INFOLINK - NEW WEB-BASED TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES REAL-TIME LINKS BETWEEN RETAILERS AND SUPPLIERS.

PR Newswire, London, June 13. This press release is transmitted on behalf of Manhattan Associates.

London -

Manhattan Associates, (Nasdaq: MANH), a global provider of technology-based fulfilment solutions, today announced details of InfoLink(TM), a new supply chain initiative that employs web-based technology to link retailers with their suppliers and provide end-to-end inventory visibility. Communication between retailers and their suppliers will be facilitated through XML technology and will allow for information to be transferred directly between suppliers' and retailers' systems. Microsoft is providing expertise in the XML document definition, based on the BizTalk(TM) Framework. The InfoLink initiative will help retailers enhance in-stock positions, reduce inventory and increase gross margins. Suppliers should benefit from improving their customer service capabilities, reducing operational costs and having a comprehensive integration strategy for emerging trading exchanges which are changing the way they do business.

US retailer, Federated Department Stores, Inc. (NYSE: FD) recently completed an InfoLink pilot programme, which enabled the transfer of order and shipment status information between three of the company's suppliers systems and its own in-house system using the Internet. The order status information shared through this solution, using XML, is more detailed than existing EDI transactions. Now that the pilot has been successfully completed, additional functionality is under development that includes features such as alert mechanisms when shipment conditions change, additional order status information and greater inventory visibility.

"Retailers need better shipment status information to improve merchandise flow and customer service," said Pete Longo, President of Federated Logistics and Operations, a division of Federated Department Stores. "Currently that information must be manually chased down from multiple points. This is frequently done over the 'phone and is extremely time consuming and often ineffective. This initiative will foster a collaborative trading community where retailers and suppliers can freely and easily exchange information."

"We believe the use of this technology will be a major step in the development of a comprehensive Internet-based solution that will allow for suppliers to meet external reporting requirements and allow retailers to receive the information directly into their systems," said Manhattan Associates Chairman and Founder Alan Dabbiere. "Manhattan Associates is working closely with Federated Department Stores to fully develop InfoLink as a standardised product that will link suppliers to their extended enterprise and enable collaborative information sharing."

Federated Department Stores, Inc.

Federated Department Stores, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation's leading department store retailers with annual sales of more than US Dollars 17.3 billion. Federated currently operates more than 400 department stores in 33 states under the names of Bloomingdale's, The Bon Marche, Burdines, Goldsmith's, Lazarus, Macy's, Rich's and Stern's. Federated also operates the Fingerhut, Bloomingdale's By Mail, bloomingdales.com, Macy's By Mail and macys.com direct-to-consumer catalogue and electronic commerce subsidiaries. For additional information, please visit www.federated-fds.com

Manhattan Associates

Manhattan Associates is a global provider of technology-based fulfilment solutions that enhance distribution efficiency by integrating all supply chain constituents, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, suppliers, infomediaries, trading exchanges, transportation providers and end consumers. The company's suite of products allows today's fulfilment operations to manage high order volumes, achieve 100% inventory and shipment accuracy and also meet the specialised demands of e-commerce customers. Manhattan Associates operates in six target markets: e-fulfilment, retail, apparel/footwear, consumer products manufacturing, food/grocery and third-party logistics. Founded in 1990, the company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and has European facilities in the UK and the Netherlands. Manhattan Associates has licensed more than 450 customers worldwide. For additional information, please visit www.manh.com .