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ATLANTA, June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to dramatic increases in annual book sales, leading publishers and media companies are turning to Manhattan Associates, Inc. (Nasdaq: MANH), a global leader in providing supply chain execution and collaborative commerce solutions, to help manage and optimize their supply chains in a fiercely competitive market.

"Manhattan Associates is committed to meeting the business challenges facing the publishing and media industries, from start to finish," said Bruce Eicher, vice president, customers, from Manhattan Associates. "Our product functionality, industry expertise and superior return on investment (ROI) make us the obvious solution for this dynamic industry."

Using Manhattan Associates Logistics PRO(TM), an integrated warehouse and transportation management system solution, companies including Banta Packaging and Fulfillment, Hungry Minds Inc. and Pearson Education, have streamlined the management of their warehouses, transportation and inventory operations. This enables them to reduce operating costs, and increase productivity and efficiency, maximizing their ROI.

With Logistics PRO, publishing and media companies gain specialized management functions that streamline operations, enabling companies to pick faster, expedite returns, optimize replenishment, decrease transportation costs and eliminate physical orders. Using these capabilities, companies can adapt to changing volumes and VAS requirements, facilitate Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory management, and link to warehouse and transportation functions online with trading partners and customers. In addition, Logistics PRO allows companies to reduce inventory and cycle time, improve labor efficiency and customer service, and decrease transportation.

In addition to industry-specific functionality, expert on-site training and reliable support, Manhattan Associates' customers receive priority access to the company's collaboration tools, such as an Internet-ready, order-inquiry and email notification module. This enables publishers to offer customers with shipment delivery information the ability to track and trace packages, change order requirements, authorize returns online, as well as set up email notification alerts any time.

Hungry Minds Inc. (formerly IDG Books, Inc.) and its fulfillment partner Banta Packaging and Fulfillment choose to streamline operations by building a 252,000 square foot distribution center in 1999. "We wanted to implement a state-of-the-art warehouse management system that would be easy to use, yet sophisticated enough to handle a warehouse that could store up to 16 million books," said Vice President, Operations, Lou Peragallo of Hungry Minds. "From past industry experience, I knew Logistics PRO's capabilities, including its easy user interface and interoperability with our new host system, and was eager to implement it. As we celebrate a successful first year of operation, we have recognized volumes in excess of 150 percent of our initial shipping models developed in the planning stages of the facility."

Pearson Education, the world's largest integrated education business, has offices in over 30 countries. When considering management systems for its United States distribution center, Pearson Education wanted a solution with true warehouse and distribution management systems integration. "For us, Manhattan Associates was the natural choice because of its 'best-of-breed' fulfillment suite solution and experience in the industry," said Michael Nathanson, senior vice president, distribution/customer services/transportation of Pearson Education. "Further, we were so impressed with the successful implementation in our United States distribution center, processing more than 15,000 lines a day, that we've decided to expand the Logistics PRO deployment to our distribution center in the U.K."

"We listen to customers and we provide timely, practical solutions to their business needs and problems," Eicher said. "For example, many publishers and media companies have experienced an increase in slow moving inventory as a result of the economy. We've responded by developing an enhancement that streamlines order entry and online connections with auction sites, increasing the sales of this merchandise."

About Manhattan Associates

Manhattan Associates, Inc. is a global leader in providing supply chain execution and collaborative commerce solutions. These solutions leverage state-of-the-art technologies, innovative practices and the company's domain expertise to enhance performance, profitability and competitive advantage. Manhattan Associates has licensed more than 800 customers representing 1,100 facilities worldwide, which include some of the world's leading manufacturers, suppliers and retailers. For more information about Manhattan Associates telephone 770.955.7070 or visit www.manh.com .

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SOURCE Manhattan Associates, Inc.

CONTACT: Mary Frances Bishop of Lois Paul & Partners, 781-238-5870, or bishop@lpp.com , for Manhattan Associates, Inc.; or Denise Wager of Manhattan Associates, 219-247-8518, or dwager@manh.com /