Ken Towery Auto Care Centers to Go Live on New Microsoft-Based Tradera Platform

    SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.--April 28, 2003--CarParts Technologies Inc. (CPT), the leading provider of open, eCommerce and business automation software solutions for the automotive aftermarket, today announced Ken Towery Auto Care Centers (Towery) has successfully deployed the wholesale edition of its tire trading network application suite and its VAST auto service management system.
    Ken Towery Auto Care Centers, a leading retailer in Kentucky for more than 30 years, started its wholesale tire business three years ago. Towery selected CarParts Technologies' Tradera(TM) and OpenWebs(TM) Intelligent Tire Trading Network (ITN) for its point-of-sale and electronic trading needs. Towery also purchased CarParts Technologies' VAST system to help grow revenues and reduce operating costs for a growing number of its associate dealers. According to Towery, Tradera has simplified Towery's ordering process, resulting in greater employee productivity.
    "The enhanced inventory visibility and online ordering available with Tradera -- integrated all the way to the VAST platform used by our associate dealers -- will increase revenues and reduce costs," said Doug Meadows, vice president of Ken Towery Auto Care Centers. "For a wholesale and retail business such as Towery, the ability to have better inventory control, streamlined point-of-sale processes and simplified shipment management will have a significant impact on our bottom line. Integration all the way to our customer's point-of-sale means real usage and adoption will occur."
    CarParts Technologies' ITN is an integrated software application suite for the $20 billion U.S. tire distribution and retail market. The back end of the network is the Tradera Tire Management System, a world class application suite encompassing inventory management, accounting, and point-of-sale system for wholesale, commercial and retail tire dealers with integrated dealer accounting from Microsoft(R) Business Solutions. The front end is the OpenWebs ITN Server, which enables peer-to-peer eCommerce trading capabilities between distributors and retail customers. CarParts Technologies' market leading VAST Retail POS is the third component of the suite, offering a complete point-of-sale system for single and multi-site auto service shops handling the consumer/commercial front end of the transaction. The combination of the three will help drive new revenue growth and generate incremental profits while efficiently managing day-to-day shop operations.
    The Tire Trading Network technology provides Towery access to the nation's third largest tire company and its electronic distribution network system that will enable all of its stores to rapidly place orders over the Internet using the CarParts Technologies XML-based Intelligent Trading Network. The Tradera Tire Management System provides exceptional ROI through its inventory management capabilities and its account reconciliation functionality.
    "This deployment is continued proof of CarParts Technologies' ability to deliver integrated eCommerce capabilities to wholesalers and retailers in the tire distribution market," said Dave McCann, CEO of CarParts Technologies. "Although other vendors offer simple browser based buying pages for wholesalers, this is the industry's first fully integrated suite where outside purchases link into the inventory and ordering system of the wholesaler. It eliminates double keying of information, making it simpler for the retailer, and gives instant visibility to on-hand distributor inventory even as the consumer is at the retail counter receiving an estimate."

    About CarParts Technologies, Inc.

    CarParts Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of extended supply chain software solutions for the automotive aftermarket. The CarParts Technologies eCommerce platform enables efficient online trade, integration and collaboration between B2B marketplaces, buyers, suppliers and commerce service providers. The solutions are used in more than 3,000 leading aftermarket outlets including tier 1 manufacturers, program groups, tire and service chains, warehouse distributors and independent installers. CarParts Technologies' open, end-to-end solutions allow companies to generate new sales, operate more cost efficiently, accelerate inventory turns and maintain stronger relationships with suppliers and trading partners.
    Established in 1997, CarParts Technologies' complete suite of business solutions has delivered compelling returns on investment to customers across the entire aftermarket supply chain. Headquartered in San Juan Capistrano, California, CarParts Technologies has received venture capital funding from @Ventures, the affiliated venture capital arm of CMGI, Rho Ventures, BEV Capital, Investor AB and St. Paul Venture Capital.

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