Feb. 11, 2002

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	ONLINE TRADING

Volume 80, Number 06
CENEAR 80 06 p. 20
ISSN 0009-2347

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E-BUSINESS
NEWS UPDATES FOR THE WORLD OF BUSINESS ONLINE

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DuPont has hired Accenture to design and build a global enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for much of its worldwide operations. They expect to complete the implementation by the end of 2003. Under a separate six-year contract, Accenture will maintain and support the system. This approach, DuPont says, will provide global ERP capabilities with the lowest cost of ownership and a blend of fixed price and flexibility. DuPont hopes to increase efficiencies and enhance its ability to collaborate with customers. DuPont also has launched a new portal for its plastics business, http://www.plastics.dupont.com, that will include product information and technical service features for product development. And to help mark its 200th anniversary, DuPont has a website, http://heritage.dupont.com, that offers an interactive timeline and information on the company's history, employees, and scientific achievements.

Atofina Chemicals, the North American arm of Atofina, has deployed new global transportation management software as part of its effort to improve logistics operations. Atofina's goal is to eliminate $1 million in annual distribution expenses. The software comes from Rely Software and has been integrated into Atofina's SAP R/3 ERP system. The ERP system supports 82 Atofina sites, including 15 manufacturing facilities, as well as warehouses, terminals, and other locations.

Praxair has launched Praxair Express, a private website for customers purchasing cylinder gases, related equipment, consumables, and other products. The site includes the company's electronic catalog, containing more than 100,000 products along with order entry, inventory searching, and order management capabilities. Praxair says it conducts more than $150 million worth of business with North American suppliers and customers through various e-commerce channels.

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Cendian is the new name for ShipChem, created in February 2000 by Eastman Chemical and others as a virtual logistics provider. Soon after ShipChem's creation, Eastman outsourced its entire logistics operations to the company, including employees. Cendian recently signed an agreement with Albemarle that will transfer transportation and logistics activities to Cendian over the next six to nine months, beginning in North America. Cendian has more than $1 billion in contracts in place and works with more than 300 logistics providers.

SciQuest has started a publishing and supplier services business to provide scientific materials suppliers with Internet, electronic, and print channels to promote their products. The company believes that suppliers are looking for cost-effective and targeted methods to communicate product and promotional information to researchers. SciQuest offers four marketing channels: a buyer's guide covering 1.5 million products; its BioSupplyNet site; the BioSupplyNet supplier source book; and its research news information site, SciCentral. It will also offer suppliers e-mail leads from customer contacts, advertising, promotional listings, and newsletter sponsorships.

ChemUnity, the Europe-based website for companies wanting to buy chemicals and raw materials, has launched a new set of procurement applications. The software modules expand on its Web browser-based sourcing portal to include XML-based functions that companies can integrate into their existing systems. The modules can automate routine processes and are specifically designed for the chemical industry. They address inventory monitoring, for triggering replenishment; fulfillment, for multiple delivery purchase orders; integration, for linking with existing ERP systems and other e-commerce initiatives; and intelligence, for purchase-decision support.

Blue292 has acquired the Canadian company Caribou Systems, which produces software for regulatory reporting, emissions tracking, materials management, health and safety, and waste management. The business complements Blue292's Web-based environmental, health, and safety; emergency management; and contingency planning software. Customers can choose between running the applications themselves or through a service provided by Blue292. The company will retain the Blue292 name, while the combined applications will reflect the Caribou identity. It will have offices in both Durham, N.C., and Toronto.

OneChem has bought the software business of ChemResult, a Belgium-based applications provider for the chemical and plastics industries. With the acquisition, Miami-based OneChem gains a European customer base and sales force. Further consolidation among e-commerce software providers is inevitable, OneChem Chief Financial Officer Richard Noritake says. The company "is in talks with several other companies worldwide that will enhance OneChem's capabilities and expand market opportunities," he adds. OneChem offers hosted chemical and plastics e-commerce applications and private trading networks that enable companies to conduct business over the Internet.

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ONLINE TRADING

UBS Warburg, the investment banking arm of Swiss financial group UBS, will take over the North American wholesale electricity and natural gas trading business of Enron. Under a 10-year deal, Warburg, which is a primary Enron creditor, will not pay any money up front, but Enron will get one-third of any profits. Starting in the third year, Warburg will have the option to begin buying out Enron's royalty interest. Enron will be providing information technology infrastructure and intellectual property. Enron conducted about 60% of its commodity trading activities through EnronOnline, which also had financial and some physical trading in plastics and petrochemicals. The future of EnronOnline's petrochemical and plastics trading operations is uncertain.

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E-Business is written by Ann Thayer, who can be reached at a_thayer@acs.org.

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