IKON PROVIDES UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
WITH E-BUSINESS TOOLS
e-Procurement Offers Improved Workflow and Helps Reduce Costs
Valley
Forge, PennsylvaniaMay 3, 2001IKON Office Solutions
(NYSE: IKN) announced today that the University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
has engaged IKON to provide customized e-business solutions to meet its
business communications requirements and deliver customer support through
IKON Online, IKON's e-business offering that enables Web-based customer
interaction services. IKON will provide services designed to enable Penn
to engage in ordering of equipment, services and supplies from customized
e-catalogs.
"We're
pleased to help Penn leverage the latest e-technology to improve workflow
and reduce overall costs as the University continues to enhance its electronic
procurement process," said Eric Dirks, Vice President of e-Business
for IKON. "Many of our customers elect to do business with IKON because
we have a comprehensive e-business strategy. The University of Pennsylvania
is the first major university to adopt our comprehensive e-solutions approach
during our initial launch phase which includes ordering contracted
equipment, entering service requests and replenishing supplies, all via
the Web."
IKON will
integrate IKON Online into Penn's new electronic procurement system, the
"Penn Marketplace," and will provide catalog content. The Penn
Marketplace was developed and hosted by TPN Register. TPN Register, a
wholly owned subsidiary of GE Global Exchange Services (GXS), is an industry
leader in interactive content management. As part of Penn's electronic
procurement initiative for university-wide purchasing, faculty and staff
will be able to order from a customized catalog of IKON products and services,
which will include the latest digital copiers and printers, fax equipment,
and complete color solutions. As part of its comprehensive solution, IKON
also provides on-site facilities management and off-site document production
overflow services to the Penn community.
"We
are very excited about the potential of IKON's e-business capabilities,"
said Ralph Maier, Associate Director of Acquisition Services for Penn.
"IKON's e-business approach will enhance Penn's existing procurement
process while transforming the interaction between customers and the supplier,"
he concluded.
"IKON's
creative solution to Penn's product content requirements will enable faculty
and staff to efficiently order the appropriate IKON product," added
Vira Homick, Acquisition Services Electronic Commerce Manager for Penn.
IKON Office
Solutions (www.ikon.com)
is one of the world's leading providers of products and services that
help businesses communicate. IKON provides customers with total business
solutions for every office, production and outsourcing need, including
copiers and printers, color solutions, distributed printing, facilities
management, imaging and legal document solutions, as well as network design
and consulting, e-business development, telecommunications services and
technology training. With fiscal 2000 revenues of $5.4 billion, IKON has
approximately 800 locations worldwide including the United States, Canada,
Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, and Denmark.
This news
release includes information which may constitute forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking
statements include statements with respect to the ability of proposed
e-technology and related solutions to meet customer requirements and objectives.
Although IKON believes the expectations contained in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations
will prove correct. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's
current plans or expectations and are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties
relating to conducting operations in a competitive environment and a changing
industry; delays, difficulties, management transitions and employment
issues associated with consolidation of, and/or changes in business operations;
managing the integration of existing and acquired companies; risks and
uncertainties associated with existing or future vendor relationships;
and general economic conditions. Certain additional risks and uncertainties
are set forth in IKON's 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. As a consequence of these and other
risks and uncertainties, IKON's current plans, anticipated actions and
future financial condition and results may differ materially from those
expressed in any forward-looking statements.
For
more information contact:
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