BT has signed a deal
with leading U.S. e-business solution provider Commerce One that will
result in buyers being able to place and track orders from a range
of sellers by accessing one site.
The deal brings together BT’s e-business supply-chain expertise with the US
co’s electronic procurement
software, Commerce Chain Solution. BT said the deal will establish
“a major UK business-to-business electronic market place for indirect
goods.”
“This deal with Commerce One is an important step in BT’s mission to help UK
companies towards effective e-business,” said John Swingewood, director of
BT Internet and multimedia. “BT’s strategy of combining its e-business
expertise with the very best specialist procurement solutions
from the US and around the globe will continue to reap huge benefits for
UK organisations. It underpins BT’s ambition to give this country the
greatest e-business capability in the world.”
In announcing the deal, BT reminded listeners of the well-publicised
report from Forrester Research (“Europe’s Internet Growth,” April 1998),
which forecast that the value of goods and services traded over the
Internet will grow from $257 million in 1998 to more than $12 billion in
2001.
Commerce One’s Commerce Chain Solution automates the entire procurement
process. Its key components are the intranet application BuySite for
automating internal procurements, and the extranet environment MarketSite
for automating buyers’ interactions with their suppliers.
“This agreement with BT will enable Commerce One to extend its leadership
in electronic solutions
from the U.S. to the U.K.,” said Mark Hoffman, CEO of Commerce One. “Our
expertise in electronic commerce solutions,
coupled with BT’s brand strength, network infrastructure and supply
chain expertise will enable us to deliver comprehensive solutions and
provide superior levels of customer support and service. UK businesses
adopting the Commerce Chain Solution will enjoy improved operational
efficiency, reduced costs and greater buying power.”
BT will obtain and manage supplier content and integrate suppliers
into MarketSite. In turn, MarketSite will provide a convenient
way for buyers and sellers to meet online.
