Netscape Announces Availability of Netscape BuyerXpert 2.0 for Corporate Procurement

PHOENIX, Ariz., NAPM Electronic Commerce 98 Conference (November 17, 1998) - Netscape Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: NSCP) today announced the 2.0 version of Netscape BuyerXpert packaged enterprise application for automating external supplier interactions, streamlining internal processes and integration with existing legacy systems. The Internet corporate procurement application gives companies speed, efficiency, connectivity and control in purchasing, and is designed to better align companies' cost structures. With the announcement of Netscape BuyerXpert 2.0, Netscape also announced a series of software relationships, a new scalability and simulation lab, and the support of new systems integrators that further solidify Netscape's leadership position in the enterprise procurement market.

"As a strategic part of the Netscape CommerceXpert product family, Netscape BuyerXpert gives our customers a competitive edge by enabling them to effectively manage and leverage their trading partner and procurement processes," said Steve Savignano, senior vice president and general manager of the application products division at Netscape. "With today's release of Netscape BuyerXpert 2.0, our customers are poised to take advantage of the Net Economy by deploying an Internet procurement application that is enterprise-ready, easy to use, and focused on external interactions that deliver significant returns."

"Netscape BuyerXpert has enabled John Hancock to move towards a much more cost effective and efficient purchasing model. BuyerXpert's capabilities in the requisitioning of contracted services, utilizing automated workflow and the integration of our ERP system for supplier invoicing, will enable us to save over one million dollars annually in contracted services alone," said Roy Anderson, director of corporate procurement at John Hancock. "In addition to the cost benefit associated with deploying Netscape BuyerXpert, we are also seeing an improved working environment for our employees as we continue to roll out the product."

Many new features and customer benefits have been delivered with version 2.0 of Netscape BuyerXpert, including the capability to enable suppliers to trade with the buying company via any web browser. With BuyerXpert 2.0, a company can conduct full-circle electronic commerce with all of its suppliers. Purchase orders, invoices, ship notices and other transaction documents can all be web forms that interface directly into BuyerXpert. By lowering suppliers' costs, a company can secure lower product and service prices in return. BuyerXpert 2.0 also has unique capabilities for supplier self-management via extranets, further lowering costs to the buying company. In addition, since BuyerXpert 2.0 contains links to online procurement services, customers will have immediate access to services provided by external entities.

With Netscape BuyerXpert 2.0, companies will also benefit from a number of new features that streamline internal procurement processes. These features include a new graphical user interface and new wizards designed to enhance the ease of use of requisitioning, order editing and order approval, as well as features for pop-up boxes. Complex workflow, including routing by accounting and commodity codes - a key requirement for purchasing departments - is also supported in BuyerXpert 2.0. In addition, in order to help companies manage broad aspects of supplier relationships, Netscape BuyerXpert 2.0 includes a new analysis and reporting module based on the Actuate reporting tool, as well as 25 new pre-packaged reports to assist in procurement analysis.

With Netscape BuyerXpert 2.0, companies can integrate with any existing system and have the option of purchasing new certified interfaces to a number of applications. In addition to native and certified connectivity between Netscape BuyerXpert and Oracle Applications, companies can now take advantage of certified interfaces to SAP R/3 and MQ Series connectivity out of the box.

To further enhance BuyerXpert's leadership position in the enterprise procurement market, Netscape announced today a series of software alliances, a new scalability and simulation lab, and the support of new system integrators. Industry leaders in the enterprise procurement space, such as Sage IT, Sapient, and Sierra Systems, are working with Netscape to provide key consulting and integration services for Netscape BuyerXpert 2.0.

"Web-enabled corporate procurement is an ideal way for companies to leverage the ease-of-use of the Internet while creating dramatic cost savings," said Mike Stankus, vice president of Sapient. "Given this value proposition, we are extremely pleased to be part of the Netscape BuyerXpert alliance program."

In addition, Lucent Technologies will provide integration services for Netscape BuyerXpert 2.0, as well as Netscape's entire CommerceXpert product family with focus on the telecommunications and ISP market. "Netscape's BuyerXpert electronic commerce offering directly addresses the tremendous demand for Internet procurement solutions," said Duane Elmquist, vice president, Lucent Technologies Internet software group. "As a premier system integrator for Netscape's CommerceXpert suite, BuyerXpert will enable Lucent to design and deliver superior electronic commerce solutions for service providers and enterprises."

Netscape also unveiled its e-commerce performance and customer simulation lab, a facility with all the hardware and software necessary to simulate and analyze over 4,000 concurrent users. The facility is being used to bring in customers' information and test cases and simulate CommerceXpert performance and deployment scenarios. BuyerXpert 2.0 also now includes Full Circle's Talkback software, a system that automatically monitors the application, collects information and notifies Netscape support of quality issues. In related news, Netscape announced a marketing relationship with Extensity to provide a travel and expense report management system to be used in connection with Netscape BuyerXpert 2.0.

Part of the Netscape CommerceXpert product suite, Netscape BuyerXpert will be available on the Sun Solaris platform. The product is part of the CommerceXpert family, a comprehensive suite of Internet applications for conducting business over the Internet with suppliers, partners and customers by providing solutions for commerce exchange, procurement and selling.

Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of software and services for businesses that want to transform the way they create and keep customers in the emerging Net Economy. The company offers a full line of enterprise software solutions professional services, and a leading Internet portal to help companies build, buy or outsource Internet applications that drive revenue growth, build customer loyalty, and create new levels of business efficiency. Traded on NASDAQ under the symbol NSCP, Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.

Additional information on Netscape Communications Corporation is available on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to info@netscape.com, or by calling 650/937-2555 (corporations) or 650/937-3777 (individuals).

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