GXS, Microsoft and Covast will host a webinar entitled Accelerate Your Supply Chain: A Hybrid Approach to B2B Integration on October 25.  Benoit Lheureux, research director of Gartner, will be the webinar’s featured guest speaker and will address why companies should make multi-enterprise integration a strategic initiative, and how the use of integration service providers and B2B gateways can increase B2B flexibility.

Specifically, participants will learn how to:

• reduce costs of operations by automating trading partner relationships and removing manual processes;
• improve customer service by integrating internal applications with trading partners; and
• streamline business operations by consolidating onto a single global integration platform.

Details of the webinar are as follows:

Who:	Benoit Lheureux, research director, Gartner and representatives from Microsoft, Covast and GXS
What:	Webinar: Accelerate Your Supply Chain: A Hybrid Approach to B2B Integration
When:	October 25, 11:00 a.m. EDT
Where:	www.gxs.com
Why:	Learn about hybrid approaches to B2B integration from the leaders in the space and how a hybrid approach can eliminate manual processes and boost B2B efficiency.

In May 2006, GXS, Microsoft and Covast announced global strategic alliances to market innovative solutions to speed and simplify integration between trading partners worldwide.  The alliances focus on enabling B2B integration initiatives across organizations’ global supply chains, through a combination of software and services that includes Microsoft® BizTalk® Server 2006, SQL Server™ 2005, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, the Covast B2B Suite for GXS Trading Grid and the GXS Trading Grid^®.

GXS is a leading global provider of B2B e-commerce solutions that simplify and enhance business process integration, synchronization and collaboration among trading partners.  Organizations worldwide, including 75 percent of the Fortune 500, leverage the GXS Trading Grid^® to extend supply networks, optimize product launches, automate warehouse receiving, manage electronic payments and gain supply chain visibility.  With an unmatched global presence, proven trading partner management and B2B outsourcing services, GXS’ on-demand solutions maximize the benefits of integration for businesses.

Based in Gaithersburg, Md., GXS’ extensive global network serves customers throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific regions.  GXS can be found on the Web at www.gxs.com.