Novartis Brazil Deploys Docent to Drive Sales Force Effectiveness and Accelerate ERP Rollout.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2003

Global Life Sciences Leader Prescribes Personalized Learning

Activities to Optimize Performance and Speed Time-to-Market

Docent(R) Inc. (Nasdaq:DCNT), a leading provider of integrated software solutions proven to directly drive business performance through learning, today announced that Novartis Brazil, a leader in pharmaceuticals and consumer health, has gone live with Docent Enterprise(TM) as its strategic learning platform. The solution is helping Novartis increase sales productivity, accelerate new product launches in the region, and maximize its ROI in SAP. MicroPower, a Docent Authorized Reseller in Brazil, implemented the system in less than six weeks.

The Docent-based platform powers a blended online learning environment with internally-developed content, off-the-shelf courses, and instructor-led curriculum offering vital information about Novartis product innovations, research and development breakthroughs, sales and negotiating techniques, leadership skills and teamwork.

Novartis is using Docent to enhance its appraisal process and streamline goal-setting for its sales team based on an extensive profile of core competencies associated with optimum sales performance. Sales representatives and managers use Docent to create personalized learning plans and directly correlate learning activities with overall sales and business results.

Based on the success of the initial phase, Novartis is integrating Docent as the learning infrastructure within its SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Docent provides 3,500 employees with a comprehensive, easy-to-use environment to boost their knowledge and adoption of the new business processes in SAP.

"As we evaluated learning solutions, it was clear that Docent is the clear leader in the pharmaceutical industry," said Valeria dos Santos, e-Learning Product Manager for Novartis. "Docent's track record and domain expertise in our industry, combined with the outstanding local customer support we have received from both Docent and MicroPower, were vital factors in our selection process."

About Novartis Brazil

Based in Sao Paulo, Novartis Brazil is an operating unit within Novartis, a world leader in the research and development of products to protect and improve health and well-being. Novartis' core businesses are in pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye-care, and animal health. Novartis generated $20.9 billion in sales in 2002 and was created in 1996 from the merger of the Swiss companies, Ciba and Sandoz. For more information, visit www.novartis.com.

About Docent, Inc.

Docent, Inc. (Nasdaq:DCNT) is a leading provider of integrated software solutions proven to directly drive business performance through learning. Docent solutions for sales performance, product launch, channel effectiveness, customer education, compliance, ERP/CRM implementations, and other business priorities are enabled by the industry's most comprehensive suite of business performance management applications, industry-specific content, and world-class services. Solutions are tailored to address the unique requirements of vertical markets, including government, life sciences, energy, high tech, telecommunications, financial services, retail and manufacturing.

Docent outperforms the industry in customer satisfaction benchmarks, delivering compelling and measurable ROI to blue chip customers such as Cingular Wireless, Harley-Davidson, Wachovia Corporation, Lucent Technologies, Kelly Services, Eaton Corporation, D&B, Halliburton, Rockwell Collins, and Bechtel Group, Inc. Docent partners with the world's most prominent systems integrators and business process outsourcing providers, including Accenture, Exult, IBM Human Capital Solutions, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Deloitte Consulting. Docent is distinguished as a leader by Gartner in the 2003 e-Learning Suites and LMS Magic Quadrants, and by the META Group in the 2003 METAspectrum report on learning management system vendors. Docent is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with other offices throughout the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific. For more information, visit www.docent.com.

About MicroPower

Founded in 1994, MicroPower is the leading e-Learning solutions provider in the Brazilian market. MicroPower has represented Docent in the country since 2001, providing and integrating technology platforms, on-line course content and specialized consulting services. MicroPower also promotes the e-Learning Brazil - Conference & Award, considered Latin America's largest and most important e-Learning event with an objective to develop the e-Learning market. In addition, MicroPower has developed and distributed "best of breed" technologies like machine translators, text to speech, and Virtual Vision (Smithsonian Award 1998/1999 finalist), a screen reader that enables the Visually Impaired to access computer applications and Internet with autonomy.

Docent, Docent Enterprise and the marks relating to Docent products and services referenced herein are either trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Docent, Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.