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Citrix Rolls Out Covast for EDI
Access Infrastructure Software Leader Goes “Live” with Covast and
Microsoft BizTalk Server to Handle Both EDI and XML Transactions
From Its Distributors ATLANTA and ROTTERDAM, Feb 17, 2004 -- Covast, provider of the recommended
electronic data interchange (EDI) solution for Microsoft Corp.'s BizTalk Server,
today announced that Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTXS), the global leader in
access infrastructure solutions, is currently rolling out a Covast- and Microsoft-enabled
e-commerce initiative to support its global distributor network.
Citrix selected the Covast EDI Accelerator to provide connectivity to its 120
distributors worldwide and to enable the exchange of EDI documents. Designed
chiefly to enable Citrix to handle electronic purchase orders from any of its
distributors, the system will ultimately process 80 percent of orders placed
by distributors and will allow Citrix to send electronic invoices and other
documents.
Covast was chosen in the third quarter of 2003 and testing was completed on
the Covast and Microsoft solution in late 2003. The system is currently being
implemented for Citrix's largest distributor Ingram Micro. All North American
distributors will be added to the system over the next 60 days, and international
distributors will be added beginning in the second quarter.
"We selected Covast to leverage the value of our existing BizTalk Server
infrastructure and because of Covast's unique relationship with Microsoft as
the company's recommended EDI solution provider," said John Gardiner, director
of business planning at Citrix Systems. "The system will allow us to increase
our own productivity as well as that of our distributors. It will also deliver
sizable cost savings to our company through greater efficiency."
Citrix engaged in business process reengineering to upgrade its manual process
for handling purchase orders. The challenge was to move from receiving orders
via fax and email to an all-digital system that enables real-time processing
of orders and product shipments.
The Covast EDI Accelerator in conjunction with Microsoft BizTalk Server provides
the technical foundation for this all-digital infrastructure, offering both
EDI functionality and support for XML transactions. The EDI Accelerator sits
on top of Citrix's existing solution for BizTalk Server, which interfaces with
its SAP enterprise resource planning solution.
"The worldwide systems integration initiative at Citrix was an ideal application
for the Covast EDI Accelerator," said Daan Scheer, CEO of Covast. "Through
Covast technology and Microsoft BizTalk Server, Citrix has deployed a first-class
EDI platform as well as a complete business-to-business trading environment
that will greatly reduce the cost of supporting its distributors on a worldwide
basis."
About Covast
Covast provides the Microsoft recommended EDI solution for BizTalk Server.
The combination of Microsoft BizTalk Server and the Covast EDI Accelerator delivers
the ultimate B2B solution -- enabling companies to easily integrate their EDI
infrastructures with internal applications and providing a gateway for connecting
trading communities. With its European headquarters in the Netherlands and its
U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, Covast has strategic relationships with partners
and customers including Microsoft, HP, Flextronics, Siemens, Grampian Foods,
SMI Steel and Oldcastle. For more information, visit www.covast.com.
NOTE: The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners. # # #
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