NOW Solutions and Enwisen Form Alliance to Deliver Integrated HR Communications - Alliance Strengthens Ability to Offer Enhanced Workforce Self-Service


FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- NOW Solutions, LLC, a majority owned subsidiary of Vertical Computer Systems, Inc., today announced an alliance with Enwisen, a leading supplier of Web-based, HR communication solutions, to deliver integrated human resource communications capabilities to NOW Solutions' emPath(TM) customers. Under the agreement, NOW Solutions will integrate Enwisen's Employee Resource Center(TM) into emPath(TM). emPath(TM), a web-based HRIS solution, tightly integrates the organization's human resources and payroll functions. Users have all the information they need at their fingertips to track employee salary and pay details, benefits, skills, absences, performance reviews, as well as fully comprehensive web self-service features.

Enwisen's platform will provide personalized benefit communication, work/life event guides, decision support tools, and HR policy communications. This integration will provide NOW Solutions' customers with the ability to offer decision support tools and personalized answers that take self-service to an entirely new level helping employees, dependents, retirees, and managers make better decisions that affect both work and life.

The initial integration was completed in just three weeks and demonstrated to customers at the NOW Solutions Users Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 4, 2002. The solutions are pre-integrated, allowing simple and quick implementations, and is generally available to NOW Solutions' customers.

"The alliance with NOW Solutions," said Barry Maxon, President and COO of Enwisen, "further strengthens our goal to offer extended self service, personalized for the employee, with HRIS solution providers. With their strong customer base, NOW Solutions gives us the opportunity to continue to expand our growing alliance program."

"The capabilities and flexibility of Enwisen's Employee Resource Center(TM) will unquestionably enhance employee communications in the workplace," said Carmelina Uggenti, Vice President Sales & Marketing, NOW Solutions. "Enwisen's strong reputation, partnered with NOW Solutions' powerful HRIS solution, will definitely extend the reach of both organizations into new markets."

NOW Solutions' continued success can be attributed to the robust, Web- based features and flexibility of the product. emPath(TM) provides a low total cost of ownership and a high return on investment while enabling users to improve decision-making capabilities with an integrated HR/payroll solution.

About Enwisen


Enwisen is an HR communications and content management provider. Enwisen's solution enables employers, brokers, and outsourcers to deliver vital HR communications to employees and dependents through the web. Enwisen's award-winning solution, the Employee Resource Center(TM), provides detailed, web-based answers to HR's daily barrage of questions. Questions such as "May I take a loan from my 401(k)?" to "How many sick days do I get?" to "What is my office co-pay?" ... and thousands more just like these, are all answered everyday for employees at progressive companies like Yahoo!, Heald College, Bio-Rad, CUNA Mutual Group, BenefitsAlliance, and hundreds of other groups.

The Employee Resource Center(TM) uses Enwisen's Distributed HR Portal(TM) architecture and leverages the latest in XML technology. Enwisen's solution reduces the overwhelming burdens associated with HR communication providing over a 100% return on investment in less than one year, while also dramatically increasing HR's service delivery to employees and retention of key talent.

Founded in 1994, Enwisen is a proud recipient of Human Resource Executive magazine's prestigious Top Ten award for HR technology products. Enwisen is headquartered in Novato, CA. For more information, call (800) 685-5578 or visit www.enwisen.com.

About NOW Solutions, LLC


NOW Solutions, LLC, a majority owned subsidiary of Vertical Computer Systems, Inc., is a best-of-breed HRIS and payroll software and business solutions provider. A pioneer in HRIS solutions, NOW Solutions provides the capabilities companies need to manage their ever-changing workplace in the face of today's complex requirements. NOW Solutions is a respected business partner serving hundreds of customers throughout the United States and Canada. NOW Solutions' presence can be found in industries including education, for profit services, healthcare, high technology and communications, insurance, manufacturing, natural resources, not for profit, public sector, retail, transportation, and utilities. NOW Solutions has offices in Fort Worth, San Francisco Bay Area, and Toronto to serve its customers. Information on NOW Solutions and its products can be obtained on the World Wide Web at www.nowsolutions.com.

About Vertical Computer Systems, Inc.


Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. is a multinational provider of Web services, underpinning Web technologies, and administrative software services through its Global Partners System, a worldwide distribution network. Vertical provides Web applications and services targeted at specific market needs in business and government organizations, such as emergency response, news media, procurement, education, ecommerce, and human resources. Vertical also provides underpinning Web and Internet technologies that can be leveraged across all of its target markets. Vertical's software products include the Emily(TM) XML Enabler Agent, ResponseFlash(TM), SiteFlash(TM), UniversityFlash(TM), Newsflash(TM), and the Focal Point Search Engine(TM). For more information on Vertical Computer Systems, visit the company's Web site at www.vcsy.com.

For more information, please contact:
Marianne Franklin
President & Chief Executive Officer
NOW Solutions, LLC
(905) 671-9888
mariannefranklin@nowsolutions.com