with that hierarchy. Also, the workbench feature has the capability of dynamically creating group pick tickets, providing a command and control tool for dynamic management of the warehouse picking workload, and providing the capability to push higher priority tasks to available “picking” employees while organizing and balancing usual pick loads. This feature increases the visibility of pickers' tasks, their progress, and their overall performance.

Further enhancing the international capabilities of the Prophet 21 software, Activant has added multi-lingual functionality which allows users to dynamically translate terms used throughout the application. This feature helps increase user productivity by enabling them to use the system in their native language.

To find out more about the Prophet 21 software, visit distribution.activant.com, e-mail distribution@activant.com, or call 1-800-776-7438, press 1.

About Activant Solutions Inc.

Activant Solutions Inc. ("Activant") is a leading technology provider of business management solutions serving retail and wholesale distribution businesses in three primary vertical markets: hardlines and lumber; wholesale distribution; and the automotive parts aftermarket. Founded in 1972, Activant provides customers with tailored proprietary software, professional services, content, supply chain connectivity, and analytics. More than 30,000 customer locations use an Activant solution to manage their day-to-day operations. Activant has operations throughout the United States and Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

For more information, please visit distribution.activant.com.

Activant Introduces Automated Backup Solution (ABS) For Prophet 21

Activant Solutions Inc. introduces Automated Backup Solution (ABS) for Activant Prophet 21™. ABS provides real-time, off-site data backup storage in Activant's secure location.

"Even more than inventory, the data gathered by a distributor's enterprise software solution is the most valuable asset in their business," stresses Steve McLaughlin, senior vice president and general manager of Activant. "Inventory can be replaced, but contact information, order history, accounts receivable information, etc. is irreplaceable if lost or damaged. Backing up data should be as constant as breathing out and breathing in."

"Unfortunately, the daily backup of data can easily be forgotten among all the other things going on in a distributor's business. What is more, backup is only half the challenge; keeping those backup copies in a safe location off-site is the key to recovery when disaster strikes. That is why Activant now offers automated data backup for Prophet 21 users."

Private and Protected

Coupled with your standard backup procedures, ABS provides the first step in your business continuity plan. All you need is a supported VPN device. Activant takes care of the rest.

With ABS, every time a user enters an order or updates the general ledger, the transaction is automatically updated at Activant's secure site. There, the data remains protected and private until needed. Then it can be restored to the distributor's server or uploaded to a production site.

Data When You Need It

No one can predict when disaster will strike. Even distributors who don't live in a region where natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, or earthquakes are a regular threat, something as simple as a lightening strike to the warehouse or someone inadvertently spilling coffee on the server can cripple a business until data can be accessed again.

ABS makes it easy for distributors to keep their businesses running without missing a beat. One call to Activant's support team will get them back in touch with their data and ready to service customers.

Pricing and Availability

Activant ABS is now available. For more information, contact Activant at 1-800-776-7438, visit http://distribution.activant.com , or e-mail distribution@activant.com.

About Activant Solutions Inc.

Activant Solutions Inc. ("Activant") is a leading technology provider of business management solutions serving retail and wholesale distribution businesses in three primary vertical markets: hardlines and lumber; wholesale distribution; and the automotive parts aftermarket. Founded in 1972, Activant provides customers with tailored proprietary software, professional services, content, supply chain connectivity, and analytics. More than 30,000 customer locations use an Activant solution to manage their day-to-day operations. Activant has operations throughout the United States and Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

For more information, please visit www.activant.com.

Mincron Is Acquired By Briarcliff Solutions Group

Briarcliff Solutions Group, LLC (BSG) announced that its acquisition of Mincron SBC Corporation was completed on Friday, December 21st, 2007.

Based in Houston, Mincron is a premier supplier of distribution and warehouse software solutions for clients such as Groupe Deschenes, HD Supply Waterworks, Beacon Sales Company, Baker Distributing Company, Gemaire Distributors, Ryan Herco Flow Solutions, Intermatic and Central Supply Company.

Mincron will remain an independent business based in Houston. The new ownership will build on recent trends of strong revenue growth and will aggressively invest in software product development to achieve even greater levels of client satisfaction.

"BSG was impressed with the strength and quality of Mincron's people and client base," stated Paul Lightfoot of Briarcliff Solutions Group, LLC, who was named the Chief Executive Officer of Mincron. "We are excited to improve the ability of our software solutions to improve the profitability of our clients."

"Mincron's management team is looking forward to working with Paul," stated Wendy Berger, Vice President of Mincron. "And we are pleased to be joining BSG, an organization with similar values and with a track record of success in the marketplace."

About Mincron

Mincron Software Systems, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a leading provider of innovative, high value software and business service solutions to wholesale distributors, logistics companies and other businesses requiring tightly integrated enterprise software solutions. In addition to its ERP software, Mincron offers Web Commerce running under WebSphere, EDI, work order fabricating, light manufacturing and warehouse management software. For more information, visit Mincron online at http://www.mincron.com/.

About BSG

BSG owns and operates businesses that provide software solutions in the supply chain. In the spring of 2007, BSG acquired AL Systems (http://www.alsystems.com/), a provider of integrated software solutions that improve the flow of merchandise through distribution centers. In December of 2007, BSG acquired Mincron SBC Corporation, which develops, markets and supports best-of-breed ERP, warehouse management and related software systems applications to a broad base of hardgoods distributors. BSG is a client-centric business focused on profitable organic and acquisitive growth in the supply chain software market.

About Paul Lightfoot

Before co-founding BSG, Paul Lightfoot was the CEO of AL Systems, which provides clients with integrated software solutions that improve the flow of merchandise through distribution centers. AL Systems' clients include Urban Outfitters, Simon & Schuster, Pacific Sunwear, Modell's Sporting Goods, Mervyns, Talbots and Men's Wearhouse. AL Systems has been recognized as a 2007 "Top 100 Logistics IT Provider" by Inbound Logistics magazine and was included in Apparel magazine's 2007 "Top 50 Software Scorecard."Paul joined AL Systems in the fall of 2001. Under Paul's leadership, revenue and margins have increased dramatically and consistently. In addition, AL Systems has become recognized by the trade media and leading consultants as the "go to" vendor for solutions that improve the flow of merchandise through distribution centers.