Commence Announces Major Upgrade to Flagship CRM Software Solution Aimed at

Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses

Commence Relationship Management Offers "Digital Dashboard" Customization Capabilities plus Enhanced Integration with E-Mail, FileAttachments, and the Web

Oakhurst, NJ (August 13, 2001) -  Commence Corporation, a leading provider of customer relationship management (CRM) software for small- and medium-sized business (SMBs), today announced the immediate availability of Commence Relationship Management (Commence RM), the next generation release of the company's flagship CRM solution, Commence 2000.

Built on the proven Commence technology with more than 25,000 users worldwide, the new Commence RM features a powerful account management database with an integrated suite of pre-built, customizable applications that support a board range of business applications - including, sales force automation, marketing campaign automation, customer service, contact management and help desk initiatives - at an affordable price.

Enhanced with a flexible, newly designed user interface, Commence RM provides an easy way to access and manage all types of customer data and interactions. The updated interface is designed to make it even easier for businesses to access and view information, and extend the CRM database to users, departments, and functions throughout the organization. A personalized "digital dashboard" enables users to pull specific details from the shared Commence database, and create custom views with information about daily sales orders, priority support calls, account history, follow-up activity, and more. Commence RM also features a new "Grid View," which allows users to create reports using a familiar, spreadsheet-style format.

Commence RM is now even more tightly integrated with Microsoft Office and Microsoft Outlook, supporting group scheduling, as well as calendar and address book sharing. The solution also provides the capability to seamlessly synchronize information between desktops, laptops, and handheld devices, including the Palm Pilot.

Managing e-mail within Commence RM is easier than ever before, with the ability to store e-mail messages and file attachments, and automatically trigger actions based on e-mail content. Commence RM also features Web/HTML integration, enabling users to link Web-based content, such as company information, driving directions, stock quotes, recent news, and more, directly within Commence.

"The new version of Commence RM gives organizations a powerful CRM database solution, capable of supporting all types of vertical and horizontal business operations," explained Michael Boysen, President of INSYTE Consulting Group, a Commence Business Partner. "The software's customizability allows us to deliver feature-rich solutions that help businesses tap the power of CRM, at a fraction of the time and cost of other systems."

Commence RM is also designed to more closely align customer support activities with an organization's sales and marketing operations. Users can leverage contact information and other details stored in the Commence database to create intelligent marketing and sales campaigns, manage telemarketing leads, and automate various direct mail and other initiatives.

"In developing Commence RM, we recognized the growing need for SMBs to embrace CRM solutions in order to be customer-centric across the entire organization, and maintain a competitive edge," explained Larry Caretsky, President and CEO of Commence Corporation. "Commence RM offers a powerful yet affordable solution for companies to seamlessly access and exchange information, while enhancing productivity and customer service."

Commence RM fills the void in the CRM market for a robust, feature rich, ready-to-use solution that enables SMBs to support a broad range of business functions. Extensive activity reports and forecasting features make it even easier for companies to track and manage information related to all types of business activities.

"The Commence RM application suite is easy-to-use and deploy, offering features and functionality that are traditionally found in more costly, high-end products," continued Mr. Caretsky. "The solution's low-cost implementation and ownership make it an attractive alternative for small- to mid-sized businesses."

Commence RM is highly scalable, and capable of supporting hundreds of users - enabling SMBs to flexibly grow their business, and extend their CRM database to address emerging needs.

Pricing & Availability

Commence RM is aggressively priced at $695 per user license. A developer's version is also available for value-added resellers to address vertical market needs. Commence RM is available today through Commence's worldwide network of authorized Business Partners. Contact Commence for additional information and pricing details at 877-COMMENCE.

About Commence Corporation

Founded in 1988, Commence Corporation is a leading provider of e-business and customer relationship management (CRM) software solutions. The company's products are designed to provide small- to medium-sized businesses with flexible solutions that leverage the Web to offer an integrated platform for e-business. Commence supports thousands of users through a worldwide distribution network, with outlets in North and South America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific. For more information, contact Commence Corporation at 732-660-0990, or visit the company's Web site at http://www.commence.com.

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