PLUM Plumtree Software (MM)

Applebee's International Tests New Portal Application To Help Streamline Store Operations, Improve Real-Time Communication and Automate Business Processes Plumtree Software (Nasdaq:PLUM) today announced its High Performance Store Management Application (HiPer) for retailers. The closed-loop notification and task management portal solution allows retail store managers to consistently execute company objectives at the highest quality, communicate their store performance and share best practices. Applebee's International is currently testing HiPer and plans to use the application to improve communications with its restaurant operators, more easily update Applebee's restaurants on sales and customer information and gain increased visibility into performance. The HiPer application will be available in Q4 2005. "Plumtree's retail application supports both manual and system-driven notifications. We see HiPer as a tool that could help our restaurants not only execute new promotions consistently, but also react to business changes in near real-time," said Frank Ybarra, spokesperson for Applebee's International. "Plumtree's service-oriented architecture gives Applebee's the ability to aggregate content, data and functionality from multiple sources and systems on one platform. This has allowed us to work closely with Plumtree to develop new applications, such as HiPer, at minimal cost. We are excited about the potential for HiPer to help streamline our restaurant operations by reducing the time spent completing and reporting tasks, enabling restaurant managers to spend more time serving guests." Store management software packages that exist today simply provide corporate information and task management to store managers. Plumtree saw demand in the marketplace for a portal application designed to proactively deliver data through system-driven notifications triggered by events in back end retail systems and associate tasks a store manager should perform to resolve the business change. Companies using the HiPer application can streamline store operations, manage inventory, control costs, improve customer satisfaction and provide a clear understanding of priorities and tasks to store and field managers. Planned HiPer features include: -- Corporate- and performance-driven directives to guide store managers -- Customized view of performance metrics for store operations -- Communications channel to store managers to deliver news and solicit feedback -- Best demonstrated practices shared between store managers and with operations -- Access to product information, policies and procedures "Overseeing store operations can be a major challenge, especially when there are multiple lines of communication flowing from corporate headquarters to individual stores or franchises. Compounding the problem is high employee turnover, making it difficult for stores to share best practices and understand execution priorities and for headquarters to track store performance," said John Kunze, chief executive officer at Plumtree Software. "We recognized the need in the marketplace for a packaged retail application to help solve these business challenges. The portal framework with its natural ability to integrate information, IT systems and people allows organizations, such as Applebee's, to easily deploy new applications that help facilitate collaboration and improve business processes -- ultimately increasing store operational efficiencies." Since deploying the Plumtree portal in 2003, Applebee's improved its ability to share and collect data across the company and experienced operational improvements by Web-enabling information. For example, information on company policies, procedures and standards are now accessed through the portal, reducing Applebee's printing and distribution costs. Also, sales information from the franchises is delivered to the accounting staff through a portlet application, reducing time spent aggregating sales totals. The Plumtree portal deployment is a key component of Applebee's service-oriented strategy (SOA) to securely share internal business data via the Web with managers and other key associates. About Applebee's International, Inc. Applebee's International, Inc., headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, develops, franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar brand, the largest casual dining concept in the world. There currently are more than 1,700 Applebee's restaurants operating system-wide in 49 states and 14 international countries. Additional information on Applebee's International can be found at the company's Web site (www.applebees.com). About Plumtree Software Plumtree Software provides enterprise solutions for organizations to create portals, communities and composite applications in both Java and .NET. Organizations rely on Plumtree's solutions to connect existing systems with people, enabling employees, customers and partners to collaborate more efficiently within a business process. Plumtree has over 22 million users worldwide, including customers such as Airbus, Pratt & Whitney, Mazda and U.S. Navy. For more information, visit www.plumtree.com. Plumtree is a registered trademark of Plumtree Software, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other registered and unregistered trademarks in this document are the sole property of their respective owners.