Marketplaces
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cc-Chemplorer and software provider SAP Hosting have agreed to cooperate in serving the online purchasing market. In 2001, cc-markets and chemplorer, both backed by major chemical companies, merged to form cc-Chemplorer as an online marketplace for purchasing goods and services related to maintenance, repairs, and operations (MRO) in the process industries. cc-Chemplorer will take over the business of SAP's emaro division and manage electronic catalogs and document exchange for existing customers. SAP will continue to operate purchasing systems for customers.
ChemConnect, which operates a chemicals e-marketplace, and ForestExpress, a transaction-processing network for the forest products and allied industries, are creating a link between their networks. Member companies on the two networks will be able to exchange business documents beginning this quarter. The link also will establish a bridge between documents that follow the Chem eStandards format and those using papiNet, the global standards initiative of the paper and forest products industry. Separately, Guaranty Clearing will offer clearing and settlement services for contracts transacted on ChemConnect's natural gas liquids commodity market, called Chalkboard. Initially focusing on ethane and propane, the services will involve forwards, swaps, and options contracts and will be available this summer.
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InnoCentive, the website that offers financial rewards for the best solution to posted scientific questions, has signed on Syngenta as a "seeker company." Syngenta has already started to post problems, which consist of a detailed description, requirements, deadline, and award amount. Separately, InnoCentive hosted a conference on March 20 with the chemistry and biology departments of Moscow State University. InnoCentive hopes that Russian scientists will be attracted to its site and will benefit both intellectually and financially when they use it.
Aspen Technology and Accenture have just launched a performance management software designed specifically for the chemical and petroleum industries. The new application will allow companies to collect and analyze data for decision-making. It uses Web-based architecture to capture data from a wide range of systems across an organization. The Aspen Performance Scorecard lets manufacturers track plants and supply-chain operations, review progress against key performance indicators, analyze where business objectives are not being met, and then manage corrective actions. A group of 12 leading companies, called the Foundation Client Program, is advising AspenTech and Accenture on development of the software and will be among the initial users testing it.
- Dow Chemical's specialty monomers business has created a new website, http://www.dowspecialtymonomers.com, through which it hopes potential customers and collaborators will generate new uses for the older products divinylbenzene and vinylbenzene chloride.
- BASF Corp., the U.S. arm of BASF Group, is using software from EasyAsk as part of its internal corporate portal. The software will let employees use "natural-language queries" to easily and quickly locate and retrieve business information.
- Degussa has decided to use software from mySAP for deploying a customer relationship management system. During the pilot phase, 1,300 users in four business units will use a common template. A later companywide rollout is expected to serve 6,000 users in sales, marketing, and management.
- Rohm and Haas has extended its contract with LRN (the Legal Knowledge Co.) for three years. LRN provides training and education on legal, compliance, and ethics issues. Rohm and Haas offers the training to employees, in part, through online courses.
- Plateau Systems reports that nearly a dozen chemical manufacturers have implemented its learning management system. The online system helps companies comply with a variety of regulations by managing training, delivering materials, and tracking employee efforts. Customers include Akzo Nobel, Bayer, Degussa, and Lonza.
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Chemical & Engineering News
Copyright © 2003 American Chemical Society
