Asera Rolls Out E-Business Application

High-end b-to-b Net solutions provider Asera brings to market Asera eService, its e-business application.

California-based business-to-business Internet solutions provider Asera this week launched the Asera eService for net markets, an e-business application that will enable companies to activate their net market site, build market liquidity and generate sustainable competitive advantage.

Prior to Asera eService, rapid activation of an Internet market required a huge investment, almost automatically eliminating the small business market. eService offers a range of features that allow for rapid configuration and activation of personalized trading sites in as little as 60-90 days.

eService features include advanced catalogue and product selection, auction and exchange services, marketing and support services, community services, industry forums and an automatic, filtered news feed.

Asera will market the news feed aspect highlighting its ability to keep users informed with the most up-to-date information in their industry. The news feed includes search services that deliver targeted industry research.

“We view it as next generation ASP,” Kurt Garbe, chief operating officer, told ASP News. “The first generation of ASPs has been about renting one application. Our clients choose the desired applications and we integrate them.”

Garbe explained to ASP News that is similar to the phone company model. “Once the phone service is established, features can easily be added on at any time, but for an additional fee,” he said. “Our eService works the same way.”

Asera eService is offered on a pay-as-you-use basis, with a one-time activation fee. This fee structure ensures that costs are directly related to a client’s use of the service. According to Garbe, the activation fee can range from $100,000 to $500,000. The subscription fee currently ranges from $25,000 to $175,00.

“The pricing structure is driven by the number of back-end systems and the amount of customization work the client wants,” said Garbe.

Current net market customers include Ajunto, Applications Gateway, CapSpring.com, Honeywell , LPA and Vertia.com.

“We are working for companies now that are in the start-up phase and also those ranked in the top 50 of the Fortune 500,” said Garbe.

Asera closed its second round of funding in December 1999, securing $50 million from Intel, Cisco Systems Inc., and GE Capital. The company is also in partnership with Andersen Consulting (New York, NY).