Provia's WMS Chosen to Power Sun's RFID Test Center

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Provia's WMS Chosen to Power Sun's RFID Test Center
                Texas-Based RFID Test Center to Help Suppliers
               Meet RFID Compliance Requirements from Wal-Mart

    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Provia Software, a leading
provider of supply chain execution software solutions, announced today that
the company's ViaWare warehouse management system (WMS) is the supply chain
execution system being currently utilized at Sun Microsystems' new, state-of-
the-art RFID Test Center in Dallas, Texas.  Sun's facility brings together a
complete end-to-end RFID solution designed to help quell the fears of
companies looking to initiate an RFID compliance program and quickly help them
achieve compliance status.
    Sun's RFID Test Center, a 17,000-square-foot warehouse facility, is slated
to open May 5, 2004 with a large open house celebration.  The center is fully
equipped to meet the EPC standards and RFID compliance requirements for
tagging and testing of products at the pallet and case level.
    "The idea of RFID implementation can seem insurmountable.  Provia and Sun
are here to demonstrate the actual tangible process to companies, and help
them build a map to RFID compliance," said Paul Crist, vice president of sales
and marketing for Provia.  "This is truly the first RFID test center of its
kind -- a working warehouse where companies can test how the entire system
works before they invest in RFID technology.  Companies can use the test
center to evaluate how they can incorporate RFID into their manufacturing,
warehouse and distribution environments, develop production of a full scale
product tagging plan and come away with an end-to-end architecture for the
implementation at their site."
    Corporations and government agencies around the world recognize RFID's
potential to cut supply chain costs, increase operational efficiencies, speed
delivery time, and minimize theft and waste.
    "We are excited to have Provia as an integrated partner into our Test
Center offering.  Together we will provide suppliers to Wal-Mart and others
with a facility and the technical expertise to get their RFID implementations
achieved correctly the first time," said Julie Sarbacker, director of the
Auto-ID Business Unit at Sun Microsystems.  "Suppliers should contact us today
to get started."
    In addition to showcasing a state-of-the-art warehouse environment
equipped with RFID readers installed at dock doors and warehouse forklift
portals, the test center contains material handling pallet conveyers and high
speed conveyor station products for advanced tagging and testing of RFID
tagged products.  Integration with Provia's warehouse management system (WMS)
will allow for automated processing of Advance Ship Notifications (ASNs).  The
initial use for the test center will be for pallet acceptance into the center
via dock doors, but will quickly be expanded to the tracking of products to
various test stations such as pallet conveyors, high speed tracks and pallet
racks.
    Executives from Sun, Provia and other companies will participate in the
event.  The grand opening of the Test Center would be of interest to consumer
product companies, manufacturers and suppliers, who are required to comply
with RFID mandates from Wal-Mart, Target, Albertsons, HDMA or the US
Department of Defense.  To register to attend, please visit
http://www.avim.com/sun/index.html .
    Inquiries about the Grand Opening should be sent to
rfid-testcenter@sun.com .
    About Provia Software - Provia Software, a viastore Company, delivers The
Power of Delivery(TM) for customers like Gillette, Menlo Worldwide, Graybar
Electric, US Freightways, Spencer Gifts, Lanier Worldwide, and Owens Corning
and third-party logistics (3PL) customers like, Menlo Worldwide, Total
Logistic Control and Conestoga Cold Storage.  Provia's Supply Chain Execution
solutions include RFID-enabled warehousing, transportation, order and yard
management products seamlessly integrated together with web-based visibility
tools to create a real-time, end-to-end supply chain execution solution.
    Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo and The Network Is The Computer are
trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc., in the US and
other countries.
SOURCE Provia Software
http://www.provia.com
http://www.avim.com/sun/index.html
CONTACT:
John P. Clark, Manager of Marketing of Provia
Software, +1-616-974-8689, john.clark@provia.com