Ariba Enhances Supplier Connectivity Solution; Company Receives ''Powered by NetWeaver(R)'' Qualification, Enabling Customers to Connect to the Ariba Supplier Network Faster and Easier Than Ever Before

16/05/2006 - 17:20

Ariba(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:ARBA), the leading spend
management solutions provider, today announced that it has attained
"Powered by SAP NetWeaver(R)" status for the Ariba Supplier
Network(TM), a leading global network for connecting enterprises with
their supplier communities. With the qualification of the Ariba
Supplier Connectivity(TM) ASC Adapter version 1.0, Ariba can
seamlessly link with mySAP(TM) Business Suite applications and help
companies using them reduce the cost and simplify the process of
connecting, transacting, and collaborating with their suppliers around
the globe.
"In today's global economy, buyers and suppliers must be able to
easily connect to and transact business with suppliers in an efficient
and cost-effective manner regardless of the procurement platform they
are using," said Bob Solomon, Senior Vice President, Growing
Enterprise Business, Ariba. "Last year, we opened the Ariba Supplier
Network to provide companies using ERP procurement solutions with more
options to solve their supplier connectivity challenges. Our Powered
by NetWeaver qualification is a natural expansion of this strategy."
With more than 140,000 registered suppliers in 115 countries
engaging in transactions worth more than $90 billion a year, the Ariba
Supplier Network is one of world's largest business transaction
networks. Each month, participating buyers and suppliers conduct
business with each other electronically, managing the complete
procure-to-pay cycle -- from sourcing to orders, to invoices, and
payment. More than 25 million purchase orders and invoices were
carried across the network in 2005.
In launching the Ariba Supplier Connectivity(TM) solution last
year, Ariba made it possible for all companies using ERP and other
non-Ariba applications to reap the benefits that the Ariba Supplier
Network provides. By linking to the network, companies can access
pre-enabled suppliers, bring more of their spend under management, and
maximize the returns on investment in existing systems.
Ariba Supplier Connectivity is a subscription-based solution that
combines software and services to deliver immediate benefits to both
buyers and suppliers. Buyers benefit from the large, existing supplier
community already connected and engaged in electronic commerce over a
secure global infrastructure. Suppliers benefit from pre-established
links to the procure-to-pay cycle of leading global companies and a
more reliable order-to-cash cycle.
SAP NetWeaver is the integration and application platform that
facilitates the integration and alignment of people, information, and
business processes across organizational and technological boundaries.
By enabling a seamless integration between the SAP NetWeaver platform
and its network, Ariba Supplier Connectivity ASC Adapter version 1.0
can increase supplier connectivity for SAP customers with a
streamlined, out-of-the-box integrated adapter for the SAP NetWeaver
Exchange Infrastructure.
For more information on Ariba Supplier Connectivity, the Ariba
Supplier Network, and the value that they deliver, please visit:
www.ariba.com

About Ariba, Inc.

Ariba, Inc. is the leading provider of Spend Management solutions
to help companies realize rapid and sustainable bottom line results.
Successful companies around the world in every industry use Ariba
Spend Management software and services. Ariba can be contacted in the
U.S. at 1.650.390.1000 or at www.ariba.com.

Ariba, the Ariba logo, AribaLIVE and SupplyWatch are registered
trademarks of Ariba, Inc. Ariba Spend Management, Ariba Spend
Management. Find it. Get it. Keep it., Ariba. This is Spend
Management, Ariba Solutions Delivery, Ariba Analysis, Ariba Buyer,
Ariba Category Management, Ariba Category Procurement, Ariba Contract
Compliance, Ariba Contracts, Ariba Contract Management, Ariba Contract
Workbench, Ariba Data Enrichment, Ariba eForms, Ariba Sourcing, Ariba
Spend Visibility, Ariba Invoice, Ariba Travel & Expense, Ariba
Workforce, Ariba Supplier Network, Ariba Supplier Connectivity, Ariba
Supplier Performance Management, Ariba PunchOut, Ariba QuickSource,
PO-Flip, Ariba Settlement and Ariba Spend Management Knowledge Base,
Ariba Ready, Ariba Supply Lines, Ariba Supply Manager, and It's Time
for Spend Management are trademarks or service marks of Ariba, Inc.
Ariba Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved. Patents
pending. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Ariba Safe Harbor

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act 1995: Information and announcements in this release involve
Ariba's expectations, beliefs, hopes, plans, intentions or strategies
regarding the future and are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in
this release are based upon information available to Ariba as of the
date of the release, and we assume no obligation to update any such
forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of
future performance and actual results could differ materially from our
current expectations. Factors that could cause or contribute to
Ariba's operating and financial results to differ materially from its
current expectations include, but are not limited to: delays in
development or shipment of new versions of Ariba's products and
services; lack of market acceptance of Ariba's existing or future
products or services; inability to continue to develop competitive new
products and services on a timely basis; introduction of new products
or services by major competitors; the ability to attract and retain
qualified employees; difficulties in assimilating acquired companies;
long and unpredictable sales cycles and the deferrals of anticipated
orders; declining economic conditions; inability to control costs;
changes in the company's pricing or compensation policies; significant
fluctuations in our stock price; the outcome of and costs associated
with pending or potential future regulatory or legal proceedings; the
impact of our acquisitions, including the disruption or loss of
customer, business partner, supplier or employee relationships; and
the level of costs and expenses incurred by Ariba as a result of such
transactions. Factors and risks associated with its business,
including a number of the factors and risks described above, are
discussed in Ariba's Form 10-K filed December 7, 2005 and in its Form
10-Q filed February 8, 2006.