ARI Connect OEMS with Distributors

MILWAUKEE--ARI, a provider of business solutions that connect equipment manufacturers with their service and distribution networks, announced today that Hance Company of Plymouth, Minn., signed an agreement to license ARI's EMPARTweb e-Catalog solution for integration directly with Hance's Ezone parts lookup and ordering service within their dealer website.

Under the agreement, ARI will host EMPARTweb, provide ongoing updates for selected manufacturer catalogs and support a seamless, XML-based interface directly to Hance's Ezone that eliminates the need for a third party and allows authorized dealers to place online orders. ARI and Hance are working together to roll out the new service to Hance's dealers in December.

"Hance's decision to include EMPARTweb on their website demonstrates their commitment to provide cutting edge business solutions to their dealers," said Brian E. Dearing, chairman and chief executive officer of ARI.

ARI currently provides approximately 74 parts catalogs (many of which contain multiple lines of equipment) for approximately 57 equipment manufacturers in the United States and Europe. The Company builds and supports a full suite of multi-media electronic catalog publishing and viewing software for the Web or CD and provides expert catalog publishing and consulting services.