Ariba bekommt 5% Anteil an IBM/Nortel-Plattform - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[captainfirefighter]

Nortel, IBM, Others Unveil Internet Supply Market (Update3)
By Jeff Bliss


Toronto, June 7 (Bloomberg) -- Nortel Networks Corp., International Business Machines Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and five other companies unveiled an Internet market for computer and telecommunications products that could cut their supply costs as much as 15 percent.

Computer makers and suppliers will be able to sell and buy electronic products and services on the exchange, called e2open.com. The venture will be independently operated by managers selected by investors Crosspoint Venture Partners and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co., Nortel said.

``The independence of the company (e2open) will allow it to make the best decisions for the marketplace -- not pander to the founders,`` said Charles Childers, chief marketing officer for Nortel and an e2open board member.

John Mumford, Crosspoint founder, will be interim chief executive.

The venture is capitalized at $200 million, with the founding electronics companies owning 50 percent and Crosspoint and Morgan Stanley 20 percent each, Masaharu Kimura, vice president of IBM Japan, said at a press conference in Tokyo.

The remaining 10 percent will be owned by I2 Technologies Inc. and Ariba Inc., which will provide software for the site. E2open.com aims to offer shares to public in 2002, Kimura said.

$200 Billion

The exchange, which will begin operations in mid-July, expects transaction volume to total $1 billion in the first year of operation, Kimura said.

The founding companies in addition to Nortel, IBM and Matsushita are LG Electronics Inc., Hitachi Ltd., Toshiba Corp., Solectron Corp. and Seagate Technology Inc. The companies, which spend $200 billion on parts and services annually, said e2open should start saving them money by 2001.

The exchange is similar to one started last month by Hewlett- Packard Co., Compaq Computer Corp. and nine others. Internet exchanges can cut costs by eliminating paperwork, speeding orders and providing up-to-the-minute data on inventory.

E2open initially will make money by charging subscriber fees and a fee for each transaction. Nortel plans to spend $5 billion, or about half its annual purchasing budget, buying on the exchange, Childers said.

Unlike the Hewlett-Packard-led effort, e2open members will sell all their services and products, which include computer components, computers, networking equipment and hard drives, on line. ``We see this exchange as another (distribution) channel,`` Childers said.

The Hewlett-Packard group initially will focus on components for personal computers, servers and printers. It is expected to trim supply costs of the participating companies by 5 percent to 7 percent annually.

More Members

Subscribers to e2open can join other exchanges, Childers said. Nortel is in talks with suppliers and two customers, AT&T Corp. and Bellsouth Corp., to become members of the new exchange, he said.

`E2open is an open market, and we will try to get as many participants as possible,`` IBM`s Kimura said.

Matsushita, the world`s largest maker of consumer electronics products, said in January it would spend 2.2 trillion yen a year ($20.7 billion) to buy almost all of its production needs on the Internet, one of the biggest company commitments yet to online purchasing.

The move will help the maker of Panasonic stereos and satellite dishes cut costs by searching the Web for the best prices, reducing inventories of everything from screws to plastic and trimming labor and phone costs.



Nachteilig empfinde ich nur, daß sich Nokia, wie vorher angekündigt, nicht daran beteiligt hat. Aber was nicht ist, kann ja noch werden.

[DimStar]

für mich passt das überhaupt nicht zusammen. an welcher stelle gibt es bei IBM, Matsushita oder Nortel Übereinstimmungen im Einkauf ? HP hat übrigens auch einer anderen Plattform mit u.a. Compaq und AMD zugesagt.

[captainfirefighter]

HP nimmt doch gar nicht an der IBM-geführten Plattform teil, sondern hat, wie du schon sagst, seine eigene Plattform mit Compaq, Gateway, AMD und anderen. Der Hauptunterschied der 2 B2B-Exchanges liegt darin, daß die von HP angeführte nur Güter einkauft, während die IBM angeführte sowohl ihren Einkauf als auch Verkauf darüber organisiert.
Die Synergien könnten möglicherweise eher in der Rationalisierung der Abwicklung des Ein- und Verkaufs zu suchen sein, anstatt in Rabatten.

