DELL's now 'in bed' with Ariba <G>....FYI...
<<Dell and Ariba Partner for B2B e-Commerce
eCommerce Leaders to Create Dell B2B Marketplace, Deliver B2B Procurement And Supplier Enablement Solutions
Dell to Use Ariba B2B Commerce Platform With its Own Suppliers
SAN DIEGO, March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), a world leader in Internet commerce and infrastructure, and Ariba (Nasdaq: ARBA), the leader in business-to-business (B2B) electronic commerce solutions, today announced the intent to create a broad B2B e-commerce alliance to provide customers with solutions to lower costs, drive new revenue opportunities and create competitive advantages.
The announcement was made today at a press conference at the Ariba User Group and Advisory Council in San Diego, California. A video replay is available at webevents.broadcast.com .
The proposed alliance will bring together two eCommerce leaders for several strategic B2B eCommerce initiatives:
-- Dell will create a Dell B2B marketplace, powered by the Ariba B2B
eCommerce platform, to provide Dell's small- and medium-business
customers with increased economies of scale and streamlined purchasing
processes;
-- In the coming months, for customers requiring more robust purchasing
processes, Dell will offer configurations of Dell PowerEdge servers
factory-installed with the Ariba B2B procurement solution for buying
goods and services through the Dell B2B marketplace and Ariba platform;
-- In the coming months, for customers who desire a robust, hosted B2B
procurement solution, Dell will recommend application service
providers (ASPs) who will be equipped with Dell PowerEdge servers
pre-configured with the Ariba B2B procurement solution;
-- Dell and Ariba collaborate on solutions to enable suppliers for the
Ariba B2B eCommerce platform;
-- Dell will use the Ariba B2B procurement solution throughout its
worldwide operations and with its global supplier base;
-- Dell will be the leading hardware supplier to Ariba;
-- Dell has acquired an equity interest in Ariba (terms were not
disclosed).
Total B2B transactions are expected to rise from $145 billion in 1999 to $7.3 trillion in 2004, according to Gartner Group, a leading industry analyst firm (1).
"In a world where eCommerce is becoming the norm, the explosion in B2B eCommerce provides us with exciting new ways to provide value to our customers," said Joe Marengi, senior vice president and general manager, Dell Relationship Group. "With its strong leadership in B2B eCommerce, we believe Ariba will significantly accelerate and strengthen our strategic B2B initiatives."
"As witnessed by their $40 million-a-day Web site, Dell clearly has a deep understanding of the importance of a successful Internet infrastructure and B2B capabilities," said Larry Mueller, president and chief operating officer, Ariba. "The use of the Ariba B2B Commerce platform as the foundation of the Dell B2B marketplace will enable Dell to provide their small- and medium-business customers with more efficient ways to do business, including access to Ariba network commerce services, such as e-payment services from American Express."
Dell B2B Marketplace
When introduced, the Dell B2B marketplace will provide small- and medium-business customers with access, via the Internet, to a wide range of goods and services needed to operate a business. This marketplace will be designed to provide lower costs and provide streamlined purchasing processes through aggregated purchasing power and streamlined electronic procurement. Dell is the number one computer systems vendor in the US to small and medium businesses.
"Through Dell's B2B marketplace and our alliance with Ariba, Dell customers will reach an entire network of businesses which use a common platform to conduct B2B e-commerce transactions," added Marengi.
Through Ariba B2B open interoperability services, other buyers and marketplaces on the Internet will also be able to purchase goods and services through the Dell B2B marketplace.
Additionally, electronic payment services will be available as an Ariba network commerce service from American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) to eliminate manual payment steps such as check-writing, check distribution and invoice reconciliation.
"We are delighted to expand our relationships with both Dell and Ariba by providing next generation electronic payment solutions to the Dell B2B marketplace through Ariba network commerce services. Delivering electronic payment and other financial services across the burgeoning B2B economy is a major opportunity for us and we're excited to see so many of our clients, suppliers, and business partners joining forces to make it a reality," said Ed Gilligan, president, American Express Corporate Services.
Dell PowerEdge Servers for Advanced B2B Procurement Solutions
Companies with more sophisticated procurement needs will be able to access the Dell B2B marketplace, as well as other suppliers on the Ariba platform, through joint Dell-Ariba B2B procurement solutions.
For customers who desire a robust Internet-hosted B2B procurement solution, Dell will recommend application service providers (ASPs) who will be equipped with Dell PowerEdge servers pre-configured with the hosted Ariba B2B procurement solution.
Dell to use Ariba platform throughout its worldwide operations
Dell will use the Ariba B2B eCommerce solution throughout its worldwide operations to aggregate close to $2 billion in annual procurement spending. Using this solution will allow Dell to aggregate its purchasing power for higher-volume pricing with its suppliers, as well as reduce processing time for requisitions by more than 60 percent.(2) Dell has already begun to implement the Ariba solution.
Availability
The Dell B2B marketplace is expected to be available to customers in the United States by the third quarter of this year. Dell PowerEdge servers installed with the Ariba B2B procurement solution will be available in the second quarter of 2000.
About Ariba, Inc.
Ariba, Inc. is the global leader in B2B eCommerce solutions. Through the Ariba B2B Commerce platform -- an open, end-to-end infrastructure of interoperable software solutions and hosted Web-based commerce services -- the company enables efficient online trade, integration and collaboration between B2B marketplaces, buyers, suppliers and commerce service providers. The global reach and best-of-breed functionality of the Ariba B2B Commerce platform creates Internet-driven economies of scale and process efficiencies for leading companies around the world, including more than 20 of the Fortune 100. Ariba can be contacted in the U.S. at 650-930-6200 or at www.ariba.com.
About Dell
Dell Computer Corporation is the world's leading direct computer systems company, based on revenues of $25.3 billion for the past four quarter, and is a premier provider of products and services required for customers to build their Internet infrastructures. The company ranks No. 78 on the Fortune 500, No. 210 on the Fortune Global 500 and No. 3 on the Fortune "most admired" lists of companies.(3) Dell designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements, and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained on the World Wide Web at www.dell.com.
(1) Source: Gartner Group.
(2) Source: International Data Corporation, Commercial Systems and
Servers bulletin. Rankings based on U.S. and Worldwide "PC Server
Shipments by Vendor" for 3Q99.
(3) Source: International Data Corporation, U.S. Quarterly PC Tracking,
3Q99.
NOTE: Dell is a registered trademark and PowerEdge and DellHost are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation.
Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.
Ariba is a registered trademark of Ariba, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT:
Information in this release may involve expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to Ariba as of the date of the release, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences. Some of the factors and risks associated with Ariba's business are discussed in its registration statement on Form S-1 declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on June 22, 1999, and in the other reports filed by it from time to time with the SEC.>> |
