B2B Technologies Join Forces with Thrive Technologies to Build Innovative Supply Chain Web Services

Manufacturers and Distributors will Benefit from Rapid Integration with Enterprise Systems

ATLANTA, GA, October 23, 2001 - Thrive Technologies, a leading provider of supply chain planning solutions to mid-market manufacturers and distributors, and B2B Technologies, a leading provider of collaborative Internet applications, today announced a strategic alliance to jointly develop supply chain planning Web Services. Under the terms of the agreement, Thrive and B2B Technologies are working closely together to incorporate Microsoft .NET technologies into Thrive’s ClearDayTM suite for forecasting and replenishment planning.

The joint venture has already resulted in the creation of a forecast calculation component, the first of several components under development in the suite. The alliance leverages B2B Technologies’ expertise in supply chain Web application development, and Thrive’s ClearDay supply chain planning solutions, which have been used by many Fortune 500 companies including Whirlpool, Mead, and The Coca-Cola Company. The new ClearDay Web Service components make use of leading integration services including eXtensible Markup Language (XML), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), and Web Services Description Language (WSDL). By registering in the Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) directory, Thrive and B2B Technologies have made the Web Services easy to find and easy to implement, and because they’re built on the open standards of Web Services, they can be accessed and used from any computing platform.

"We believe that mid-sized companies with inventory planning issues need powerful solutions that are easily accessed and easily integrated with their other enterprise applications", commented Rick Morris, CEO and President of Thrive Technologies. "B2B Technologies has a strong background creating Web-based products for brand-name software companies. Additionally, we are embracing Microsoft’s .NET platform and Web Services, and B2B is a Microsoft Certified Partner with experience in these leading-edge technologies."

"We are very excited about this opportunity to leverage our leadership in deploying Microsoft technologies," says Frank Fuerst, President/CEO of B2B Technologies. "We are strong believers in the future of Web Services as one of the next great waves of innovation. The products and services we are developing with Thrive not only demonstrate the feasibility of the technology, they also provide outstanding practical solutions to real business problems, especially for mid-market enterprises."

About Thrive Technologies, Inc.
Thrive Technologies, Inc. is a leading innovator in the mid-market supply chain planning software space. By combining integration technologies with proven established supply chain planning software, Thrive provides a comprehensive yet approachable solution to mid-market companies who need to better control their inventory costs. With a history of products ranging back to 1983, Thrive provides their clients with an extremely quick ROI from greatly improved inventory efficiencies as well as the ability to provide better service to their own customers. For more information, visit Thrive on the Web at www.thrivetech.com.

About B2B Technologies
B2B Technologies is a privately held Internet consulting and development company specializing in business-to-business e-commerce and supply chain integration solutions. Its mission is to help companies improve their market position, revenues and profitability through the innovative application of Internet technologies.

B2B Tech’s customer base includes mid-market companies in the financial services, manufacturing, distribution, computer software and non-profit verticals. B2B Tech has a broad range of experience in e-commerce, information architecture, database management systems, ERP and Supply Chain Management, Knowledge Management, digital marketplaces, and systems integration. With these skills, B2B Tech can provide its customers with everything from strategic consulting through development and deployment.