VIENNA, VA, Oct 20, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Appian, an innovative global provider of business process management (BPM) technology, today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has selected Appian Enterprise as its agency-wide BPM platform. FEMA's goal is to streamline, automate, and improve its mission-critical disaster relief processes. Work under the contract, valued at more than $2 million, will begin immediately.

FEMA chose to implement a common agency-wide business process management platform as part of the agency's constant focus on enhancing its mission support activities. Appian Enterprise will support FEMA's goal of continuous process improvement by increasing visibility into and management of operations.

FEMA has more than 2,600 full time employees. They work at FEMA headquarters in Washington D.C., at regional and area offices across the country, the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center, and the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. FEMA also has nearly 4,000 standby disaster assistance employees who are available for deployment after disasters. Often FEMA works in partnership with other organizations that are part of the nation's emergency management system. In the wake of numerous recent natural disasters throughout the U.S., FEMA believes that business process management technology will help improve internal processes, enabling the agency to provide better services to the public.

Appian Enterprise, the only 100% Web-based BPM suite, is a comprehensive solution that simplifies process collaboration and innovation between business and IT. Designed for business users, Appian Enterprise puts the power of process innovation in the hands of the business decision makers, while allowing IT to easily extend, integrate and personalize its BPM applications. The suite includes integrated document management capabilities as well as real-time analytics and monitoring for the most complete and responsive reporting. Appian Anywhere, the first and only complete BPM suite in a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, delivers all the power and functionality of Appian Enterprise in a hosted environment.

"Government agencies like FEMA understand that BPM drives measurable productivity and work quality improvements by automating complex processes and giving access to real-time performance data," said Matthew Calkins, president and CEO of Appian. "Appian is proud to play a role in FEMA's disaster relief mission."

On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ( http://www.fema.gov/about/index.shtm) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The primary mission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.

Appian is the BPM pure-play expert. Appian leads the market in BPM innovation, delivering comprehensive, flexible and easy-to-use solutions customized to the unique needs of individual organizations. Businesses and governments worldwide use Appian to simplify process innovation with the real-time visibility, control and analytics needed to improve the critical processes that determine business performance. Appian allows all users across the organization to effectively collaborate and be part of the process of achieving corporate goals. Appian is backed by the premier venture firm Novak Biddle Venture Partners, and is headquartered in the Washington D.C. region, with professional services and partners around the globe.

For more information, visit www.appian.com.

SOURCE: Appian Corporation