Zu Webmethods: Ob die Einmallizenzerträge bekommen oder ob diese wie bei den Plattformanbietern (ARBA/CMRC) auf Provisionsbasis berechnet werden, dazu konnte ich auf derren Homepage auch keine Antwort finden. Daß Broadvision & Co. beim B2B keine Rolle spielen ist klar, deutlich wird aber, daß sich Webmethods + Active zum Standard in Sachen B2Bi mausert. Und für B2Bi zählt wie für jede andere Internetsubbranche: the winner takes it all. Es spielt auch keine Rolle, ob sich die großen zusammengefassten Exchanges oder auf eine Firma beschränckten Exchanges durchsetzen, überall werden die WEBM-Anwendungen für den Datenaustausch benötigt. Einzelkunden sind z.B. Dell oder FedEx. Desweiteren ist WEBM bevorzugter Anbieter von XML-Lösungen bei Ariba und CMRC betriebenen Exchanges. Das heißt, daß bei jedem B2B-Handelsplatz, den z.B. Ariba einrichtet auch Geld an WEBM fließt. Aktuelles Bsp. hierfür ist die Vereinbarung zwischen Ariba, American Express und Verisign, die XML-basierte Abrechnung von Transaktionen ermöglichen wollen. Vor einigen Wochen hatte WEBM mit Verisign eine Kooperation vereinbart, aufgrund dessen und der ohnehin bestehenden Vereinbarung mit Ariba wird die XML-Software von WEBM bei dieser Abrechnungslösung eingesetzt. Also, solange sich B2B ausbreitet und WEBM seine Marktführerschaft behält, ist es eigentlich egal welche B2B Exchanges am Ende übrig bleiben werden. So läuft das eigentlich immer bei Infrastrukturfirmen. Cisco und Co. z.B. ist es ja auch egal, ob sie Ihren Schrott bei Mannesmann oder Vodafone loswerden.

Übrigens, wenn die Erholung des WEBM-Aktienkurses weiterhin so zügig verläuft, sehen wir in knapp 2 Monaten zu den Q.-Zahlen sicherlich den ersten Aktiensplitt.

[captainfirefighter]

Frisch aus der Druckerpresse:

Oracle and webMethods Partner to Provide Integration Solutions for the Rapid Adoption of Global B2B Exchanges webMethods B2B Provides B2Bi Infrastructure to Enable Internet-Based Delivery of XML Messages to Oracle(R) Exchange Platform and Seamless Integration for Buyers and Suppliers Into Oracle-Powered B2B Exchanges
THURSDAY, JUNE 08, 2000 8:01 AM
- PRNewswire

FAIRFAX, Va. and REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Jun 8, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- ( http://www.oracle.com/tellmemore/?215261 ) webMethods, Inc. (Nasdaq:WEBM), the leading provider of business-to-business integration (B2Bi) solutions, and Oracle Corp. (NasdaqORCL), the largest provider of software for e-business, today announced a partnership to provide solutions for the rapid deployment of global B2B exchanges. As part of the agreement, webMethods will be a preferred solution provider for integrating buyers and suppliers to trading networks and exchanges built on the Oracle(R) Exchange platform.

Oracle and webMethods have integrated the Oracle Exchange platform and webMethods B2B(TM) to enable secure, reliable Internet-based delivery of XML messages. Oracle-powered exchanges, including OracleExchange.com, will use this integrated message hub to integrate buyers and suppliers. webMethods B2B will route mission-critical business documents, such as purchase orders and order confirmations, through the Oracle-powered exchanges to enable seamless, real-time business transactions among diverse trading partners.

"It is critical for buyers and suppliers to have an easy, secure and reliable solution for integrating with the Oracle Exchange platform," said Ron Wohl, executive vice president, Oracle Applications, Oracle Corp. "By using webMethods B2B, our Oracle-powered exchange participants will be able to seamlessly integrate to their back-end systems and realize the full e-business benefits of our exchanges."

Oracle is the only single source strategic partner to offer the complete platform, applications, and services necessary to help companies and entire industries transform to e-business by connecting their supply chains via the Internet. By using webMethods B2B to provide a seamless integration solution, Oracle will be able to build an integration solution that is easily replicated across all of its B2B exchanges, which include industry specific exchanges, company branded exchanges and OracleExchange.com.

