ProfitSystems aims for 'total connectivity'

Colorado Springs, Colo.— ProfitSystems is working to integrate its retail software with all technology companies, believing that "total connectivity" is the key to promoting business-to-business electronic data interchange.

After working with Exim Technologies this summer to enable

its dealers to trade with vendors using industry-standard XML EDI, ProfitSystems has added FurnishNet to the list of e-commerce companies compatible with its software applications. Exim and FurnishNet each connect trading partners via the Internet.

ProfitSystems' approach underlines a trend toward cooperation among technology companies serving the furniture industry and away from purely proprietary solutions to information and transactional needs.

The working partnership with FurnishNet "doesn't change our relationship with Exim at all," said Brian McCarthy, president of ProfitSystems. "We want to work with everyone in the industry. We want to work with Exim, PreVue, the credit card processing companies, sales floor opportunity software — any best-of-breed software that helps save money and time and reduces error."

ProfitSystems has completed integration work with FurnishNet and will provide the new connectivity to its 750 clients in its next software version, scheduled for October release.

"We are excited about FurnishNet's transaction management services, which allows our retailers to connect with any manufacturer that is EDI-enabled or not," said McCarthy.

In addition to FurnishNet's transaction management services, ProfitSystems will offer the B2B e-commerce company's parts management application, which allows retailers to send parts purchase orders directly to manufacturers' parts desks. The application employs e-mail alerts for online status notifications and carrier tracking numbers.

"We need to move to where any retailer can use any software package, any translator, and any vendor," McCarthy said.