Lawson, DigitalThink Partner For Extended Web-Based Training

Business Wire, March 3, 1999

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 1999--

Comprehensive Courses Streamline Lawson Product Certification

Lawson Software, The Global Solutions Company, today announced that it is partnering with DigitalThink, Inc., the leading producer and distributor of Web-based training for information technology (IT) professionals, to establish a comprehensive Web-based information technology training system for Lawson employees, partners and customers. Lawson will deliver 90 percent of its IT courses via Web-based training, with the remaining 10 percent of training conducted in a traditional classroom setting.

"DigitalThink's Internet delivery of its training courses is right in line with Lawson's own strategy of Web-based delivery of products and services," said Richard Patton, executive vice president of research and development for Lawson Software. "Lawson's training strategies mirror those of our products. Our Self-Evident Applications(TM) (SEA) are designed to be usable with no training at all. For products that do require training, we are committed to making it available via the Web and moving away from high-cost, traditional classroom learning experiences."

Lawson Software University (LSU), the company's training and documentation department, is partnering with DigitalThink to provide a virtual university for Lawson employees that will be accessible via the company's intranet. The virtual university is hosted from DigitalThink's servers, enabling LSU to avoid the costs of additional servers or support personnel. Beginning in April 1999, Lawson partners and customers will also be able to access a full curriculum of Lawson courses delivered via DigitalThink's Web site. All courses will have a customized Lawson Software University "look and feel," and LSU staff will be able to track student progress and performance on a real-time basis.

Lawson began introducing levels of certification for training in January 1999 by defining course tracks that lead to certification in Lawson Software products.

"DigitalThink's Web-based training offers several clear advantages for information technology professionals seeking to become certified on Lawson Software products," said Pete Goettner, DigitalThink's President and CEO. "Our courses allow students to learn when they want, from wherever they have a Web connection. DigitalThink courses provide all the in-depth learning of traditional classrooms, with hands-on exercises, discussions with classmates, and personalized attention from online tutors."

DigitalThink provides Web-based training courses for programmers, developers, system administrators and end users. In addition to a full course catalog of more than 1,500 hours of IT training, DigitalThink also produces and delivers custom Web-based training for companies seeking to train employees, customers, and business partners. The company has more than 60,000 registered users from around the world and employs a full-time staff of more than 75. The company's corporate clients include Adobe Systems, Cirent Semiconductor, Informix, Merrill Lynch, Motorola, Raytheon, Silicon Graphics, Texas Instruments, U.S. WEST and Walgreens.

DigitalThink was founded in March 1996 and is headquartered in San Francisco. The DigitalThink Web site at www.digitalthink.com offers a sample course, an archive of company press releases, links to online articles about DigitalThink and the most current course list with prices.

Lawson Software, The Global Solutions Company, is a provider of self-evident, role-based Web solutions for financials, human resources, procurement, supply chain and performance management. With more than 2,500 mid- to large-sized corporate customers, and sales of its healthcare solutions growing at 163 percent, Lawson has distinguished itself competitively through a unique blend of feature-rich customer solutions, technology innovation and user-friendly support. Lawson Software has been acclaimed by technology analysts for its innovative and unique use of leading-edge technologies, like Self-Evident Applications(TM) (SEA) on the Web, and Drill Around(TM) for integrated, cross-application data access.

Red Herring magazine names Lawson "the strongest private ERP company" and lists Lawson among the world's top 50 private companies. The Information Technology Association of America asserts Lawson is the first to be certified for Year 2000 compliance. Says the Meta Group, "Lawson gives its customers quantified savings by aiming their technology at saving corporations on overhead...a rare thing in the client/server world." Offering LAWSON INSIGHT for UNIX, NT and AS/400 platforms, Lawson has offices in 15 countries, more than 20 distributors worldwide and a 96 percent client retention over five years. The company is headquartered in Minneapolis and London. Additional information about Lawson Software is available on the company's Web site, http://www.lawson.com, or by calling (800) 477-1357.

Lawson and LAWSON INSIGHT are registered trademarks of Lawson Software. Other company and product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.