Business & Money Trail:

SAND TECH SIGNS ALLIANCE PARTNERSHIP WITH KPMG CONSULTING

Sand Technology has signed an alliance agreement with KPMG Consulting in the UK, enabling Sand's Information Integration solutions -- based upon the patented Nucleus technology -- to be implemented as part of customer management solutions in clients across Europe.

A leading business solutions integrator, KPMG Consulting forms complementary alliances with application providers such as Sand Technology to enable the delivery of end-to-end business and technology solutions.

"KPMG Consulting has considerable experience in complex, large-scale data warehousing and business intelligence projects including marketing automation, CRM analytics and click stream strategies," explains Carl Ward, Director of Data Warehousing at KPMG Consulting. "These projects typically take from six to 12 months to complete and offer clients the ability to access and integrate data, turning it into information which can be used to create competitive advantage. Sand's applications will enable us to accelerate completion of large-scale projects and show clients how the data would actually look, in a drastically reduced timeframe. This proof of concept facility is hugely beneficial to any organization."

"Use of Sand technology will allow KPMG Consulting to substantially shorten the cycle time of major data warehousing projects," adds Duncan Painter, president, EMEA, Sand Technology. "The unique Nucleus 'load-and-go' capabilities empower solutions integrators such as KPMG Consulting to quickly view clients' real data as part of the projected solution, making the notion of 'proof of concept' a viable part of the solutions delivery process. In addition, Sand's patented technology gives clients a much more detailed insight into customer behavior than was possible with previously used traditional systems."

About KPMG Consulting

KPMG Consulting is a leading business solutions integrator. In the UK, KPMG Consulting employs 1,800 people and had revenues to Sept 2001 of 340 million pounds sterling. The firm combines leading-edge management thinking with the latest technologies to 'e-enable' its clients' businesses. KPMG Consulting's goal is to help its clients shape their own futures and to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the networked economy. For more information visit www.kpmgconsulting.co.uk.

About Sand Technology

Sand Technology is much more than just a software company. True, we offer a unique, innovative data management technology, with a level of analytical functionality that qualifies it as part of the "next generation" of computing software. However, we know that software is only one of the components that a business needs to realize value from corporate initiatives.

Therefore, we have structured Sand Technology as a new kind of software solution provider, with a philosophy that is strongly focused on the delivery of business-driven solutions and a corporate culture cantered on integrity and customer service. This is embodied in the Sand Guarantee, which links our commercial rewards to the delivery of real business benefits to our customers.

We help leading organizations across Europe and North America cope with "data overload," by giving them rapid access to the exact information they need to make the right business decisions. Our Information Integration solutions, powered by the patented Nucleus technology, are extremely powerful and highly scalable; they empower legacy systems and data access tools; they leverage existing IT investment, require no additional human resources, and deliver business value quickly, resulting in a rapid return on investment (ROI).

Organizations across Europe and North America use Sand's solutions for both analytical and operational purposes, including among others, CRM and CRM analytics, Web analytics, healthcare analytics, supply chain management, inventory & production optimization, financial analysis, and strategic planning.

Sand Technology is headquartered in Montreal, with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom and Central Europe. Sand Technology has commercial relationships with IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, KPMG, Ab Initio, Brio Technology, Business Objects, Information Builders, Acta, Soza, Sema/Schlumberger, Equifax and BTG. For more information, visit www.sand.com.

Contact Hellena Smejda of WordsWorth International, 815-736-9902, hsmejda@theramp.net.