To date, the Oracle Exchange platform has already been adopted for industry specific exchanges such as GlobalNetXchange, HomebuildersXchange, RetailersMarketXchange, Auto-Xchange, FP-Xchange and GlobalTransportXchange. Company branded exchanges include, Cable & Wireless Hong Kong Telecom, Dubai Ports Authority Digital Marketplace, Belgacom E-Marketplace and KPN Exchange.

"As interest in trading exchanges grows, it is critical for a leading B2B marketplace platform like Oracle Exchange, to provide their buyers and suppliers with a cost-effective, efficient B2Bi solution that ensures seamless, secure connections with trading partners over the Internet," said Phillip Merrick, president and CEO of webMethods, Inc. "By leveraging the open standards of the Internet, webMethods B2B enables real-time business transactions between companies without requiring a standard technology infrastructure. This flexibility is critical for the future success of B2B e-commerce."

WebMethods will provide integration support and services to buyers and suppliers connecting to Oracle Exchange through their webMethods` B2B Rapid Integration Team, which includes the Internet industry`s leading systems integrators. This rapid deployment strategy provides customers with an experienced implementation team dedicated to providing cost-effective solutions for implementing B2B e-commerce initiatives. Customers will have their choice of integration firms to help connect to any number of Oracle Exchange marketplaces.

About webMethods, Inc.

webMethods, Inc. is the leading provider of software solutions for business-to-business integration (B2Bi). Leveraging the open standards of the Internet, the award-winning webMethods B2B(TM) family of products provides the B2Bi infrastructure that enables Global 2000 companies and B2B marketplaces to connect customers, suppliers and partners to form real-time B2B trading networks. webMethods B2B allows companies to create new revenue opportunities, strengthen relationships with customers and substantially reduce supply chain inefficiencies.

webMethods provides a comprehensive solution that allows organizations to effectively realize their B2B e-commerce strategies. Through broad support of open standards and protocols, such as XML, RosettaNet, FpML, cXML, OBI, OAG, ACORD, and legacy EDI, the webMethods B2B family of products provides the critical B2B integration software that enables companies to form powerful trading networks with customers, suppliers and partners. With webMethods B2B, companies can conduct business-to-business over the Internet with minimal stress to corporate resources and existing technology infrastructure.

Founded in 1996, webMethods is based in Fairfax, Va., with offices across the U.S. and Europe. webMethods has more than 160 customers worldwide -- from Global 2000 leaders such as Dell, Eastman Chemical Company, Lucent and W.W. Grainger to major B2B marketplaces like ChemConnect, e-STEEL and Ventro. webMethods` strategic partners include Ariba, Commerce One, Deloitte Consulting, EDS, i2 Technologies, KPMG, Microsoft, Oracle Corp., Sterling Commerce and SAP AG. More information about the company can be found at www.webMethods.com.

About Oracle

Oracle Corporation provides the software that powers the Internet. For more information about Oracle, please call Oracle Public Relations at 650-506-4176.

Trademarks

webMethods and webMethods B2B are trademarks of webMethods, Inc. All other company and product names are property of their respective owners.

Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

This press release contains various remarks about the future expectations, plans and prospects of webMethods that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The actual results of webMethods may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including those discussed in the Risk Factors section of webMethods` recent Registration Statement on Form S-1, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

[DimStar]

