National Oilwell Launches Customer Connect

National Oilwell Inc announced the release of an online purchasing analysis application called Customer Connect. Customer Connect allows customers to confidentially review their purchases from National Oilwell's Web site, www.natoil.com.

Customer Connect is powered by Cognos, the industry leading OnLine Analytical Processing (OLAP) software provider that enables users to perform multidimensional analysis, graph summary information, and drill down into invoice detail. Customers are able to review purchases from National Oilwell by date, product category, company division, well/rig, lease, project number, buyer, and many other customer specific attributes.

The release of this application improves customers' abilities to review purchases, plan and forecast expenditures, and manage maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) activities. The ability to review invoice detail enables customers to monitor purchases, validate billings, and identify standardization opportunities.

Today, Customer Connect supports alliance customers in managing their expenditures. National Oilwell is actively introducing this software to numerous other customers. The benefits of Customer Connect versus conventional reporting applications are timeliness (updated daily), ease of use (Web-based interface, no software downloads), and extensive user-defined query capabilities.

"Technology is a critical, strategic asset in today's marketplace, used to create new business opportunities and differentiate National Oilwell from the competition," said Joel Staff, Chairman, president and CEO. "Customer Connect gives National Oilwell a new way to add value for our customers and demonstrates our commitment to provide unparalleled exchanges of information with its stakeholders. We believe Customer Connect will help drive our topline growth through customer acquisition and provide a unique competitive advantage."

About National Oilwell

National Oilwell is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of comprehensive systems and components used in oil and gas drilling and production, as well as in providing supply chain integration services to the upstream oil and gas industry. An online demonstration of Customer Connect is available in the Your Data section of www.natoil.com.

About Cognos

Cognos is one of the world's largest and most successful business intelligence companies. Founded in 1969, Cognos does business with 14,000 customers in more than 60 countries around the world. Cognos business intelligence solutions and services are also available from more than 2,800 worldwide partners and resellers.

Contact National Oilwell, Houston, Steve Krablin, 713-346-7773.