Applix TM1 customers the most satisfied of all BPM users, including Cognos, Hyperion customers

MCI Consultants, a distributor for Applix`s TM1 product in SA, today announced that in an independent survey of more than 200 BPM end-users, Applix customers had the highest level of customer satisfaction of any of the leading BPM solutions, including solutions from Cognos Incorporated and Hyperion Solutions Corporation.

The results of the Third Annual BPM Pulse Industry Survey were released during the annual `Beyond the Hype` Webcast hosted by Business Finance magazine and BPM Partners, one of the leading independent authorities on the performance management marketplace. Responses to the survey gave Applix a `BPM Pulse Rating` of 4.1 for customer satisfaction on a scale of one to five, the highest marks of all the vendors included.

During the Webcast, BPM Partners CEO Craig Schiff speculated as to why many vendors received lower marks. The list of reasons included customers purchasing the wrong product or being oversold on a solution; unrealistic requirements and expectations; product quality; and poor performance. The Webcast can be viewed at http://www.bpmpartners.com/events_webinars.shtml.

"Applix provides the only comprehensive single platform business performance management solution," commented David Menninger, vice-president of worldwide marketing, Applix, Inc. "Unlike the market consolidators who are purchasing companies and trying to mesh solutions with very different architectures and interfaces, Applix`s unified TM1 platform is easy-to-use and quick to implement. Obviously, these traits make our customers very pleased with their choice."

"We also diverge from the pack in our intense focus on customer satisfaction," continued Menninger. This focus continues to pay off with widespread recognition from industry experts, which, in turn, is enabling us to drive increased revenues. We recently closed out a very successful 2004 where we welcomed more than 200 new customers and partners, many of whom may have been previously considering some of the higher profile players in the marketplace."

"Applix, known for its high-performing TM1 engine, has added components that make it more than just a tools vendor," added Craig Schiff, president and CEO, BPM Partners. "In practice it offers a BPM platform. The TM1 engine, plus Applix`s Planning Manager, will speed companies on their way to developing a custom budgeting solution."

The superior user experience Applix provides its customers was also recently recognised by The OLAP Survey 4 (http://www.survey.com/olap) from independent analyst and OLAP (online analytical processing) authority Nigel Pendse. According to the OLAP Survey 4, Applix TM1 users are the most satisfied customers in a number of categories, including:

* Business goals achieved
* Better decisions
* Faster more accurate reporting
* Data load/pre-calculation
* Speed of deployment
* Saved headcount in business department
* Least number of product technical problems
* Prevalence (proportion of respondents in multi-product sites who chose the product for answering questions)

For further information, please contact Aliki Droussiotis, MCI: (011) 454 3420, fax (011) 454 3417, e-mail aliki@mci.co.za.