i2 and IBM Launch SRM Tool
by Demir Barlas, Line56
Thursday, May 24, 2001
The once-mighty B2B “Dream Team” of Ariba, i2, and IBM might have parted ways, but two of the three members of the alliance are still moving forward. i2 and IBM have announced that they will provide a joint Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) tool for the high-tech industry.
i2 will weigh in with its SRM suite, which includes functionalities for strategic design, design and manufacturing collaboration, and direct and indirect procurement. IBM plans to contribute consulting, implementation, and financial services, hardware and middleware technology, and financing.
To listen to i2 SVP Bruce Jacquemard, it would seem that i2 and IBM have always been on the same page. ``i2's long-standing relationship with IBM has created a solid foundation … that transcends each company's customer base,'' he said.
IBM VP Fred DeWald’s statement excluded i2, and appeared to cast IBM as the dominant partner. ``While IBM has consistently been at the top of our industry, we have continued to employ measures to make our operations more efficient,” he said in reference to the partnership.
IBM already deploys i2’s TradeMatrix Strategic Design software. i2 SVP Jacquemard said IBM had saved $500 million internally by implementing i2's solution.
``As companies look for their investments to produce real value for their bottom line, they should carefully examine what they're spending to design, source, and manufacture their products,'' stated Barry Wilderman of META Group. ``Enabling strategic sourcing and collaborative design across divisional and multi-company boundaries can shave as much as 15 percent from their cost of goods sold and speed time-to-market. |
