Singapore Telecom (SingTel) and US-based Commerce One have partnered to offer a business-to-business e-commerce marketplace for Asian traders.
Built on Commerce One’s MarketSite platform, the site is designed to provide Asian businesses with access to the global business community.
“Electronic procurement is a critical element in SingTel’s regional e-commerce strategy. This partnership will help to accelerate the role of Singapore as the e-commerce hub of Asia offering traders unlimited opportunities to participate in the global trading community,” said BG Lee Hsien Yang, president and CEO, Singapore Telecom.
“By leveraging on the Singapore Telecom Group’s key assets and working with industry leaders such as Commerce One, we are well positioned for this e-procurement opportunity,” added BG Lee.
The two companies hope to construct the leading business e-commerce portal within Asia, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Australia, India and Hong Kong.
In addition to e-procurement solutions for both non-production and mission critical production goods and services, the e-commerce portal will offer third party business services, business community development services.
National Computer Systems (NCS), SingTel’s subsidiary, will manager the partnership with Commerce One to develop the portal.
“In addition to automating internal procurement processes, NCS will enable real-time connections to our regional business-to-business e-commerce portal. Operated by NCS, the portal will provide an open, XML-based marketplace to service large, medium and small businesses across every industry,” said Lee Kwok Cheong, CEO of NCS.
According to SingTel representatives, the Asian e-commerce portal will be linked into Commerce One’s MarketSite.net portal in the United States to create a global trading community.
“Our expertise in electronic commerce technologies, coupled with SingTel’s strong presence, brand strength, network infrastructure and supply chain expertise will help SingTel to achieve the vision of giving businesses in Asia access to the global b-to-b marketplace,” said Mark Hoffman, CEO of Commerce One.
“We believe Asian businesses adopting the Commerce Chain Solution will enjoy improved operational efficiency, reduced costs and greater buying power,” said Hoffman.
