Re Alliance
Sopheon PLC
27 June 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 27 June 2001
SOPHEON PLC
SOPHEON AND ARTHUR D. LITTLE FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
- TOTAL OF 8 NEW MARKETING AND IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS SIGNED
Sopheon plc ('Sopheon'), the international knowledge management software and
services company, today announces an agreement with Arthur D. Little ('ADL')
under which the two firms will partner in introducing and implementing
Sopheon's Accolade solution for new product development.
The agreement is one of eight announced today by Sopheon under its new Valued
Industry Alliance (via) Program, an initiative that will link the company to
top technology-solution consultants, implementers and resellers throughout the
world.
'We're especially pleased to be able to launch the Sopheon viaProgram with a
firm of Arthur D. Little's stature,' said James Macfarlane, Sopheon's vice
president of business development. 'ADL's international reach and
best-of-class technology and process expertise are perfectly suited to our
goal of engaging partners who can extend the client base for our solutions, as
well as add significant value at every stage of deployment.'
Sopheon's viaProgram focuses on the marketing and implementation of a current
set of three technology-based offerings:
* Accolade, an automated version of the widely used Stage-GateTM product
development process;
* Teltech.com, an award-winning Web-based research portal for technical
and business professionals; and
* Internal Expert Network, a turnkey solution that allows workers within
an organization who have questions to easily find colleagues with answers.
Robert D. Shelton, Vice President of Arthur D. Little, commented that the
affiliation with Sopheon supports ADL's emphasis on helping clients integrate
technology-based solutions into their overall business strategies. 'We choose
our partners very carefully,' Shelton said. 'ADL's interest in teaming with
Sopheon is based on our judgement that their success in blending technology,
content and human expertise has resulted in products that are exceptional in
their ability to strengthen business processes, cut costs and improve the
return on investments in intellectual capital. We believe that Accolade
represents an important step forward in new product development, and we're
looking forward to enabling our clients to take advantage of its many
benefits.'
Sopheon's viaProgram includes eight categories for companies and associations
that qualify. The three primary program categories are:
* Implementation Services Alliance, for organizations - exemplified by
Arthur D. Little - that offer comprehensive, high-quality services to support
implementation of Sopheon's services for Sopheon's clients or the partners'
clients.
* Certified Product Consultant, for organizations with advanced know-how
in specific process areas that are interested in building their practice by
introducing Sopheon solutions to their clients and subsequently guiding the
effective implementation of those solutions.
* Value Added Reseller, for organizations that market, sell and support
Sopheon's solutions.
Additional strategic alliances signed :
In addition to its contract with Arthur D. Little, Sopheon has signed
agreements with an international mix of seven other firms that have
distinguished themselves as innovative, quality providers of business process
solutions and services. They are :
In the U.S.:
DRM Associates, a management consulting and training firm that specializes in
the application of best practices to new product development. Based in
California.
yet2.com, the cross-industry global marketplace that enables the exchange of
technology on the Internet. Based in Massachusetts.
In The United Kingdom:
IDC (Integrated Development Consulting), an engineering consultancy that
specializes in supporting new product development within manufacturing process
industries.
In Germany:
Aixonix, a developer and implementer of Web-based systems whose capabilities
include compilation and preparation of content for transfer via intranets and
extranets.
In The Netherlands:
MiQ, a consulting firm that focuses on the implementation of best practices
and solutions related to innovation and new product development.
Human Connection, services company that supports business process improvement
with expertise ranging from software selection and implementation to
organizational development.
In Denmark:
Innovation Management U3, a consulting group that specializes in the provision
of solutions, research and training in support of innovation and new product
development.
About Arthur D. Little
Arthur D. Little is one of the world's premier technology and consulting firms
working at the interface of business and the technologies that drive
innovation and growth. Drawing on its unique blend of knowledge and hands-on
experience across global industries, the firm collaborates with its clients to
develop significant breakthroughs in practices, products, and processes that
lead to dramatic growth and the creation of new value. For more information,
please visit www.adlittle.com.
About Sopheon
Sopheon (LSE:SPE), which last year merged with Minneapolis-based Teltech
Resource Network Corporation, is an international provider of information and
knowledge solutions that enable companies to more efficiently access internal
and external information and turn it into the knowledge to compete. Sopheon's
experience in integrating information process and content is the foundation
for a unique combination of pre-loaded, industry-specific software
applications, expert services and specialized content. Its comprehensive
solutions can enhance business processes ranging from product development and
customer relationship management to R&D and quality management. Sopheon has
operations in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States. Its
clients are companies in the life sciences, high tech and healthcare industry
sectors, and include nearly half of the technology-driven companies on the
Fortune 500. For more information, please visit www.sopheon.com.
For further information contact :
Sopheon plc Tel : + 44 (0) 1483-883000
Barry Mence, Chairman
Arif Karimjee, CFO
James MacFarlane, Vice President of Business Development
Buchanan Communications Tel : + 44 (0) 20-7466-5000
Steve Liebmann
Citigate First Financial Tel : + 31 (0) 205-754-080
Barbara Jansen