ARIBA, DESCARTES IN B2B PARTNERSHIP

ARIBA, DESCARTES IN B2B PARTNERSHIP    Ariba, a leading online marketplace developer, and Descartes Systems Group, a provider of Internet-based logistics software, have formed an alliance to give online buyers and sellers access to logistics and transportation services.
   'The two companies will link Ariba’s B2B Commerce Platform system with transportation carriers, shippers and logistics providers connected to Descartes’ Global Logistics Network.
   The move follows a trend that has B2B marketplace companies partnering with logistics software companies to give users direct access to shipping services online. i2 Technologies recently teamed with Capstan Systems, for instance.
   Descartes and Ariba said they will “improve the ability of buyers, suppliers and B2B marketplaces to manage the full cycle of commercial transactions — from ordering merchandise, to triggering and processing payments and delivering the goods.”
   Under their agreement, Ariba will develop an offering called Ariba Logistics and Fulfillment Services, which will be powered by Descartes software. Ariba plans to provide global visibility of order status, exception-based performance monitoring, total shipment cost calculation, delivery optimization and online transportation management on a subscription and transaction fee basis.