Ariba, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARBA), the leading spend management solutions provider, today announced that it will team with CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB) to develop an advanced, web–based marketplace and sourcing application for Ontario publicly funded schools, colleges and universities. As part of a 5–year agreement with the Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace, or OECM, CGI will build the OECM marketplace using Ariba´s spend management solutions as the platform.
The Ontario government announced in its 2008 Budget that the OECM has been established to facilitate group purchasing and introduce an integrated electronic marketplace, with the expected results that educational professionals can focus on teaching, research and student services. To help OECM achieve its goals, CGI will develop an online marketplace powered by a comprehensive range of Ariba solutions, including: Ariba® Analysis TM, Ariba Sourcing TM, Ariba Category Management TM Ariba Buyer TM, Ariba Invoice TM, Ariba Contract Compliance TM, Ariba Contract Workbench TM, and Ariba Supplier Performance Management TM. Leveraging the solutions, OECM can provide the facilities to let school boards, colleges and universities manage their spend from end–to–end, from sourcing and orders through invoice and payment.
In addition, OECM will enable access to the Ariba Supplier Network TM, one of the world´s largest open business transaction networks. With more than 160,000 registered suppliers in 115 countries engaging in transactions worth more than $100 billion a year, the Ariba Supplier Network will enable OECM to automate interactions with key trading partners to achieve efficiency and accuracy throughout the procure–to–pay cycle.
"We are looking forward to broadly deploying the advanced capabilities offered by the Ariba product set," said OECM´s acting President and CEO, Frank Erschen.
The design, development, and implementation of the marketplace is supported by the Ontario government and is comprised of two major components. In the first phase, CGI will build a web–based, "Shopping Cart" retail environment in which users can order an assortment of good and services. In the second, CGI will enable purchasers to issue Requests for Proposal (RFP) for major purchases, manage supplier responses to the requests and execute resulting contracts.
"With Ariba´s spend management solutions, institutions participating in the OECM initiative can improve the efficiency of their procurement process and we are pleased to be teaming with CGI to help them do this," said Sean Simpson, Country Manager, Ariba, Canada.
About OECM
OECM is a not–for–profit corporation, established by the Education sector, supported financially by the Ministry of Finance through the OntarioBuys initiative. OntarioBuys´ mandate is to promote the adoption of leading integrated supply chain management (iSCM) practices throughout the broader public sector. OntarioBuys has active projects in both the Health Care and Education sectors.
OECM´s objective is to provide strategic sourcing services and an e–marketplace that connects buyers and suppliers to facilitate more effective, efficient procurement of goods and services for Ontario´s School Boards, Colleges and Universities (SCU). OECM represents a single initiative with support across the entire SCU sector.
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 TM software and services. Ariba can be contacted in the U.S. at 1.650.390.1000 or at www.ariba.com.
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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 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, including Procuri which Ariba acquired on December 17, 2007; 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–Q for the third quarter ended June 30, 2008.
