Press Releases

Intuit's Eclipse Business Connect XML Creates Toll-free Trade Gateway for Distributors
Technology Gives Distributors More Flexibility to Trade Electronically With Customers and Partners
SHELTON, Conn. - September 08, 2004 - Intuit Inc.'s (Nasdaq: INTU) Distribution Management Solutions division today announced the release of Eclipse Business Connect XML. The new technology will benefit wholesale distributors by extending their reach to customers and vendors via a secure, online channel, enabling them to automatically process more inter-company transactions and improve customer satisfaction and partner relations.

Unique from existing interchange technologies such as electronic data interchange (EDI) value-added network (VAN) and portal solutions, Eclipse Business Connect XML offers a toll-free, real-time option for Web communications and commerce. As a result, Eclipse users can save money by eliminating EDI VAN and portal charges typical of other wholesale distribution management solutions.

"I've seen more customer interest in XML-based electronic trading over the past year than I've seen in the last five years combined. When one of our biggest customers decided to trade electronically, we immediately turned to IDMS because of the depth of industry experience the company offers and our successful track record working together," said Dave Cahill, vice president of Information Technology at Van Meter

Industrial, a 70-year-old industrial distribution firm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

"By using Eclipse Business Connect XML and eliminating costly VAN charges, we estimate we could save as much as $3000 per customer. Also, it could improve the quality of our service by enabling us to respond more quickly and provide real-time information on pricing and availability," added Cahill.

How it Works
Eclipse Business Connect XML is based on the extensible markup language, or XML, a flexible way to create standard information formats and share both the format and the data via the Web. XML lets disparate business systems share data and interact electronically. Eclipse Business Connect XML acts as a secure, electronic interchange from the Eclipse platform to and from vendors, customers, partners and e-marketplaces.

Extending and Improving Customer Reach
Eclipse Business Connect XML allows distributors a convenient, low-cost way to connect to customers. With the new technology, they can offer 24/7 ordering and purchasing capabilities to customers and suppliers. By receiving orders automatically and in real-time, distributors can process and deliver orders more rapidly than phone orders that must be keyed in and processed manually.

"Eclipse Business Connect XML exemplifies Intuit's customer-driven innovation approach by using customer feedback in the product development process to deliver significant advantages to distributors," said Sasan Goodarzi, Intuit vice president of Industry-Specific Businesses and president of Intuit Distribution Management Solutions. "Besides improving distributors' relationships and service to current customers, it also extends their reach, allowing them to compete on a worldwide scale."

Flexible Design to Fit Distributors' Needs
With Eclipse Business Connect XML distributors choose the type of interactions and configuration they prefer. Distributors can choose to trade via VAN, through an industry or private portal, or create direct trading partner connections without a portal or any associated fees. Also, using Eclipse Business Connect XML, distributors can seamlessly connect with the growing number of e-marketplaces through pre-built, pre- configured interfaces.

Availability
Eclipse Business Connect XML is available in September 2004. For information and pricing details please visit www.eclipse.intuit.com or send an email to info.eclipse@intuit.com.
 
About Intuit Inc.
Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small- and mid-sized businesses, consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax® software, simplify small business management and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit's leading tax preparation software suites for professional accountants.

Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of nearly $1.9 billion in its fiscal year 2004. The company has nearly 7,000 employees with major offices in 13 states across the U.S., and offices in Canada and the United Kingdom. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.
 
About Intuit Distribution Management Solutions
Intuit Distribution Management Solutions, a division of Intuit Inc., is a leading provider of business management software solutions for wholesale distributors in a number of market segments, including plumbing-heating-cooling-piping, electrical, building materials, industrial, janitorial, floor coverings and other durable goods supplies industries. Its flagship product, Intuit Eclipse, is a fully integrated, real-time enterprise resource planning system that offers wholesale distributors superior software that integrates accounting, order processing, inventory control, purchasing, price discounting, customer service and e-commerce.
 
Intuit and the Intuit logo, among others, are registered trademarks and/or registered service marks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries. Intuit Eclipse is a trademark of Intuit Inc. in the United States.