i2 Technologies Inc will today outline a new set of products to build out its e-commerce offerings, as well as announcing its first foray into the application hosting space, by partnering with third parties to enable them to offer i2 applications and virtual trading communities that will in turn enable companies to link their planning and supply chain data over the web. The news follows hot on the heels of an announcement yesterday by rival supply chain vendor Manugistics Inc, which also unveiled plans to offer its software and services on an outsourced basis. Both i2 and Manugistics are essentially offering straight applications outsourcing via third parties; fulfillment outsourcing, and virtual supplier collaboration over the web as well as upgrades to their traditional e-business software suites.
Under its Intelligent eBusiness strategy, the Irving, Texas based i2 says it will use the technology from its upcoming acquisition of Smart Technologies Inc to boost its e-commerce, customer service and management offerings. Specifically, it will launch what its calling a series of intelligent, customer facing solutions. These consist of four product sets; eCommerce, eChannel, eService and eCare. The aim is to provide a company with everything it needs to set up an e-commerce site, including the ability to gather information on buyers’ habits and preferences, analyze data and then redesign the customer interface to make the online shopping experience more tailored to individual needs. In addition, based on the data gathered, i2 says the software can provide on-line shoppers with flexible pricing options and price comparison features as well as giving data on delivery tracking status and options for personalized self-help and customer service. As well as offering the four modules separately, the company also plans to offer them integrated with its existing customer commitment suite, made up of its product configuration software, integrated with its demand fulfillment engine.
Having filled out its e-commerce offerings, i2 says its aim is to enable companies to link those offerings with their back end, fulfillment solutions and with those of its other suppliers. To that end, it has launched a new product, Rhythm Internet Fulfillment Server, which companies can purchase and integrate themselves or select to rent from a third party provider or from i2 itself. A good example would be a company like Dell Corp, said Darren Ward, director of i2’s e-business services, which not only sells its own products, but also offers hardware and software from third parties. In the past, companies would have had to carry out order fulfillment and delivery details for third party products over the phone or by fax, he said, this new product enables them to link their back end systems with their suppliers’ so now they can do that process on-line. As well as allowing multiple products to be offered on-line at a single web site and purchased and shipped as a single order, the integration also increases the product configuration options available to customers, Ward said.
An outsourced service, called Rhythm Exchange Services, is made up of two distinct offerings: private exchange services and public exchange services. Private exchange is where a third party will use i2’s Internet fulfillment software to set up a private network – over an enterprise network, intranet or extranet – to enable companies to link their fulfillment engines and collaborate about planning and supply chain procedures with their designated partners and suppliers. The public exchange option will see the company offering the same service, but to lots of different suppliers over the internet. So as well as linking with its own set of partners, the service will also enable a company to collaborate with any other supplier that’s signed up to offer open for bid type services rather than just sticking to certain suppliers, Ward said. As well as collaborative planning, i2 will also offer a quote and reservation system, order fulfillment service and
multi-carrier reporting and tracking services. Ward said i2 wasn’t sure whether it would let third parties, to be announced today, to run and manage the private and public service independently or whether it would also pay those businesses to host i2’s servers, thereby allowing i2 to also run the service itself. It’s most likely i2 will opt for a combination of both, Ward said. Ward wouldn’t say when the new services would be available, adding that more details will be announced during a press conference today.
i2’s offerings almost exactly mirror those of rival supplier Manugistics Inc, which were launched yesterday. Like i2, the number one supply chain vendor is offering all its applications on a hosted basis, via partners such as Excel Logistics, as well as offering outsourced fulfillment via its e-Chain Fulfillment service and its e-Chain Communities. John Holmes, Manugistics’ senior VP said it was no surprise the companies made their announcements within a day of each other. Everyone’s thinking of ways to make better use of the internet, he said, the difference with us is that we’re coming at it with an installed base that’s already using the web to access our applications. i2 doesn’t have that yet.
