ORACLE INTRODUCES SUITE OF SUPPLY CHAIN SOFTWARE

ORACLE INTRODUCES SUITE OF SUPPLY CHAIN SOFTWARE    Oracle Corp., one of the leading U.S. providers of business software, has launched a suite of supply chain management solutions for demand planning, advanced supply chain planning, available-to-promise management and manufacturing scheduling.
   Oracle will market the software as part of its e-business software package, which the company is using to build industry-specific, or vertical, business-to-business marketplaces on the Internet. “With Oracle Advanced Planning and Scheduling, companies participating in online exchanges can instantly collaborate with trading partners to optimize resources, minimize inventory balances and consolidate requirements to gain the best pricing, quality and delivery by utilizing online auctions,” Oracle said.
   Oracle's supply chain move has been expected since a partnership between the company and i2 Technologies fell apart this year. i2, a supply chain software specialist, and Oracle were working together to build an online supplier exchange for Ford Motor Co. However, i2 was left out of Ford's new plan to merge its online venture with those of General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler.
   Oracle and fellow B2B software developer CommerceOne are jointly designing the industry-wide auto exchange. i2 has since partnered with International Business Machines and purchased B2B software concern Ariba, signaling its desire to compete head-to-head with Oracle in the vertical B2B market.