Ultimus Introduces Business Process Analysis and Modeling Application-Enables Companies to Design, Model, Optimize and Document Processes

Scorpion Enables Analysts, Consultants and Corporations to Demonstrate Process Improvement Benefits and ROI Prior to Development

CARY, North Carolina-March 11, 2002-Ultimus, the leading Web-based workflow automation platform provider, today introduced its business process analysis and modeling (BPA/M) application, code named Scorpion. Ultimus Scorpion is designed to enable industry analysts, workflow consultants and business process owners to quickly and easily design, model, optimize and document processes to significantly enhance company performance. Ultimus Scorpion allows users to quickly determine the effectiveness of any business process and estimate a return on investment (ROI) prior the implementation of process improvements.

According to Dr. Tom Little, a Six Sigma consultant and principal of Thomas A. Little Consulting, "The ability to characterize process performance using Ultimus Scorpion modeling and workflow tools is a critical element in understanding transactional processes and is essential for achieving performance breakthroughs and Six Sigma quality."

"Ultimus Scorpion bridges the gap between process owners, business analysts and information technology professionals. Scorpion is an easy-to-use application that enables each group to leverage their expertise to ensure smooth business process design, optimization and implementation," said Rashid Khan, co-founder and CEO of Ultimus. "Scorpion enables Ultimus to offer the industry's most complete workflow automation platform that encompasses process discovery, design, optimization, documentation, development, testing, deployment, use and metrics for continuous improvements."

Ultimus Scorpion, the final name of which will be announced upon general product availability in June, is a business application that provides an intuitive approach for designing business processes and then creating "what if" scenarios that can be compared side-by-side to optimize process performance. Since Ultimus Scorpion integrates tightly with the Ultimus Workflow Suite, business processes created in Ultimus Scorpion can be easily turned into automated workflow solutions. Specific capabilities of Ultimus Scorpion include the following:

• Design-Ultimus Scorpion empowers business process owners to create process maps as a graphical representation of how a process, whether it be manufacturing, service, workflow, logistics or transactional, flows from one step to another and what happens at each step, from initiation to completion.
• Modeling-Ultimus Scorpion lets users define realistic scenarios and perform workload and throughput analysis on a process in order to predict its behavior. If the behavior is not consistent with expectations (based on statistical representation), the process design can be changed or more resources added in order to optimize performance.
• Documentation-Ultimus Scorpion has the ability to produce detailed documentation and design instructions about workflow requirements that can then be incorporated into the Ultimus Workflow Suite for deployment. This capability enables companies to comply with productivity initiatives such as ISO 9000 or Six Sigma.

Pricing and Availability Beta copies of Scorpion are available now for qualified users at the Ultimus Web site, http://www.ultimus.com. Final release is expected in mid-June 2002. Pricing has not been finalized but will be consistent with the pricing of desktop business tools. Ultimus Scorpion will also be bundled with the next version of the Ultimus Workflow Suite.

About Ultimus Ultimus is a pioneer in the development of flexible end-to-end workflow platforms that allow companies across industries to realize enhanced revenues through improved worker productivity. The company currently services more than 800 customers from its corporate headquarters in Cary, NC, sales offices in Germany, Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia, and through its network of 85 worldwide partners. Current Ultimus customers and partners include Carnival Cruise Lines, Citizens Bank, FreeBalance, McKessonHBOC and Step9 Software. In 2001, Ultimus was named to both the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500 and the North Carolina Fast 50, as well as KM World Magazine's 2002 list of "Companies that Matter in Knowledge Management." Additional information about Ultimus can be obtained by visiting the Ultimus Web site at http://www.ultimus.com, emailing info@ultimus.com, or by calling 919-678-0900.

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Ultimus is a trademark of Ultimus Inc. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners and are used here for reference only