webm ist für mich eine option, wenn ich daran glaube, daß viele unternehmen jeweils einzelne exchanges aufbauen, die vielen dot.com-plattformen eine zukunft haben und es somit nicht zu einer konsolidierung im B2B kommt. gerade dies geschieht aber gerade. in den bereichen automobil, retail, luftfahrt, energie, computer u.a. schließen sich große konsortieen zusammen, um die beschaffung innerhalb ihrer branche zentral zu steuern. ich mir sogar vorstellen, daß es irgendwann nur ganz wenige zentrale plattform mit sehr geringen nutzungskosten geben wird. the winner takes it all gilt vor allem bzgl. der marktanteile der handelsplattformen. die höhere liquidität der großen sorgt für sogeffekte und eine übersichtlichere und günstigere beschaffung. nun will webm handelsplätze verbinden, eine gute idee, aber die B2B-geschichte hat m.E. in den letzten Monaten so rasant konsolidiert, daß ich dafür langfristig wenig bedarf sehe. aber letztendlich ist es nur eine glaubensfrage - wenn der markt noch lange fragmentiert bleibt, macht auch webm noch gute geschäfte. großes potential verbleibt natürlich bei der integration von plattformen und backend-systemen. ob sich webm hier als uneingeschränkter marktführer durchsetzt steht aber nicht fest. nun bin ich z.b. von vignette überzeugt und sage, daß die meisten unternehmen früher oder später die content-plattform von vign nutzen. damit werden sie auch das ondisplay-produkt einbauen. zudem gibt es da noch eine kleine firma namens bea, deren weblogic produkt von über 200 unabhängigen softwarehäusern integriert wurde.

[DimStar]

kommen wir zurück zum titel des threads

Will B2B exchange e2open.com succeed?
From Knowledge@Wharton
Special to CNET News.com
June 9, 2000, 4:00 a.m. PT
Business-to-business relationships on the Internet have lately gravitated toward the formation of giant exchanges.

Competitors in industries such as automobiles, aerospace and chemicals have come together to establish massive electronic marketplaces aimed at reducing the inefficiencies and slashing the costs of dealing with suppliers.



IBM and several telecommunications and electronics giants made the most recent splash in this field June 7, when they announced the creation of e2open.com, a giant exchange for the computer, electronics and telecommunications industries. Will this exchange achieve its founders` vision? The answer, according to experts including Wharton professors, is: That depends.

Launching in mid-July, e2open clearly has huge potential. In addition to IBM, its founders include Hitachi, Matsushita, LG Electronics, Nortel Networks, Seagate Technology, Solectron and Toshiba . Technology powering the exchange will come from Ariba and i2 Technologies, two leading business-to-business e-commerce technology providers, in addition to IBM.

e2open`s financial and advisory partners include Crosspoint Venture Partners, a Silicon Valley venture firm; investment firm Morgan Stanley Dean Witter; and consulting firm McKinsey.

The founders say the goal of the electronic marketplace is to bring together thousands of computer, electronics and telecom companies around the world to do transactions over the Internet. e2open`s participants account for some "$700 billion in goods and services bought and sold in the worldwide electronics industry`s supply chain."

While IBM spokeswoman Carol Makovich declines to guess the volume of goods and services that will be traded through e2open, analysts see enormous potential. They expect the electronics sector to account for online business-to-business purchases of almost $600 billion by 2004, of which almost $450 billion will be sourced from online exchanges like e2open. In comparison, the auto online exchange of Detroit`s "Big Three"--called Covisint--is expected to handle the bulk of those companies` $200 billion in annual purchasing.

John Mumford, a founding partner of Crosspoint Ventures and acting CEO of e2open, says that three factors make this exchange different from other electronic marketplaces.

"First, we`re already in business and working together as partners," he said. "Second, we have a clear strategy to move forward, as evidenced by our decisions to build this e-marketplace on the technologies of Ariba, IBM and i2. And third, we are well financed, with more than $200 million of financing commitments from the founding partners and our financial partners, Crosspoint Venture Partners and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter."

Wharton faculty members point out, however, that the success of the e2open exchange will depend on several factors.

"A B2B exchange needs high penetration in the market. It is useless if only the small players or just a few players are involved in the exchange," said Morris Cohen, co-director of the Fishman-Davidson Center for Service and Operations Management. Having roped in the major players like Hitachi, Matsushita and Nortel, there might appear to be little fear that e2open will end up as a marginal player among online telecom and electronic exchanges.

Interestingly, while e2open includes several top names from the world of computers and electronics, there also are some significant omissions. Some press reports had suggested that Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson and Philips might join the exchange; the official announcement does not mention their participation, however.

Said Makovich: "We have talked to many companies and continue to talk to many others. There may be other companies who may join as founders. We have to wait and see."

Moving the goods
Another factor that will affect the success of online exchanges is the degree to which goods can be sold as commodities.

