Press Releases

Customers Gain Personalized Access to Kaman's Vast Product Catalog Through Leading Natural Language Search, Navigation and Advanced Merchandising Product

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2006-- Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq: PRGS), a supplier of leading technology to develop, deploy, integrate and manage business applications, today announced that Kaman Industrial Technologies has selected the Progress(R) EasyAsk(R) B2B eCommerce intelligent search, navigation and online merchandising technology for use within its commerce website (www.kamandirect.com). One of North America's largest distributors of bearings, power transmission, electrical and motion control products, Kaman will now offer enhanced search capabilities that provide a more intuitive, precise navigation of their online catalog. This is part of a multi-phase initiative that will allow website users to improve searchable access to detailed product descriptions, specifications, and other product information contained in its vast product catalog in order to expedite and streamline the purchasing process.

Today's industrial organizations are now buying more products online and are lowering their procurement operating costs as a result. Through the EasyAsk product, Kaman will enable procurement managers to easily search for, evaluate and purchase the products they need. With over two million individual items for sale on its site, users can search by using everyday, natural language terms or phrases as though they were speaking with a Kaman call center agent or sales representative, both improving self-service for the customer as well as lowering the cost of sales for Kaman.

"By enhancing the effectiveness of our Web site, the EasyAsk product allows us to extend sales enablement into the customer channel, without the need for additional sales resources and expenses," said Carlos Ingram, vice president of business systems for Kaman Industrial Technologies. "With the EasyAsk product, we will be able to provide the "in-person" buying experience our customers relish when speaking with our knowledgeable sales representatives, making the online shopping process as straightforward and personalized as possible."

The EasyAsk product further enhances the online procurement experience through immediate access to purchase history, negotiated discounts, credit authorizations, shipping requirements and specific supplier agreements. Its integrated analytics enables Kaman to continuously improve their sales process by tracking key metrics, such as which product searches produced zero results or which are searched most often.

"For B2B eCommerce customers, efficiency and personalization are key to online customer satisfaction, as individuals typically know what items they want to purchase and want easy and immediate access to information on availability and pricing," said Larry Harris, vice president and general manager for the EasyAsk Division of Progress Software. "To remain competitive, search and merchandising capabilities should be closely integrated with the supply chain in order to allow B2B vendors to interact with buyers, glean insight into past shopping behavior and present buyers with relevant, up-to-date and complete product data."

About Progress Software Corporation

Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq: PRGS) is a global industry leader providing application infrastructure software for all aspects of the development, deployment, integration and management of business applications through its operating units: Progress OpenEdge Division, Sonic Software, DataDirect Technologies and Progress Real Time Division. Headquartered in Bedford, Mass., Progress can be reached at http://www.progress.com or +1-781-280-4000.

EasyAsk and Progress are registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Progress Software
Lisle Holgate, 781-280-4278
lholgate@progress.com
http://www.easyask.com
or
Davies Murphy Group, Inc.
Matthew Card, 781-418-2411
easyask@daviesmurphy.com
http://www.daviesmurphy.com

SOURCE: Progress Software Corporation