Ariba and Microsoft Announce Supply Chain Alliance

Ariba, Inc. announced a strategic alliance with Microsoft Corp., signaling a new stage for the global commerce network.

According to Ariba spokesmen, this deal will link the two companies to their leading business commerce and ERP applications, thereby enabling greater collaboration.

Tim Minahan, Ariba’s chief marketing officer, said this represents a shift how companies interact.

As part of the strategic alliance, Ariba will develop an adapter that will allow Microsoft Dynamics AX customers to connect to the Ariba Network.

Joe Fox, Ariba’s senior director of strategy, told Supply Chain Management Review—a sister publication—that a more “sustainable and transparent supply chain will be supported by this alliance.

“Landed costs and other predicable outcomes will benefit shippers using this network,” he said.

Used by companies around the world to transact more than $300 billion in commerce on an annual basis, the Ariba Network provides:

•   Cloud-based applications that allow organizations that share a business process to share the underlying technology infrastructure that enables that process.
•   A community of partners through which companies can quickly discover, qualify, connect, and collaborate with trading partners.
•   Capabilities in the form of best practices, community-derived intelligence and other unique features or services that are only available to members of the community, such as unique analytics, preferred financing, and ratings.

Kees Hertough, director of product marketing for Microsoft said inventory management will also be enhanced.

“There are built-in advantages when it comes to regulatory compliance, too,” he said.

These exclusive interviews took place as both companies were winding down their participation at Ariba LIVE 2012 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas this week.