HORSHAM, Pennsylvania, May 21 /PRNewswire/ --

Astea International Inc. (Nasdaq: ATEA), a leading provider of Service Lifecycle Management and Mobility software solutions today announced that Torex, the leading European-based global provider of software solutions to the extended retail marketplace, has selected Astea Alliance to manage the service of its solutions for the extended retail marketplace.

Torex will bring a new level of business value to its clients through the seamless integration of its service function. Using Astea Alliance, Torex will have complete visibility and control of its service supply chain. From the initial customer call to the closing of work orders, customer invoicing and product replacement, every step in the service lifecycle process represents an opportunity for improving customer satisfaction, reducing costs and increasing revenues. In order to deliver best-in-class service, companies need seamless continuity and visibility of every interaction with the customer. Critical customer information must be shared and instantly available to everyone in the organization that touches that customer.

"As a global business it is imperative that Torex has a common business solution platform to meet our growth plans and to support the objective of delivering a standard approach to doing business. ASTEA is a cornerstone for our global applications solution stack which will, in due course, be integrated with our CRM and financial systems. As a metrics driven organisation with a strong customer-centric approach it is imperative that we have the right systems in place to measure the organisation's output. Collectively these systems will deliver tangible efficiency gains and drive our effectiveness in improving customer service," said Graeme Cooksley, President and COO at Torex.

Astea's unique capabilities will help Torex to conveniently and effectively measure, predict, plan and optimize their overall service lifecycle management strategy. With personalized, multi-dimensional views, easy-to-assess dashboards and proactive alerts, Torex will get the insight to increase competitiveness and profitability.

"Corporations are looking to unify information for a 360 degree view of the customer," said Mark Comer, Managing Director of EMEA at Astea. "By partnering with Astea, Torex will break down the traditional barriers between departmental and enterprise systems. World-class service companies know that an integrated approach that ties call centers, depots, field service, sales and office personnel together provides the most value to their customers. With Astea's portfolio of solutions we can provide Torex with the comprehensive service lifecycle management information backbone that will help them in this competitive and dynamic environment."

About Torex

With more than 20 years experience, Torex is the leading European-based global provider of proven, best-in-class solutions that help over 7,000 customers provide a defining customer experience in the retail, petroleum & convenience, fast moving consumer goods, and leisure, food & beverage markets. The systems developed by Torex cover every aspect of retailing from in-store point of sale and merchandising, to back office planning and scheduling, to head office performance and productivity management. www.Torex.com

About Astea

Astea International (Nasdaq: ATEA) is a global provider of service management software that addresses the unique needs of companies who manage capital equipment, mission critical assets and human capital. With the acquisition of FieldCentrix, Astea complements its existing portfolio with the industry's leading mobile field service execution solutions. Astea is helping companies drive even higher levels of customer satisfaction with faster response times and proactive communication, creating a seamless, consistent and highly personalized experience at every customer relationship touch point. Since its inception in 1979, Astea has licensed applications to companies, around the world, in a wide range of sectors including information technology, telecommunications, instruments and controls, business systems, HVAC, gaming/leisure, imaging, industrial equipment, and medical devices.

www.astea.com . Service Smart. Enterprise Proven.

Astea and Astea Alliance are trademarks of Astea International Inc. All other company and product names contained herein are trademarks of the respective holders.

Web site: http://www.astea.com http://www.Torex.com

Debbie Geiger, Vice President of Marketing of Astea International Inc., +1-215-682-2314, dgeiger@astea.com