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UDEX and Heiler Software Partner to Offer the World's First Product Data Quality Solution for the Office Supply Industry

Posted on: Monday, 15 May 2006, 09:02 CDT

Consistent Product Data Quality will Help Retailers Improve Inventory Control and Sell More Office Supplies

UDEX, the world's leading provider of Product Data Quality (PDQ) software and services, and Heiler Software, a leading provider of electronic catalog management systems and content services for eProcurement, today announced a partnership resulting in the first combined product information management and product data quality solution designed specifically for the office supply industry. The joint solution has been developed on behalf of OPDEX, (the Office Product Data Exchange) (www.opdex.co.uk). The partnership will help UK and U.S. office supply retailers, distributors, wholesalers and dealers share and search an unprecedented volume of standardized product data in an efficient and timely manner.

The office products supply chain is extremely complex, making the communication of complete, accurate and consistent product data critical to efficient contact among all participants. Efficient communication is also becoming ever more important as advances in technology create an environment where customers expect rich search and compare functionality when ordering and ever quicker delivery once an order is placed. With the implementation of the UDEX and Heiler solutions as part of OPDEX, the combination of required functionality and quality of product data needed to reliably meet such expectations is now available.

"The OPDEX service has now implemented the combined Heiler and UDEX solution," said Keith Davies, chief executive, The British Office Supplies and Services Federation: Facilitators of the OPDEX system. "For the first time member companies have cost-effective access to a standards compliant, data quality solution which allows product information to be loaded, quality assured and structured in a consistent format for customers to take electronically into their systems. Thanks to this unique new solution, companies will now be able to save time and money by creating product data records once for multiple customers, improve online sales by providing complete and accurate product information, and produce catalogs faster and more accurately by pulling all product information from one consistent source."

The partnership between UDEX and Heiler Software provides companies in the office product industry with user-friendly search capabilities across hundreds of accurate data points per product, including images. These capabilities are also useable within each company, allowing sales, marketing, customer service, warehouse, and operations teams to access one central, complete data source holding everything from branding information and waste packaging data to marketing copy and images.

"UDEX's unique ability to continuously manage accurate product data across hundreds of product attributes is now officially supported by all Heiler Software products," said Greg Wong, CEO of Heiler. "With the combination of these two solutions, office supply companies will be able to reap the benefits of a comprehensive catalog management and content service for eProcurement filled with hundreds of quality assured product attributes per item."

"It is typical for 50% or more of a supplier's product information to contain serious data errors," said Ira Zalesin, chief executive officer of UDEX. "Our partnership with Heiler Software will provide companies in the office product industry the ability to easily search, find, and compare quality assured product data, enabling them to sell their products more effectively."

The Heiler Premium On Demand Platform consists of several modules including the Premium Business Catalog (PBC), the Premium Content Manager (PCM), the Premium Product Manager (PPM), eProcurement, and the recently announced Premium Supply Network (PSN).

About Heiler Software

Heiler Software Corporation is a leading provider of electronic catalog management systems and content services for eProcurement. Heiler Software offers comprehensive catalog management and content services for buyers and suppliers -- all from a single source. The exchange of information between buyers and suppliers and customers must be automated if eProcurement is to meet its objectives of improving efficiency while reducing the cost of products purchased. Premium Content Services from Heiler -- together with the company's Premium Product Manager (PPM), Premium Business Catalog (PBC) and Premium Content Manager (PCM) -- provide the optimal response to optimizing a customer's investment in B2B eCommerce.

About UDEX

UDEX, the world's leading provider of Product Data Quality (PDQ) software and services, offers proven solutions that provide retailers and suppliers with continuously accurate product data. UDEX customers comprise greater than 2000 of the world's most respected retailers and suppliers. The company is headquartered in the United Kingdom, with further offices in the United States. For more information, please visit the UDEX website at www.udex.com.

About The British Office Supplies & Services Federation (BOSS)

The BOSS (British Office Supplies and Services) Federation is the authoritative body for the UK office products industry. We are a non-profit making organisation and do not pursue any economic or political objectives of our own, concentrating our efforts on playing a strategic role in the support, promotion and protection of the office products industry. BOSS represents all businesses along the distribution chain in the office products industry, covering stationery, office machines and supplies, office furniture, office systems and related product areas.

The OPDEX project has been led by the BOSS Federation, following extensive cross industry consultation and via a working party representing all tiers of the supply chain. The service concept addresses the needs of both suppliers and distributors by sharing benefits and costs equitably across the supply chain, to create a true win-win situation.

For more information, visit www.bossfederation.co.uk

Source: Business Wire

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