REDMOND, Wash., and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 17, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. and KPMG Consulting LLC, a leading provider of Internet integration services, today announced a joint effort to deliver Dot.Ramp, a solution designed to help buyers and sellers rapidly connect to business-to-business (B2B) digital marketplaces. The solution targets enterprises of all sizes with KPMG Consulting’s implementation methodology and technology based on the Microsoft® .NET platform, which is built on public Internet standards and protocols and utilizes Microsoft’s .NET enterprise servers, including the forthcoming BizTalk™
Server 2000.
Digital marketplaces are becoming well-established avenues that organizations can use to buy and sell products and services across the value chain. Until now, enterprises have found integrating their internal systems with the digital marketplaces to be expensive and time-consuming, requiring multiple system and software solutions. Dot.Ramp helps solve this problem by providing interoperability with open, standards-based technology. It is complementary to existing technology systems.
“The KPMG Consulting and Microsoft Dot.Ramp offering is designed to give enterprises the ability to better compete by rapidly integrating their internal IT systems, such as ERP, CRM, e-purchasing, billing, inventory and sales, with the digital marketplaces,”
said Robin Hill, senior vice president at KPMG Consulting.
“This will give organizations the ability to electronically sell their products and services directly through the trading exchanges on a 24-hour basis, potentially reducing costs and enhancing revenue.”
Dot.Ramp uses common Internet business standards, such as XML, and allows an organization to develop reusable Microsoft standard components for connecting to multiple exchanges and private extranets. Dot.Ramp supports most ERP, CRM, supply-chain and e-procurement software, including SAP, JD Edwards, Ariba and Commerce One. Dot.Ramp is packaged and repeatable, which can decrease cost and implementation time, and it is designed to work with existing systems so that suppliers can take advantage of their significant investments in hardware, software and training.
“By working with KPMG Consulting, Microsoft is making a commitment to enterprises to help them quickly and directly move into digital marketplaces,”
said Rebecca Kaske, director of B2B and supply chain at Microsoft.
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The Dot.Ramp solution based on the .NET platform helps companies realize the benefits of streamlining transactions and expanding customer relationships. Enhancing the usability of an organization’s Web site and extending new services ¾ such as warranties, shipping options, volume purchase options and product information ¾can go a long way in enriching a customer’s self-service experience.”
“This standards-based solution will enable companies to creatively enhance all their customer touch points, such as mobile devices, call centers and the Web. With this level of integration, customers will enjoy a higher degree of product delivery predictability and change-order flexibility from suppliers.”
KPMG Consulting and Microsoft will focus on five key markets with the Dot.Ramp solution: industrial products, aerospace, chemical, energy and automotive. KPMG Consulting’s expertise in these industries can help organizations more rapidly realize the benefits of integrating their business processes with digital marketplaces.
Honeywell Inc., an early adoptor of the Dot.Ramp solution, uses the Microsoft Windows® DNA platform across its e-business portals. Those portals include MyPlant, MyFacilities and MyAircraft, which is a joint venture with United Technologies Corp. and i2 Technologies Inc.
“The widespread use of the Internet is providing the opportunity for delivering high-value applications and solutions to the markets we serve,”
said Russel McMeekin, president of e-business at Honeywell.
“The Web is becoming a vital part of our day-to-day business strategy. We are pleased to see Microsoft and KPMG Consulting simplify the rapid implementation process of extending supplier business processes online. The solution this framework provides is invaluable for delivering the best customer experience through our sites every day.”
To learn more about the Dot.Ramp solution, contact Scott Coleman, general manager, U.S. and International B2B Exchanges, Microsoft, at [email protected] or Thomas R. Johnson, managing director, KPMG Consulting, at [email protected].
About KPMG Consulting
KPMG Consulting LLC is a leading provider of Internet integration services. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.kpmgconsulting.com/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, BizTalk and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
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