Softshare Extends Its Reach To Mexico

Softshare’s newest EDI product, Softshare ECS, will provide the backbone for the Mexican Social Security Agency’s new EDI initiative

SANTA BARBARA, CA. - February 15, 2000

Softshare, a supplier of EDI software and services, announced today that it is implementing a full-scale EDI solution at IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social), Mexico’s Social Security Agency. The new solution will allow IMSS to receive Employee Benefit Enrollment transactions from Mexican companies via EDI. 

Located in Mexico City, IMSS has chosen Softshare’s Electronic Commerce Server (ECS) as the communications backbone for its new EDI initiative. Softshare ECS will seamlessly direct the delivery and receipt of all EDI traffic exchanged between IMSS and Mexican companies allowing IMSS to act as its own value added network (VAN). Through ECS, IMSS will be connecting with a total of four networks, including Softshare, using various communication protocols such as older asynchronous and bisynchronous protocols and newer, more advanced, Internet protocols. 

In addition to providing software directly to IMSS, Softshare will be supporting the EDI initiative in another way by making its desktop EDI software, Softshare Vista, available at a low cost to all Mexican companies seeking to comply with the IMSS regulation. Softshare Vista will be pre-programmed with a translation macro that automatically imports and translates the previously required flat file standard into the newly introduced Employee Benefit Enrollment EDI transactions. 

“We are thrilled to be entering the Mexican market on such a large scale,” said Carrie Steele, Softshare Sales Executive. “Softshare is very proud to have its EDI services chosen by such a visible government agency and we are excited by the prospects that this new alliance will bring.”

About Softshare ECS
Available for $3800, Softshare ECS is designed from the ground-up to exist in an environment of high-speed Internet-driven electronic commerce. It is a hands-off server application that moves and integrates data across the enterprise as well as to and from the enterprise.

About the IMSS EDI Initiative 
The goal of IMSS is to bring all 320,000 Mexican companies on-line with the new EDI system. Companies will be required to submit either the X12 834 (Employee Benefit Enrollment) transaction or the EDIFACT SSREGW (Notification of Registration of a Worker) and SSIMOD (Modification of Identity Details) messages to IMSS. IMSS will confirm receipt of employee information with the X12 864 (Text Message) transaction.

About Softshare 
Softshare offers a multi-tiered approach to electronic commerce with software solutions that range from EDI desktop applications to fully integrated server applications. Supporting these applications is Softshare’s value added network and accessible customer service. Headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, Softshare has more than 20,000 clients using its various network, software, and EC services. For more information, call 800-346-6703 or visit Softshare’s web site at www.softshare.com.

For more information, please contact Diane Springhuth, dianes@softshare.com, tel: 800-346-6703, or visit Softshare’s Web site at www.softshare.com.