Some innovative services, ranging from integration of data and content delivery to application functionality such as sourcing, procurement and supplier management.
– Elemica: A self-described network for the chemical industry, has tackled the thorny question of how best to meet the European Union's regulatory invoicing mandates as well as providing supply chain services.
– Exostar: Delivers supply chain services for aerospace and defense and has built a unique security layer that meets the strict criteria laid down by the United States government and those of other nations.
– E2Open: With its heritage in high-tech, is quickly moving into other industries such as retail. Offering services from B2B integration to planning and execution of supply chain activities, it has one of the broadest application footprints in the industry.
– Data Alliance: Focuses specifically on supporting supplier managed inventory (SMI) initiatives between trading partners. Given the complexities, scope and size of the retail supply chain it is natural to find an abundance of service providers for the SMI function.
– SPS Commerce: Provides integration services between B2B buyers and sellers, offering multiple connectivity options and data synchronization.
– ECVision: Supplies application functionality to support product life-cycle management, supplier management and supply chain visibility.
– Edgenet: Combines product, supply chain and marketing data to provide a guided selling experience for end consumers in a B2C environment.
– iCongo: Offers a complete suite of services ranging from catalog management and procurement to consumer storefront.
Source: Fontanella, J. "Bring in the third party." Inside Supply Management, Vol. 19, No. 10: pp. 34-35.