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Technology Stocks : i2 Technologies -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Shane M who wrote (707)	10/2/1998 4:38:00 AM
From: Lutz Moeller	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2339

Even here in Germany we find i2 well mentioned in the influential HANDELSBLATT SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT / Kunden mit Lieferanten verbinden i2 Technologies will E-Business optimieren HANDELSBLATT, Dienstag, 29. September 1998 ruk DALLAS. Die Abgrenzungen zwischen Supply Chain Management (SCM), Software zur Planung der Ressourcen und den Anwendungen im Büro lösen sich zusehens auf. Dies wurde auf der Kundenkonferenz Planet 98 deutlich, die der SCM-Spezialist i2 Technologies in der texanischen Finanzmetropole Dallas veranstaltete. Die für eine derartige Konferenz große Zahl von etwa 3 000 Teilnehmern unterstreicht das große Interesse an dieser Software. i2 Technologies stellte dabei einen neuen strategischen Ansatz vor: Die Optimierung des E-Business. Der neue Ansatz ist ebenso für die Bereiche Marketing und Vertrieb wie für den Kundendienst und die Finanzabteilung interessant. Das Internet wird als Kommunikationsweg einbezogen. Damit sollen sich Aufgaben bei der Vermarktung und beim Vertrieb schneller und effizienter erledigen lassen. i2 Technologies stellte in Dallas ein Lösungspaket vor, das zugleich auf die Beziehung zum Endverbraucher wie zum Lieferanten ausgerichtet ist. "Mit dem Einsatz von ERP-Software alleine lassen sich diese Einsatzfelder nicht abdecken", erklärte i2 President Greg Brady. So nutzt beispielsweise der Telekomausrüster Lucent Technologies die ERP-Software von SAP, setzt bei Supply Chain Management auf i2 und arbeitet mit Trilogy aus Austin, Texas, bei der Vertriebsautomatisierung. Dabei bieten alle drei Softwarehäuser jeweils eigene Vertriebssoftware an.

To: Shane M who wrote (707)	10/2/1998 11:51:00 AM
From: cm	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2339

Shane, About Time Of Implementation... I was at PLANET... visited with i2'ers, their customers, and some partners. I knew going into the event that, with the exceptions of Hermann Miller and Dell and maybe three others, most companies, in fact, do NOT take advantage of the FULL capabilities of Rhythm. As was noted in one article, I believe in Forbes, many companies choose the path of least resistance... using Rhythm as "a suggestion box" rather than a way of fully optimising their supply chains. In part, I think this is due to a reluctance to radicalize and reorient business processes... which is, from the standpoint of someone who is not wanting to rock the boat, understandable. However, as case histories from Dell and Hermann Miller indicate, the BEST way to use Rhythm is ALL THE WAY. By the way, I don't see this in negative terms. The fact is, ITWO, has to be in the business of sell-through and sell-up. SAP markets to the CEO and lets him or her push it down from there. ITWO will be in the process of raising its executive profile. In fact, there were some 23 CIOs at PLANET if I'm not mistaken. As for implementation times, well, yes, there can be delays. Some may be due to "bads" on i2's part. They have no shortage of business, now and in the pipeline. I also know that some of their implementation teams include FORMER CLIENTS who ran projects in their own enterprises... and thus bring a degree of expertise that would not normally be available in such a new category. Further, I heard from one senior IT person at a billion-dollar textile firm that, in his opinion, i2 was by the far the most PROFESSIONAL group in this space. I should say that PLANET was not in the least bit disappointing for me, as both an industry researcher and i2 investor. In fact, all descriptions of the event prior to it did NOTHING to prepare me for the scope of their activities and depth of their innovations. This is not some little software company in Texas that's stumbled into the limelight by fate or accident. Sanjiv is nothing short of a genius. And, unlike a certain ERP vendor who isn't good at the P, unless P stands for promotion years in advance of delivery, i2 has its products TODAY. In fact, it's entire EBPO suite is ready, with perhaps one exception that is one quarter away. I am heartened to be invested in a company that is first-to-market then marketing, rather than the other way around. The real battle has yet to be waged. But, it is coming. There has been an uneasy peace between SAP and i2... but that is unsustainable. i2 will, IMHO, need to shatter the tranquility... making the case that WAITING isn't what leaders do and seizing the high ground with a defensible position based on i2's core PLANNING and DECISION SUPPORT expertise: precisely the aras where SAP is hapless. Best Regards, c m