Novanis Partnership Expands Percussion Software's Presence in e-Government

Business Wire, August 28, 2001

Business/Technology Editors

STONEHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 28, 2001

Systems Integrator for Public & Private Sectors Selects Percussion's

Rhythmyx as its Content Management Package for Web-Enabled Solutions

Expanding its presence in the e-Government market, Percussion Software announced today a partnership with Novanis Solutions, Inc., a global systems integrator focused on delivering Web-enabled solutions to businesses and government entities. Novanis will market and implement Percussion's Rhythmyx Content Manager(TM) to governmental agencies, either on a stand-alone basis or as part of a larger, customized e-Business solution. The partnership with Novanis allows Percussion to provide rapid delivery and more personalized service to a broader range of customers and government agencies.

As an increasing quantity of municipalities bring government services to the Web as a new way of conducting business with their citizens, a robust method of managing content is needed to prevent bureaucracies from being replicated online. Limited IT staffing in the public sector demands content management systems that are easy to use and require no additional technical training. Additionally, governments face budgetary restrictions, which require cost-effective solutions.

"Novanis chose Rhythmyx over other content management vendors because the government market demands the ability to manage Web site content without the need for specific technical expertise or outside IT assistance," said John Pohlman, vice president of business development, Novanis Solutions, Inc. "Our partnership with Percussion aligns us with an industry-recognized leader in the content management space who will provide customers with the ability to increase productivity by decreasing the complexity of managing a Web site."

Percussion's Rhythmyx Content Manager, a Web content management system, uses standards-based technologies to automate content creation, approval and publishing for fast-paced companies quickly establishing a Web presence. With its robust workflow capabilities, Rhythmyx allows content to be reviewed, approved and assembled with other content items to produce pages specifically for the target Web sites.

"Governments require a Web presence to communicate news and information in a timely manner, as well as for developing new ways to conduct their business online with citizens," said Barry Reynolds, president and CEO, Percussion Software. "By partnering with the leading solutions integrators in the government market, Percussion is ensuring the delivery of Rhythmyx's capabilities to a sector with booming potential for Web development, while extending its reach to organizations in state and local governments."

Novanis is the sixth solution partner to enter into a formal agreement with Percussion in 2001, and the second focused on e-Government solutions, following Link2Gov. Other solution integrators Percussion has partnered with are Guidance, Wellstream, Cinoni, and e-Partners.

About Novanis

Novanis Solutions Inc. is a solution-oriented systems integrator for medium and large businesses and government. Novanis has grown into a multimillion-dollar company with a staff of more than 200 professionals. Over the years, Novanis has not only established its reputation as a leading IT solutions provider for the business community, it has also built expertise in governmental IT solutions and has been on government master IT suppliers lists for the past 10 years. In 1998, Novanis furnished more than $30 million in computer technology-related products and services to the State of Illinois, the company's largest government client. Novanis has expanded its reach globally with offices in Illinois, Indiana, British Columbia, and Beijing and Dalian in China.

About Percussion

Percussion(R) Software (www.percussion.com) delivers virtual XML content management solutions to fast-paced companies with mission-critical Web sites. Percussion's flagship product, Rhythmyx Content Manager(TM), brings the company's seven years of expertise in processing and transforming data and documents to new customers requiring a more efficient way to deliver fresh content to the Web. With its open, standards-based architecture, Rhythmyx allows customers to integrate other critical e-commerce components to build a "best of breed" system. Rhythmyx Content Manager won a Crossroads 2001 A-List Award as one of the "Best New Enterprise Solutions for Business and Technology Infrastructure." Rhythmyx was selected as an Editors' Choice by PC Magazine in March 2001 and received Spring Internet World 2000's "Best of Show" for "Best Web Application Development Software." In 2000, Deloitte & Touche recognized Percussion Software for the second consecutive year as one of the fastest growing high-tech companies in New England.