Accenture Awarded Contract to Modernize Global Merchandising System for Army & Air Force Exchange Service

WASHINGTON; May 10, 2004 – Accenture has been awarded a 26-month contract worth approximately $10 million to help the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) modernize its global merchandising system. AAFES is a military command providing products and services to more than 11.5 million eligible customers worldwide and generating earnings for Army and Air Force morale, welfare and recreation programs.

The AAFES merchandising system is used to perform a wide range of functions, including inventory and price management, invoice management, sales audits, demand forecasting, and data warehousing. Under the contract Accenture will help AAFES implement Retek software modules that are designed to enhance AAFES’ performance by increasing inventory controls, lowering costs of operations, and improving customer service.

Specifically Accenture will help AAFES: plan the tasks necessary for implementing each module; conduct design, development and testing for each module in accordance with AAFES’ requirements; plan and execute training and transition activities; deploy the new system; and provide post-implementation support.

“AAFES’ mission takes on greater importance today as it builds and runs retail stores in all 50 states, more than 35 countries, five territories, and in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom,” said AAFES spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Debra Pressley. “Our Retek modernization program will enhance our ability to provide quality merchandise and services of necessity and convenience to our customers and generate earnings to supplement appropriated funds that support critical quality of life programs.”

“We understand the need for AAFES to quickly achieve results in order to meet its worldwide mission of serving the needs of military customers wherever they may be called to service,” said Lisa Mascolo, managing partner of Accenture’s USA Government Federal client group. “Our deep experience implementing Retek software means that we can work rapidly and effectively to help AAFES deploy its new system and achieve a higher level of performance.”

About AAFES
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is a joint command of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, and is directed by a Board of Directors who is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through their Chiefs of Staff. Now in its second century of service, AAFES has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and of generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs. To learn more visit www.aafes.com.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. With deep industry and business process expertise, broad global resources and a proven track record, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills, and technologies to help clients improve their performance. With approximately 90,000 people in 48 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$11.8 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2003. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

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