Ariba, as solutions provider, will have new competitors.(Strategic Sourcing)

MSI, June, 2004

Ariba is going through the third stage in its evolution as a company, and at least its second attempt at educating the market for its solutions. Ariba was born roughly six years ago as an e-procurement company; later it morphed into a spend management company. And at its recent user conference, CEO Robert Calderoni declared that Ariba is now a solutions provider.

The implication of "solutions" is that Ariba helps companies plan and manaqe procurement strategies, rather than simply sell them applications for executing purchases. Much of this management expertise, Calderoni says, comes from Ariba's recent agreement to purchase FreeMarkets, a former competitor that specializes in helping companies find the best deals on goods used in production...

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