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i2 User Group Plays Key Role in Software Company

Customers Help i2 Innovate, Stand Behind i2 Products and Services

ATLANTA - May 7, 2003 - The i2 User Group (i2UG), an international, non-profit organization consisting of 300 participating companies with thousands of users of i2 software, is playing an important role in software innovation and defining customer services for the flagship software company.   As a part of that effort, the User Group today announced the establishment of Solution Advisory Boards (SABs). These SABs have been formed to provide a formal platform for User Group Premier Members and i2 executives to exchange ideas on the strategic direction of i2 Technologies' solutions. In conjunction with these new boards, the i2UG has also made improvements to its enhancement voting process that gives members voting power to influence the direction of the i2 product roadmap.

The SABs are a collaborative "think tank" in which members discuss future challenges within their specific business lines. The SABs work from a two-to-three year timeline to address current and future i2 products and services. Participating in the SABs provides i2UG members with a unique opportunity to help influence i2's strategic vision, as well as build close, valuable relationships with other thought leaders from pioneering companies. i2 customers are eligible to join these SABs though Premier Membership in the i2UG.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to shape the future of global supply chain management, " said Gene Hunt, Chairman of the i2 User Group and Senior Member, Technical Staff at Texas Instruments, Inc.  "Each of our i2 User Group Members brings a wealth of knowledge and experience within their business sector and industry.   When you combine this expertise together into one advisory team, it results in a stronger, more unified vision, which can proactively change the course of SCM software products as well as influence the quality of products that we use in our businesses.  We feel this will quickly become a best practice within the supply chain software industry." 

i2 is encouraging the active role of the User Group across multiple functions in the company.   "The User Group represents our customer base of more than 1,000 of the world's largest companies," said Sam Nakane, i2 COO.   "Wouldn't any company dream to have a board of advisors comprised of that caliber of individuals and breadth of experience?   The i2 User Group is playing a critical role in our turn-around and our on-going growth in the market."

The inaugural SAB meetings are planned for i2 Planet 2003 on May 12 in Las Vegas. Members of the SABs have a voice in the following areas:

• Manufacturing and Supply Chain Optimization - This group influences product direction for factory management, manufacturing supply chains, and demand management.
• Service Optimization - The Service Optimization helps set the strategic product direction for service and parts management.
• Revenue and Profit Optimization - Members of this SAB assist i2 in shaping an emerging optimization area.
• Logistics Optimization - The Logistics Optimization SAB helps set the strategic product direction for transportation and distribution management.
• Spend Optimization - The Spend Optimization SAB influences the three-year product direction for the i2 Supplier Relationship Management product suite, which includes functionality for component and supplier management, spend analysis, supplier performance measurement, negotiation, procurement, contract management, and product or program sourcing.
• Supply Chain Operating Services - This SAB is dedicated to outlining the key technologies that are the building blocks of the i2 Supply Chain Operating Services design and for providing a forum for discussion on EAI, ETL, data management, and business process execution technologies.
• Onsite-Offshore Services - This SAB helps forge a three-year strategy and mid-term goals for i2's onsite-offshore model offering, which helps enable customers to maintain their operations in a smooth and consistent manner, while reducing costs.

Enhancement Voting Process a Best Practice in Industry

The i2UG also announced improvements to its enhancement voting process to give customers direct input into the i2 strategic planning and product development process. The enhancement voting process is the primary avenue for requesting i2 product enhancements and helps assist i2 in prioritizing future developments and direction of i2 products. The new voting process gives all i2 customers an allotted number of votes based on maintenance paid. Additional votes are given to i2UG and enhancement subcommittee members. The result of this year's vote, including how the i2 product roadmap will be impacted, will be announced at i2 Planet 2003 in Las Vegas.

In addition, the i2UG announced the formation of three new special interest groups (SIGs), groups consisting of i2 users who share a common interest such as industry, technology or product family.   Currently, there are 14 SIGs including aerospace and defense, business optimization, SRM products, automotive and industrial, computer and electronics, consumer packaged goods, retail, soft goods, e-procurement, logistics, transportation and fulfillment, metals, semiconductor, and supply chain strategist.

The i2UG has an active membership representing companies in industries around the globe. The organization has added dozens of new member companies in the last year, and continues to expand with affiliate organizations in Europe, Japan and Asia. These new members cross several geographic regions and a variety of industries, including consumer goods and retail, high-tech, metals/process, distribution/transportation, aerospace & defense, automotive company, healthcare and public sector companies and organizations.

About i2 User Group

The i2UG, based in Atlanta, GA, is an internationally active, nonprofit organization representing the collective interests of member users of business software applications marketed by i2 Technologies, Inc. The organization gives members access to i2 product users, industry experts, third-party software firms and i2 Product Managers to share experiences and provide solutions to the challenges users face during implementations, upgrades or everyday use of i2 products.

For more information, visit the i2 User Group at http://www.i2-usergroup.org .

Media Contact:

Eva M. Duvall
Association Manager
i2 User Group
c/o Meeting Expectations
415 East Paces Ferry Rd., Ste. 500
Atlanta, GA 30305
P: +1 404-240-0999 ext. 255
F: +1 404-240-0998
eduvall@meetingexpectations.com
i2UG@meetingexpectations.com

 

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