Avocet Hardware Ltd Anticipates US $4 Million Return on Investment with Epicor and SmartForecasts Enterprise

Epicor Enterprise and SmartForecasts to Enable Leading UK Manufacturer to Reduce Inventory, Improve Cash Flow and Enhance Customer Service

[This joint press release was originally issued by Epicor® Software Corporation.]

Irvine, Calif. and Bracknell, United Kingdom, September 4, 2007 - Epicor Software Corporation (NASDAQ: EPIC), a leading provider of enterprise business software solutions for the midmarket and divisions of Global 1000 companies, today announced Avocet Hardware Ltd, one of the UK's leading manufacturers of window, door and merchant hardware, has purchased SmartForecasts^® to help support the growth of the business by helping optimize the forecasting and demand management process.

An Epicor Enterprise customer since 2001, Avocet Hardware Ltd has continued to evolve as a sophisticated innovator, manufacturer and distributor and in 1999 became a part of the $12.8 billion MASCO Corporation, one of the world's largest manufacturers of brand-name consumer products for the home improvement and new construction markets.

"Avocet has worked very hard over the last two years to ensure that we fully utilize our Epicor Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system," said Gary Bennett, supply chain director for Avocet Hardware Ltd.  "The addition of SmartForecasts not only delivers strong forecasting technology but seamlessly supports all of our current processes."

Integrated with Epicor Enterprise, SmartForecasts is a cross-industry solution for demand forecasting, demand planning, and inventory optimization that utilizes pioneering innovations, such as patented technology for forecasting intermittent, or "slow-moving" demand.  This unique technology yields nearly 100 percent accurate estimates of inventory stocking requirements for any lead time and desired service level.  SmartForecasts also leverages customers' existing IT investments and reduces total cost of ownership by integrating easily with host databases, such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and IBM DB2, as well as ERP and Supply Chain Management (SCM) systems like Epicor.

Bennett continued, "Based on initial trials in which SmartForecasts was used to recommend optimal inventory stocking levels based on our service level goals and lead times, we can target a one year return on investment of approximately US $1.6 million. In year two we expect these savings to reach around US $4 million. As Avocet continues its growth into new and existing markets, we realized the need to further enhance our forecasting technology. Together, Epicor and SmartForecasts will allow us to reduce inventory and improve cash flow while continuing to improve our service levels."

Epicor Enterprise is a comprehensive end-to-end suite of proven industry-specific solutions for the global midmarket enterprise. From CRM and professional services automation to financial and supply chain management, Epicor provides adaptable and agile solutions for real-time enterprises.

About Smart Software, Inc.
Founded in 1984, Smart Software, Inc. is a leader in providing businesses with enterprise-wide demand forecasting, planning and inventory optimization solutions.  Smart Software's flagship product, SmartForecasts, has thousands of users worldwide, including customers at mid-market enterprises and Fortune 500 companies, such as Mitsubishi, Siemens, Disney, Pfizer, GE and The Coca-Cola Company.  SmartForecasts gives demand planners the tools to handle sales seasonality, promotions, new and aging products, multi-dimensional hierarchies, and intermittently demanded service parts and capital goods items.  It also provides inventory managers with accurate estimates of the minimum inventory and safety stock required to meet future orders, thereby ensuring the most cost-effective inventory allocation to achieve desired service levels.  Smart Software is headquartered in Belmont, Massachusetts and can be found on the World Wide Web at www.smartcorp.com.

About Epicor Software Corporation
Epicor, named one of FORTUNE magazine's 100 Fastest-Growing Companies in 2006, is a global leader dedicated to providing integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM) and professional services automation (PSA) software solutions to the midmarket and divisions of Global 1000 companies. Founded in 1984, Epicor serves over 20,000 customers in more than 140 countries, providing solutions in over 30 languages. Employing innovative service-oriented architecture (SOA) and Web services technology, Epicor delivers end-to-end, industry-specific solutions for manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality and services that enable companies to drive increased efficiency, improve performance and build competitive advantage. Epicor solutions provide the scalability and flexibility to meet today's business challenges, while empowering enterprises for even greater success tomorrow. Epicor offers a comprehensive range of services with its solutions, providing a single point of accountability to promote rapid return on investment and low total cost of ownership. Epicor's worldwide headquarters are located in Irvine, California with offices and affiliates around the world. Visit www.epicor.com.

SmartForecasts is a registered trademark of Smart Software, Inc. Epicor is a registered trademark of Epicor Software Corporation. Other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

For more information, please contact Smart Software, Inc., Four Hill Road, Belmont, MA 02478.
Phone: 1-800-SMART-99 (800-762-7899); FAX: 1-617-489-2748; E-mail: info@smartcorp.com

Back to Press Releases