January 25, 2005

ikaSystems Announces First Annual User and Functionality Enhancement Conference

User Conference Showcases the ikaEnterprise System Version5.0

Southborough, Massachusetts. Jan 25, 2005 - ikaSystems Corporation, a leading provider of web-based, enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for the healthcare industry, today announced the ikaSystems First Annual User and Functionality Conference held on January 22-25, 2005 at the Occidental Royal Hideaway Playacar Resort  in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

The 2005 Annual User Conference brought together customers and staff for a few days of networking, learning, and fun on the beautiful Yucatan Peninsula. Clients got together in a relaxed and friendly environment to build relationships, share ideas, and learn more about ikaEnterprise System 5.0 – ikaSystems’ full-service application suite of managed care solutions.

Conference sessions included tracks on the ikaPortals; claims administration system; Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS®); and physician quality assessment. Attendees were asked to explain how they were using the ikaEnterprise System, its benefits, and challenges. “This type of roundtable discussion was extremely beneficial,” said James F. Marzano Jr., Chief Information Officer at ikaSystems. Hearing testimonials from advanced users helped our new customers understand that the ikaEnterprise System is a powerful and mature feature-rich system that can handle the rapid and immense exchange of data across the enterprise,” he added.

“The user conference was very informative. By having users discuss their implementation process and ongoing strategies, everyone was able to appreciate the full capabilities of the ikaModules,” added Tonya Draughon, Marketing Development Manager at Renaissance Life and Health Company, a Florida-based dental plan provider with products in seventeen states.

The retreat proved invaluable for the future development of the ikaEnterprise System. Participants attended a hands-on workshop where staff and clients defined user workflow and product enhancements for ikaEnterprise System 5.0. “Participants were energetic, responsive, and provided excellent feedback. Many ideas for improvement met with overall excitement and are slated for implementation into a future release of ikaEnterprise,” said Marzano.

The conference provided a forum where ikaSystems’ clients could network with other professionals in the managed care industry and get to know ikaSystems’ dedicated team of professionals. “The conference gave all participants an opportunity to establish knowledge of ikaSystems in a family-team atmosphere,” said Beverly Walton, Vice President of Operations at US Healthcare Holdings, a full-service managed care outsourcing and management company in Cleveland, Ohio and Evansville, Indiana. “The camaraderie was exceptional. By the end of the conference, friendships were forged and contact information was exchanged,” said Marzano.