Allegiance Healthcare Names Softshare as Preferred EDI Provider for Supply Partners

Softshare's comprehensive suite of e-commerce products offers affordable EDI solutions to Allegiance Healthcare suppliers

SANTA BARBARA, CA – August 24, 2000 - Softshare and Allegiance Healthcare are working together to bring electronic data interchange (EDI) capabilities to many of Allegiance Healthcare's trading partners. Allegiance is a leading provider of healthcare products and cost management service needed by hospitals, laboratories and others in healthcare. Allegiance is encouraging its suppliers to take advantage of Softshare's desktop and Web-based EDI solutions.

Softshare will provide a turnkey EDI solution to Allegiance Healthcare suppliers. For those suppliers handling a low volume of EDI documents, Softshare is offering Softshare Athena, a Web-based EDI application that requires only a browser. For those suppliers experiencing a more significant amount of EDI traffic, Softshare is offering Softshare Vista, a sophisticated Windows-based desktop EDI application.

Either Softshare solution provides Allegiance Healthcare suppliers with everything needed to exchange purchase orders, invoices, and advance ship notices with Allegiance. In addition, Allegiance Healthcare suppliers will be able to use Softshare's EDI solution to exchange EDI (or XML) documents with other commercial trading partners and the federal government.

"Allegiance works hard to continually drive efficiencies across the supply chain and enhance customer value", said Joe Kubicek, Vice President, Supply Chain at Allegiance. "Although the majority of our purchase volume is transacted via EDI, we still have a significant number of suppliers who process orders through less efficient means such as phone, fax, and mail. Allegiance's partnership with Softshare gives these suppliers a cost effective alternative for transacting business electronically as opposed to manual processes."

"EDI doesn't have to be expensive or complicated," said Adrienne Sciacca, Marketing Executive at Softshare. "Softshare's comprehensive suite of e-commerce products offers affordable EDI solutions to Allegiance suppliers who need to exchange business transactions in an easy, productive way. Softshare can have Allegiance business partners communicating in a matter of hours."

About Allegiance
Based in McGaw Park, Illinois, Allegiance is a subsidiary of Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) of Dublin, Ohio. With annual revenues of more than $5 billion, the company manufactures many of the products it markets and distributes, while others come from leading health and medical companies around the world. Allegiance also provides integrated services such as clinical and productivity consulting, procedure-based supply packaging, just-in-time delivery and other services to help medical professionals control costs and improve quality in patient care.

About Softshare Athena
With subscriptions starting at $300/year, Softshare Athena, aptly named after the Goddess of Commerce, is a Web-based EDI/XML solution. Developed for companies with low commercial EDI volume, Athena is an economical alternative to traditional EDI software and network services. For an interactive look at Softshare Athena, visit www.softshare.com/athena.

About Softshare Vista
Available for $295-$995, Softshare Vista is a sophisticated, 32-bit Windows-based desktop EDI application that enables companies to electronically create and exchange business documents with any trading partner. Supporting several EDI standards including ANSI X12 and UN/EDIFACT as well as XML, S/MIME security, and SMTP/POP3 communications, Softshare Vista gives the user a full suite of Electronic Commerce capabilities.

About Softshare
Softshare offers a multi-tiered approach to electronic commerce with EDI/XML software solutions that range from 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.

Softshare Media Contact: Diane Springhuth, 800-346-6703 / dianes@softshare.com.