Ultimus, developer of one of the most widely-deployed business process management software suites in the world, today announced a strategic global partnership with JFE Systems, a Tokyo-based user systems integrator specializing in the manufacturing sector.

This partnership allows JFE to develop margin-rich revenue streams with the Ultimus BPM solution while utilizing their own manufacturing integration expertise and development teams. Ultimus can now more effectively target the Japanese BPM market, which as part of the larger Asia-Pacific region has demonstrated positive growth.

In a recent report, Gartner indicates that the total software revenue in the portal, process, and middleware software market (including business process management suites) in Asia/Pacific and Japan is estimated to have grown to nearly $2.1 billion in 2006. Gartner forecasts the market will grow to $3.4 billion by 2011, with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 10.4%.

“The growing demand in the Japanese marketplace for workflow automation drove our decision to team with the foremost global provider of BPM solutions,” said Syuji Aoki, General Manager, IT Solution Sales, JFE Systems. “Our product and service portfolio and experience with large enterprise deployment provide a natural extension of the Ultimus BPM solution.”

Firmly committed to the world’s second largest economy, Ultimus has many years of experience in Japan. Ultimus boasts a prestigious Japanese customer base, including enterprise customers such as Ajinomoto, Nissan, Sanyo, Bausch & Lomb, Synthes, Volkswagen Group Japan, Mistui Oil, Yamashita, and Optrex.

“As a pioneer in next-generation information technology, JFE Systems offers our Japanese customer base exceptional customer service and rapid application system development,” said Samuel Bateman, Director, International Business Development, Ultimus. “The award-winning Ultimus Adaptive BPM Suite provides a business process backbone with extensive and adaptive capabilities that set JFE apart from their competition.”

The Ultimus Partner Program aims to forge relationships with leading organizations around the globe. The program empowers partners with access to the tools, information, and resources needed to successfully use, sell, deploy, and support the Ultimus Adaptive BPM Suite on mission-critical, high-value business processes.

About JFE Systems, Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange, Second Section/Code No.4832)

JFE Systems, Inc. (name changed from Kawatetsu Information Systems Ltd. on December 1, 2004) was formed as an independent company in 1983 from the former information systems division of Kawasaki Steel Co., Ltd. (the present "JFE Steel Corporation"). In March 2001, it became the first user systems integrator born out of the manufacturing sector to be listed on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For more information, please refer to http://www.jfe-systems.com/eng/index.html.

About Ultimus

Ultimus has automated more business processes than any other BPM vendor worldwide. Ultimus Adaptive BPM Suite has enabled companies to accelerate their performance goals at every stage of corporate growth. The Ultimus Suite’s SOA-based broad integration tools combined with a rapid deployment model have generated outstanding results for customers and partners alike.

Ultimus’ award-winning technology seamlessly adapts to people, systems and change. Utilized by more than 1,900 customers worldwide, Ultimus provides solutions to organizations such as DHL, Microsoft, Daimler, Perdue Farms, Chevron, Tulane University, Compassion International, Sony, Pfizer, Citigroup, Charles Schwab, Noor Islamic Bank, Frito Lay and AT&T. Ultimus is headquartered in North America, and has additional offices in Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. For more information, visit www.ultimus.com.