Symix and Lightspeed announce business partner agreement

Singapore, 19 May 2000 - Symix Systems Inc, (Nasdaq: SYMX) a provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications, announces a business partner agreement with Lightspeed Technologies, a Singapore-based Internet infrastructure applications provider.

According to Vice President, Symix Asia Pacific, Barrie Williams, "The evolving e-commerce market places tremendous pressure on the midmarket to adapt to new technologies and maximise on the potential. Through this relationship, we are providing our customers a viable and complete solution that increases their productivity allowing for a better management of enterprise technology and the Internet".

Explaining the symbiotic relationship, Jeffery Goh, Chief Executive Officer, Lightspeed Technologies, said, "The medium enterprises need to utilise the Internet effectively... However, many organizations are saddled with infrastructure issues that affect their productivity and significantly reduce their ability to realise full business benefits from technology and the Internet. Our collaboration with Symix brings together two business critical solutions that offer a quantum leap in productivity gains for the midmarket".

Symix, which has approximately 650 customers in the discrete manufacturing business of specialty vehicles, furniture and fabrics and electronic components in this region, has recently developed and released eSyte, an e-commerce ready suite of applications. eSyte offers the midsize manufacturer the ability to optimise the manufacturing and distribution processes and to transact online with customers.

Lightspeed Technologies designs remotely managed 'lean servers' for manufacture by Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEM) such as Compaq and Hewlett Packard and is particularly suited for deployment in the Small and Medium Enterprise environment.

Explained Goh, "many organizations in their quest for e-commerce, often invest in technology infrastructure that they cannot utilise completely. Furthermore, the amount of time and effort spent on maintaining these systems, distracts these organizations from focusing on their core business objectives and their customers. Lightspeed, in working with Symix, offers the midsize manufacturers the opportunity to re-focus their efforts in manufacturing and delivering on customer specifications and schedules".


About Symix

Symix Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries develop and market software and services that enable companies worldwide to quickly identify and deploy eBusiness opportunities, and build the supporting business and technology infrastructure. Symix' suite of products include the eSyte suite of eBusiness applications and deployment services, and the SyteLine, SyteCentre and SyteDistribution ERP and supply chain application suites. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Symix has helped over 3,900 customers build their business systems and better serve their customers. Symix markets its products through sales and service offices worldwide, as well as through independent business partners.

The Symix Asia Pacific office is based in Singapore with responsibilities over North Asia, South Asia and the Pacific. Today the Asia Pacific team provides the sales and support to approximately 650 customers in the region. Symix company and product information is available at http://www.symix.com.

About Lightspeed

Lightspeed Technologies Pte Ltd was established in March 1998 and is funded by Vertex. Lightspeed's mission is to assist companies in entering the Internet revolution by providing remotely managed, living, cost-effective and worry free Internet connectivity allowing them to focus on growing their business rather than keeping the technology running.