"It is difficult to sell sophisticated goods through exchanges," said G. Anandalingam, who teaches operations and information management at Wharton. He said that only for goods that are commodities or are fast becoming commodities will such online exchanges work.

"Cellular handsets, for example, are fast becoming commodities," he said. "For such equipment, the use of online purchasing exchange can be useful to lower costs and order standard equipment. In such cases, the company-vendor relationships will become very fluid, with vendors competing mainly on price and quality.

"But I cannot visualize (how) sophisticated optical networking equipment, which needs to be customized for the user, will be sold through such an exchange."

Cohen, however, said that high-value, low-volume transactions can be funneled through online exchanges, and for high-volume transactions, companies are likely to stick to fixed suppliers. He added that not all company and vendor relationships would become fluid.

"Companies do need special relationships with vendors. Inputs need to be customized, and standards have to be adhered to, so I do not think that companies will give up long-term vendor relationships," Cohen said.

Companies like Dell Computer practice just-in-time inventory management, which involves sourcing equipment from vendors when orders are received to maximize customization. Cohen said that companies using online exchanges would have to figure out how to do this.

Making logistics work
Although exchanges greatly lower transaction costs, companies have to be careful about inbound and outbound logistics costs. In other words, many companies have vendors near their factories to ensure low transport costs of raw materials and finished goods. These benefits may be lost when trading on an online exchange.

Initially, at least, companies are likely to use online exchanges to try to fix unexpected shortages or gluts. Moreover, for spot purchases arising from a sudden increase in demand, companies may increasingly look at online exchanges instead of going through intermediaries, such as distributors who buy excess supplies.

This is precisely what has been happening in commodified exchanges such as MetalSite and e-Steel, two exchanges aimed at the steel market. Steel companies use these exchanges to unload excess product, while small buyers have the chance to do business with the big boys in the steel business--without having to depend on sales executives or rounds of golf with "Big Steel" executives. ;-)

The success of a business-to-business exchange also depends on how well its standard software can be integrated with a company`s supply-chain management. Hubert Vaz-Nayak, director of KPMG`s telecommunications unit, said that online exchanges will dramatically change the way business is organized across industries if supply-chain management can be integrated into the online exchanges.

Already, initiatives like RosettaNet, an independent, self-funded, nonprofit consortium, are trying to develop and launch standard electronic business interfaces. These standards form a common e-business language, aligning processes between supply-chain partners on a global basis.

"If you have an open standard like RosettaNet, it is easy to link to outsourcers because everybody is operating on the same standard. As a result, it becomes much easier to exchange information," Vaz-Nayak said.

Added Makovich: "We believe there is ample room for multiple exchanges; in fact, in the future, they may interact quite a bit. There will be the ability for members of one exchange to be interoperable with members on other exchanges."

The establishment of common standards within business-to-business exchanges will let companies juggle their suppliers, depending on who has what supplies available. Such online exchanges can then be used to pinpoint excess capacities and use them.

Vaz-Nayak used the example of electronic chips to illustrate his point. Although the lead time for increasing the production of chips could be as high as 12 to 14 months because the semiconductor industry works on a three- to five-year capacity expansion plan, a buyer could potentially cope with a huge increase in its demand by using an online exchange to ascertain which chipmaker, if any, has the capacity to fill a new order.

No clear leader
It is still too early to say whether e2open or any of the other 500 exchanges will succeed. Most industries, such as steel or aircraft manufacturing, tend to have at least three or more different exchanges that are slugging it out to emerge as the primary exchange for that industry.

Even in the electronics and telecommunications industries--apart from e2open, which is not yet operational--i2 has promoted Hightech Exchange. Compaq Computer and Hewlett-Packard also have planned an exchange.

Still, online exchanges are undoubtedly changing the way industries and companies operate. Intermediaries such as wholesalers and distributors are slowly being eased out or are realizing that their roles will have to change if they want to survive in the supply chain. Vendors in tough competition with one another, and without the advantage of cozy relationships with their buyers, could also suffer from lower margins as prices are squeezed through bids and auctions.

"Vendors will be concerned (about a profit squeeze), especially if the industry goes through bad times," Vaz-Nayak said. "Well, it`s all part of this new drive toward electronic-induced efficiency."

e2open has as good a shot as any of profiting from it.