Monsanto Selects Smart Softwares SmartForecasts to Improve Forecasting Process

Belmont, Mass., February 25, 2004– Smart Software today announced that  Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) has selected the SmartForecasts™ Enterprise demand  forecasting, planning and inventory optimization system to improve inventory and  production management in its approximately $2 billion Seed and Genomics business segment.

 SmartForecasts is integrated with  Monsanto's Oracle database which stores demand data and forecast results and  shares information with several of the company's planning systems. The purchase  is part of Monsanto's Six Sigma effort to improve core company operations.  Monsanto plans to improve forecasting  accuracy and optimize safety stock levels with the help of  SmartForecasts.

Additionally, Monsanto will use SmartForecasts to help it develop  long-range production plans and forecast crop yields, as well as produce  in-season sales and production forecasts.

After evaluating a number of systems, Monsanto's Seed and Genomics  business chose SmartForecasts, because it satisfied many of the company's  selection criteria.  According to  Jim Most, Global Seed Supply Process Improvement Manager, Monsanto was looking  for a forecasting system that was easy to use, would gain quick acceptance by  selected users, and eliminate the overhead expenses normally associated with ERP  forecasting modules and other demand planning systems. 

 "To meet our goals, we  need to have acceptance of statistical forecasting as a key part of our planning  process," said Most.  "It is  critical that we are able to cut through the noise, observe demand patterns, and  understand our product mix better.   Our old system didn't have the power to do that.  SmartForecasts does.  Its Excel-like user interface will also  facilitate transition from our former Excel-based forecasting  process."

Monsanto also wanted a system that was easy to implement.  SmartForecasts' universal database  connectivity and Database Wizards simplify the implementation process and enable  companies like Monsanto to easily integrate SmartForecasts with their Oracle, SQL Server or IBM DB2 corporate database. 

"The startup went very smoothly," according to Most.  "From the time we received  SmartForecasts until we started doing real, productive work was only three  weeks.  So far, SmartForecasts is  doing everything we expected of it."

Headquartered in  St. Louis, Missouri, Monsanto is a $4.5 billion Fortune 500 provider of  agricultural products and solutions. The company's Seed and Genomics segment  produces leading seed brands, including DEKALB and Asgrow, and develops  biotechnology traits that integrate insect control and weed control into the  seed itself.