Walker Announces New Release of Horizon OLAP

Walker Interactive Systems Inc, a global provider of e-business solutions for the enterprise, announced immediate general availability of Release 2.0 of Walker Horizon OLAP Reporting and Analysis. New features of the release further increase the benefits that financial executives reap from time and cost efficient, self-service access to vital business information and financial analysis insight. Horizon OLAP Reporting and Analysis supports ebusinesses and provides employees, customers and partners with information analysis and Web reporting capabilities to expand their knowledge management capabilities.

"Horizon OLAP Reporting and Analysis has enabled us to deliver not only standard monthly financial reports, but complex Volume/Price Analysis reports which incorporate sales and product cost information," stated Mickey Crane, Director of Accounting at Mississippi Chemical. "This type of reporting capability is critical in assisting management to better understand our financial performance. In addition, this reporting tool allows us to provide daily sales activity that, in turn, provides management the capability of tracking our performance against sales projections."

Designed by and for financial executives, Horizon OLAP Reporting and Analysis delivers complex, highly formatted financial statements which give users the ability to quickly analyze data. Using a Web browser, users simply navigate to their reports in a self-service environment and then analyze the data, either by using linked reports or by drilling directly into the underlying database. The result is less time spent collecting data and more time available to analyze the financials and gain true business insight.

"The majority of report writers that are sold as financial reporting applications were developed with sales and marketing reports in mind, not financial statements," stated David Edwards, Product Manager for Horizon OLAP Reporting and Analysis at Walker. "Horizon OLAP Reporting and Analysis was designed specifically for financial reporting with the caveat that the Finance staff can own the report design process. Report design is a simple drop-anddrag process and the majority of report maintenance is eliminated through the use of Dynamic Definitions, Time Range Definitions and Substitution Variables."

"Today corporations are faced with the challenge of streamlining their financial process and encompassing e-business pressures to meet the needs of the business, as well as, having timely access to their financials," said Mark Smith, program director in META Group's Application Delivery Strategies. "To enable the ability to achieve this, financial management solutions must provide an integrated reporting, budgeting, planning, consolidation and analysis environment. In addition, users must have secure self-service access to financial reports and be able to analyze the reports without assistance from IT or finance staff. Companies providing this type of solution, like Walker with Horizon, provide an integrated financial management suite that has the ability to meet the needs of e-business."

Horizon OLAP Reporting and Analysis is a leading reporting solution that closes the loop on financial reporting, analysis and modeling. With a single application, companies can deliver their routine financial reports, analyze the data, and create simulation models to refine corporate strategy.

Availability

Walker Horizon OLAP Reporting & Analysis 2.0 is available immediately.

About Walker

Walker Interactive Systems Inc, headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a leading, global provider of e-business solutions for the enterprise. The Walker family of e-business applications and vertical industry solutions, combined with integration and consulting services, are utilized by Global 2000 organizations in industries including banking and financial services, paper, retail, transportation and utilities. Information about Walker is available at www.walker.com or 800-PICK-WALKER.

Contact Christine Coleman of Walker, 415-243-2668 colem@walker.com.