PSS World Medical, Inc. Selects AT&T and Sterling Commerce to Optimize Global Supply Chain

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PSS World Medical, Inc. is helping ensure its products are in the hands of the health care providers who need them by implementing new on-demand software from AT&T* to improve responsiveness to disruptions across its global supply chain.

AT&T and Sterling Commerce today announced that PSS World Medical, Inc. (PSS), a leading national distributor of medical supplies and equipment to office based physicians and long term health care providers, has purchased Sterling Supply Chain Visibility On Demand and Sterling Web Forms solutions from AT&T. These solutions will help the company optimize its global supply chain by providing support for compliance with new U.S. Customs Importer Security Filing (ISF), known as 10+2, requirements and to gain comprehensive visibility into inbound purchase orders (POs) and shipments.

"PSS World Medical's focused market approach to customer service and its solution centric sales force are supported by a complex global product supply chain requiring real-time information and dynamic systems to deliver on our mission to improve healthcare through innovative solutions," said Michael Wenk, vice president of Global and Strategic Sourcing, PSS World Medical, Inc. "With these new solutions, we will provide multiple departments with shared information to strengthen our relationships with manufacturers and drive higher levels of performance throughout our supply chain."

These solutions are the first software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployment for PSS. They replace multiple technologies and manual processes to enable the company to reduce costs and increase security while improving customer service. The solution will deliver visibility to multiple lines of business within PSS, ranging from global procurement, global logistics, suppliers, brokers, U.S. Customs and accounts payable.

The Sterling Commerce solutions will assist PSS to decrease inventory, reduce expediting costs, and improve efficiencies through less manually-intensive purchase order (PO) tracking. Sterling Supply Chain Visibility provides real-time supply chain information to help PSS systematically access and share information across its supply chain network, proactively manage supply chain processes and maximize business performance with U.S. Customs suppliers and customers. Improved visibility is designed to help the company lower inventory costs by reducing safety stocks while still meeting customer service level goals. Sterling Web Forms will be used to create a supplier portal that will enable non-EDI suppliers to submit the needed U.S. Customs ISF data fields, view and acknowledge POs online, provide Advanced Shipment Notices (ASN) and submit invoices.

"AT&T helps industry leaders like PSS World Medical improve their business velocity and maintain their competitive edge," said Anne Chow, Senior Vice President, AT&T Operations. "AT&T and Sterling Commerce are delivering solutions that help PSS speed their products through the supply chain to meet the critical needs of healthcare professionals in a timely and cost effective manner."

PSS World Medical, Inc. is a national distributor of medical products to physicians and elder care providers through its two business units. Since its inception in 1983, PSS has become a leader in the two market segments that it serves with a focused market approach to customer services, a consultative sales force, strategic acquisitions, strong arrangements with product manufacturers and a unique culture of performance.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About Sterling Commerce

Sterling Commerce, an AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) company, helps companies optimize and transform their Business Collaboration Network to accelerate revenues and reduce costs. Sterling Commerce provides more than 30,000 customers worldwide applications and integration solutions to connect, communicate and collaborate inside and outside their enterprise. More information can be found at www.sterlingcommerce.com.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services, the nation's fastest 3G network and the best wireless coverage worldwide, and the nation's leading high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of their three-screen integration strategy, AT&T operating companies are expanding their TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine's lists of the World's Most Admired Companies and America's Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.

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