Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Ariba Technologies (Nasdaq-ARBA) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Michael Auth who wrote (1072)	9/8/2000 8:35:30 AM
From: Bruce Brown	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2110

B2B eCommerce Update - Eric Upin - eric@rsco.com B2B REVISITED: TYING THE PROCESS TOGETHER Upin narrated his roadmap for the B2B eCommerce buildout in progress - its evolution into an industry he pegs at 10 to 20 times the scale of the $15-billion enterprise resource planning software market - and cast light on the dynamics that promise to drive that transformation. Up to now, he recounted, business automation has focused on improving efficiencies within the enterprise, targeting manufacturing, accounting, human resources, etc. In contrast, the emerging IT infrastructure is enabling businesses to tightly link and optimize commercial processes among themselves, their customers and suppliers, from collaborative product design and demand forecasting to strategic sourcing, logistics, contract management and more. Upin believes that businesses operate in a new and swiftly changing environment marked by heightened competition, shorter product cycles, global commerce and increasing demand for customization. These challenges can only be met by building tighter networks with trading partners, he said, emphasizing that the Internet, powered by Web-based software, enables this on an expansive scale. Upin noted that B2B marketplaces are essentially integrated software modules that automate complex customer and supplier relationships over the Internet. Only a small part of the infrastructure and applications needed to realize this ambitious agenda have been deployed or even developed at this early juncture, so the opportunity remains ahead of us, Upin emphasized. He sees the buildout unfolding in three stages. The first, defined by buy-side procurement applications for indirect goods to reduce transaction costs, has already blasted off. The second, now gathering momentum, involves the proliferation of standalone public and private marketplaces for direct goods, which brings lower product costs, among other benefits. In stage 3, according to Upin, marketplaces and supply chains will be tightly interconnected, improving capacity utilization and inventory management for whole industries. Two companies are best-positioned to grow into franchise names as B2B accelerates, Upin said. In his opinion, Ariba (ARBA $161-7/8) has demonstrated leadership in the first two phases and i2 (ITWO $169-13/16) is likely to continue as the premier provider of supply chain technology. He also identifies important opportunities for Commerce One (CMRC $70-1/2), FreeMarkets (FMKT $74-63/64), Internet Capital Group, Oracle (ORCL $91-3/16), PurchasePro.com (PPRO $63) and VerticalNet. =========================================== Best of luck to all longs and shorts. BB