New Version of TimeTrends® Forecast Warehouse Software Raises the Bar on Ease-of-Use and Automation

Montreal, Quebec, March 5, 2001

ALT−C Systems Inc. announces the general availability of Version 3.0 of its TimeTrends Forecast Warehouse - a comprehensive Windows-based, ODBC-compliant forecasting and demand management software system. TimeTrends 3.0 features several new enhancements and capabilities that have been added to an already comprehensive list of tools to easily create, display, forecast and understand time series demand data for products in the manufacturing and distribution industries. Highlights include a new batch scripting and redundant task automation feature, an innovative event-driven forecasting methodology, as well as enhanced graphing and visualization capabilities.

"The fact of the matter is that everyone in the business forecasting community can benefit from improved productivity and more robust processes," said Dennis Christman, President of ALT−C Systems Inc. "What we have done in this release of TimeTrends is to identify where we could maximize the added benefits over and above our already strong forecast management offering."

Through the addition of a command-line interface, TimeTrends 3.0 now maximizes the value-added component of the interactive user's work by enabling them to focus specifically on the portions of their activities that benefit from user input. Repetitive tasks such as periodic data updates, re-forecasting and re-aggregation can now be scripted and processed in exactly the same way every time - without the need for manual user intervention.

The TimeTrends 3.0 forecasting system now gives the forecaster an unparalleled technique to easily and intuitively create and apply custom event profiles to their demand forecasts. This new technology is designed for the organization which forecasts on a weekly basis and has a significant portion of its demand tied to specific events or holidays which do not always fall within the same week of the year, such as Easter, Thanksgiving or Back-to-School.

TimeTrends now contains a novel graphing technique that enables the forecaster to effectively view the year-by-year trend of their historical data as well as the results of their actions. This unique approach also gives the user a straightforward, visual method to assess the impact of the seasonal component of their data, and is readily available from anywhere in the user interface.

The TimeTrends Forecast Warehouse features a highly intuitive user interface, as well as a great degree of flexibility that enables users to customize the system to their requirements. In addition, an unlimited number of hierarchies, each with unlimited levels, enable users to view the data from their preferred perspective, in the units of measure of their choice. TimeTrends also features a powerful built-in querying capability that enables forecast 'management by exception' to help the user focus on the forecasted items that require immediate attention. TimeTrends runs on Windows 95/98 and Windows NT/2000 and can be easily integrated into any existing management system (SCP, MRP, ERP) through industry standard Open DataBase Connectivity (ODBC).

The TimeTrends Forecast Warehouse is the main component of
ALT−C's TimeTrends Forecasting System. The system also includes an optional TimeTrends e-Forecasting module-designed for Sales Force Automation and Collaborative Forecasting environments, and an optional Promotions module-designed to facilitate managing the forecasting process when the effect of promotional activity is the most significant aspect of demand.

TimeTrends Forecast Warehouse Version 3.0 is currently available directly from ALT−C, and through its reseller network. Pricing for the TimeTrends Forecasting System varies based on the number of licensed users and modules required with turnkey solutions starting at $30,000.

Founded in 1992, ALT−C Systems Inc. is a leader in developing advanced business forecasting software systems for mission-critical manufacturing, distribution and sales force automation environments. The company is dedicated to providing a technologically robust business forecasting solution that enables companies to create a comprehensive forecasting process-including statistical, market-driven, collaborative and S&OP-that is specifically tailored to their unique business needs. ALT−C's TimeTrends® Forecasting System is today setting new industry standards in ease-of-use, versatility and open systems-compliant data management and processing architecture, and is in use in many industries including automotive, beverage, chemical, consumer goods, electronics, food, pharmaceutical and more. ALT−C distributes its products via a direct sales force as well as an international network of Value Added Resellers (VARs).

For more information about ALT−C Systems or its products, contact the company at: