## TRADING PARTNER MANAGEMENT 

## Overview 

Manhattan Associates’ Trading Partner Management (TPM) application suite provides customers with real-time visibility, connectivity and execution functionality across the supply chain. It does this by integrating suppliers, hubs, transportation providers and end customers and allowing them to exchange critical business information online. With system-to-user and system-to-system integration via the Web, sharing and executing against real-time information is made simple. All that is needed is an Internet connection and a printer. Together the Supplier Enablement, Logistics Hub Management, Carrier Enablement, Customer/Store Enablement and newly added Reverse Logistics Management applications create source-to-consumption supply chain visibility. In 2003 we enhanced our ability to provide this synchronization by making a strategic acquisition, creating important functionality enhancements and continuing our dedication to product integration. 

## Strategic Acquisition 

The second quarter acquisition of ReturnCentral, Inc., added advanced returns management capabilities to Manhattan Associates’ solutions. This enabled us to provide our customers with tools to handle the flow of goods throughout the supply chain cycle. The newly established Reverse Logistics Management application encompasses inbound returns management, returns processing management and outbound returns management. Each of these components comes together to create earlier visibility into returns and generate additional supply chain efficiencies. 

Since nearly 20% of everything that is sold is returned, Manhattan Associates recognized the marketplace need to establish a solution that would streamline the overall supply chain, create better relationships and generate a quick return on investment. These capabilities are especially important in Europe where the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) initiative will be launched in August 2004. This directive aims to minimize the impact of electrical and electronic equipment on the environment by requiring retailers to manage and pay for the collection and disposal of items or face fines. 

## Functionality Enhancements 

Another area of focus during 2003 was solution functionality. RFID has become a major initiative for many companies. Manhattan Associates spent a significant amount of time and effort building out RFID capabilities within our Trading Partner Management and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) application suites. By allowing customers to share and execute against data generated from RFID tags, we are able to help them enhance the effectiveness of their supply chains. Product functionality was also improved with the introduction of factory-direct fulfillment capabilities. This helps speed the receiving process by removing an entire step from the supply chain. As a result, unnecessary handling is reduced, transportation costs are lowered and order cycle times are improved. 

## Product Integration 

During 2003 we increased the integration infrastructure between the TPM application suite and other Manhattan Associates solutions. By establishing integration between TPM and WMS we have ensured seamless synchronization of data such as advance ship notices (ASNs) and receipt transactions. This has improved overall global inventory visibility. TPM and the Performance Management supporting applications are also further integrated to allow clients to execute against data generated by the Events, Analysis and Reporting modules. If a supplier is continually late or delivering incomplete orders, this information can be captured and adjustments made to future business transactions. The integration touch points within each of these applications further facilitate the synchronization of communication across even the most complex supply chains. 

## 2003 Enhancements for Trading Partner Management 

•D eveloped a single, comprehensive TPM application suite offering including order and source capabilities 

•E xtended support for compliance with the top 100 retailers to TPM 

•I ntroduced Reverse Logistics Management application through the strategic acquisition of ReturnCentral, Inc. 

• Established remote RFID tag generation functionality 

•A dded functionality to facilitate SKU-level ASNs across trading partner network 

•I nstituted lot tracking capabilities 

•L aunched factory-direct fulfillment capabilities 

•C reated price ticket printing functionality 

• Enhanced Reverse Logistics Management application by adding a multi-channel feature 

• Built support for the Oracle database 

