RICHMOND, B.C., August 13, 2004

Progressive Solutions Inc. of Richmond, BC, Canada has released two new versions of its Inventory Management software — “Batch Inventory” and “Real-time RF Inventory” — for use in handheld data collection devices in conjunction with Lumber Track business software.

The Real-Time RF Inventory Application instantaneously transmits tag information between RF (radio frequency) handheld devices and Lumber Track. Functions include:
• Query, to display details of a tag including product data, status and use information.
• Work Order Consumption for tracking and matching tags to work orders.
• Shipping, which displays shipment details and allows a user to query package details and to scan package tags for assignment to, removal from or substitution with the shipment item.
• Unpick, which allows removal of an item from a shipment without having to enter the shipment details.

The Batch Inventory Application allows data from tags to be captured and stored on handheld devices. Typical uses are for physical counts, consumption tracking, and shipping management as described above. The data is then uploaded to Lumber Track in a batch and processed. The customer determines how often to upload the data.

Progressive Solutions’ handheld Inventory Management applications also now run on a wide range of handheld devices, including popular industrial devices from Symbol and HHP as well as consumer-grade Pocket PC devices from HP, Dell and others. These widely-available handheld devices feature optional displays, keypads, integrated or add-on (tethered or Bluetooth-enabled) barcode scanners, and nonvolatile storage for automatic application reinstallation when cold booted.

Customers installing an RF network and using RF handheld devices with the Real-Time RF Inventory Application may also want to install the Batch Inventory Application on the RF handhelds for times when the network is not functioning or the handheld device is out of range.

“Users can select different handheld devices for different areas of their operation,” explains Geoff Douglas, Progressive Solutions’ VP Sales & Marketing. “What we’ve done is to build our applications using Microsoft .Net architecture, which builds in support for industry standard protocols. The net effect is that we’re giving customers complete freedom to purchase from any supplier they want, selecting features that are most useful to them, and potentially saving them a lot of money.”

Progressive Solutions also offers two handheld data collection applications for hardwood lumber manufacturers:
• End Tally allows producers to store multiple end tallies from purchased or produced inventory. A user can review the bundles, verify its contents and make edits before transferring the data to Lumber Track.
• Load Tally allows a user to record multiple grades within a load using surface measure values of each board. This makes it easy to verify a vendor’s tally, or create a load with a customer’s requested grade composition.

About Lumber Track
Lumber Track is the premier business software solution for wood products companies. Its comprehensive feature set integrates all business functions – inventory control, sales, procurement, production, shipping and transportation logistics, accounts receivable and reporting – putting critical information from the entire operation at the users’ fingertips. Lumber Track is ideal for multiple-site sawmills and panel mills, wood products distributors, wholesalers exporters and remanufacturers. Complementary products offer tag printing, data collection, and financial and accounting management.

About Progressive Solutions Inc.
Progressive Solutions Inc. is the international leader in business software solutions for the forest products industry. Founded in 1989, the company is headquartered in Richmond, BC, with sales offices across the US, UK and Canada. Its products address the procurement, sales, inventory and logistics management needs of sawmills, panel mills, remanufacturers, wholesale/ distributors and building materials distributors/dealers with domestic and export markets.