NORTH MANKATO, Minn., April 4 -- Corporate Express's Document Printing Management division signed a long-term agreement today to use James Tower's Cross-Wind software to manage and improve its print procurement process. By using Cross-Wind, Corporate Express will save time in processing and analyzing submitted bids, more effectively manage their supplier base, create customizable templates that fit current business processes and improve communications with their suppliers. "While CEDPM produces 70 percent of the orders we receive, James Tower's Cross-Wind software is the perfect e-solution when we need to outsource specialty print items to our preferred suppliers," commented Maggie Witt, director e-procurement & outsourcing. "Cross-Wind enables us to easily distribute via the Web specifications for an order, allowing numerous suppliers to respond electronically with a pricing quote and delivery date. Our buyers can then instantly compare prices and select a supplier, ensuring a cost-effective and quick response to our valued customers." Cross-Wind is a complete e-procurement and vendor management solution. It allows print buyers to automate, integrate, and more efficiently manage the purchasing process through a web-browser interface. By using Cross-Wind print buyers have the freedom to design custom pricing templates, to establish unlimited vendor lists, and to entertain numerous bids -- giving them the best price available. "The addition of Corporate Express Document and Print to the Cross-Wind family will provide our team with another significant partner that clearly understands and drives the challenges of strategic sourcing, print and vendor management. Our combined experience, knowledge and interest in working together will not only improve our respective businesses but will also continue to drive unique solutions of real print procurement and vendor management challenges back into the Cross-Wind system for all of our customers," said Brian Olsem, president, James Tower. James Tower developed Cross-Wind to help print buyers streamline the process of quoting and purchasing customized products by more efficiently managing the supplier relationship. By working with the print industry to develop this product, Cross-Wind reflects the industry's need for a powerful tool that is simple and straightforward to use while giving the buyer complete control of the purchasing process.