E-Business - February 10, 2003

Technology

SciQuest's HigherMarkets electronic procurement software now will also be marketed by SCT to its college and university customers. SCT is a provider of education information technology applications for managing areas such as financial aid, human resources, and student data. The two companies will also work toward integrating the HigherMarkets software and SCT's Banner product line. SCT says it created the relationship with SciQuest at the request of its customers.

Planalytics is adding chemical companies--including Sasol North America, Bayer, and Westlake Petrochemicals--as users of its GasBuyer software for Web-based purchasing and hedging of natural gas supplies. "The GasBuyer tool will help us manage our natural gas price risk and reduce our gas costs by providing a perspective on where the market is heading," says Rick Piotrowski, Bayer senior procurement manager for energy. The software uses long-range climate forecasts, inventory change projections, weekly storage data, and real-time futures contract pricing to calculate gas prices. Planalytics reports that over the second half of 2002 its software suggested gas purchases at prices that averaged 8% less than the market price.

Hazmat Software is working with Pitney Bowes's distribution solutions unit, a provider of mail management systems, to integrate Hazmat's EasyShip Platinum Web hazardous materials documentation software into Pitney Bowes's TMS Enterprise transportation management system. The integration will let users simultaneously manage shipping requirements and documentation. Through Pitney Bowes, Hazmat is seeking Federal Express approval for EasyShip and has already been accepted by the United Parcel Service. Hazmat's customers include Dow Chemical, DuPont, and PPG Industries.

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Companies

Novozymes is offering its customer center website in seven different languages and with secure, but password-free, access. The industrial enzyme producer says its e-commerce applications are fully integrated into its supply chain, thereby reducing routine work and simplifying many processes. The company launched its site in 2000 and says that about 40% of its customer orders are now placed via the Internet.

Eastman Chemical has become a sponsor of SpecialChem.com's portal for the adhesives and sealants industry. Eastman will provide technical knowledge and expertise related to tackifier resins on the site's TechCenter. The portal will also include a searchable library of Eastman's adhesives products and technical documents.

Roche Diagnostics has expanded its e-commerce activities by joining the Global Healthcare Exchange. GHX is an online trading exchange for more than 700 hospitals and other health care facilities; it is merging with Medibuy and will soon expand to more than 1,300 health care organizations. Roche will be able to receive and fill orders electronically through the exchange. It anticipates greater efficiency and reduced costs in interacting with customers.

Applied Biosystems has released a new version of the Celera Discovery System, an online platform that gives researchers access to integrated, organized, and validated proprietary and public biological data. New features include the first release of annotated mouse genes, enhanced visualization and analysis tools for comparing human and mouse genomes, and additional data integration capabilities. A new subscription plan is also in place; researchers at academic and nonprofit institutions can now get one-year, single-user agreements.

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Services

NACELink has been started by the National Association of Colleges & Employers and the DirectEmployers Association. The website links colleges, students, and employers nationally for job recruiting. It offers job postings, a résumé database, tools for career services, and interview scheduling. The DirectEmployers Association counts several major pharmaceutical, electronics, and technology companies among its charter members; 27 schools from NACE's roster of more than 1,800 college and university members and 1,900 employer organizations participated in developing the site. NACE recently surveyed about 200 employers and found that while 85% will accept hard-copy résumés, nearly 90% prefer to get them electronically.

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DISCLOSURE

A recent survey of websites from the top 50 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies finds that many "do not reflect the full breadth of corporate governance changes that have taken place in the offline world," reports the public affairs and communications firm APCO Worldwide. Nevertheless, these sites provide "the most visible and accessible window into a company's business practices," says Mark Story, APCO Internet strategist. In light of demand for greater transparency and the increased use of online communications, he says, "It is critical to demonstrate good corporate governance and disclosure policies on corporate websites." After assessing the quality and quantity of available financial information, APCO awarded the group an average score of 65 out of 100 possible points. For example, surveyed sites averaged 21 out of a possible 42 points for "disclosure." Good disclosure practices included listing executive certification of financial data, descriptions of corporate governance committees and charters, and summaries of directors' professional experience. However, the sites scored higher on "usability," averaging nearly 27 out of 35 points. Other positives cited were links to regulatory filings, advisory information for investors, earnings announcements, and contact information. Pfizer (with 86 points), Bayer (80), Millennium Pharmaceuticals (75), Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (75), Ligand Pharmaceuticals (74.5), and Johnson & Johnson (74) were among those with the highest overall scores.