e-procurement solutions and technology

By Staff -- Purchasing, 7/13/2000

Intel announced two new intelligent network devices designed to improve performance and reliability of business transactions over the Internet. The products will enable timely and reliable processing of secure B2B transactions at speeds up to 150 times faster than previously possible. The products will control and direct Internet transactions based on extensible markup language (XML), which is rapidly becoming the universal format used by companies to share business information on the Web. By allowing legacy computer systems to talk to each other, XML permits sharing of important business information like order entry, pricing and inventory levels. Due to ship in third quarter 2000, the Intel NetStructure 7280 XML Director and 7210 XML Accelerator systems are already being piloted at selected B2B Internet companies.

PurchasingNet announced last month plans to offer PurchasingNet-SQL, its Web-based enterprise level e-pro-curement solution, via subscription services from application service provider (ASP) NaviSite. PurchasingNet management says the company is offering solution through an ASP for companies that do not have sufficient internal resources to implement large-scale electronic purchasing systems.

BuildPoint has introduced BuildPoint Open Trading Platform, an XML-based integration platform that enables electronic commerce across the entire construction value chain. Designed to address fragmentation inherent in the construction industry, the Open Trading Platform features tools and technology that provide customizable integration between BuildPoint and its clients' legacy infrastructures such as purchasing, estimation, project management, inventory and quoting systems.

Dun & Bradstreet announced a Web-based information solution that combines credit scoring and credit limit analysis to help customers make quick credit decisions. D & B Credit Express provides multi-user access, integrates credit and sales functions and delivers custom reports via a customer's intranet. By linking to B2B exchange servers, D & B says Credit Express can deliver customer-defined credit limit decisions in real time, as buyers and sellers conduct transactions over the Internet.

Planalytics, a supply chain planning portal serving retail, agriculture and energy markets, announced commercial release of Weathernomics Gas Buyer. The Internet-based tool is aimed at commercial and industrial natural gas buyers. It recommends specific buying and hedging actions to reduce risk and exploit opportunities presented by weather-driven changes in gas prices. Planalytics does not attempt to forecast gas prices in a traditional sense, but rather tries to predict turning points and direction of future gas price changes. It uses these predictions to determine the most cost-effective method for pur-chasing natural gas on any given day.

iSolve Inc. says a global group of partners has invested $30 million to fund its online business-to-business integrated digital currency and barter Web solution for sellers and buyers of surplus inventory and idle assets. Using a digital currency system of credits, and weaving this into traditional corporate barter, iSolve will offer a variety of financial and trading solutions. To establish the concept for dynamic trade, iSolve is partnering with many B2B Web companies as a means of facilitating transactions globally.