<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.30

                           *Personal and Confidential*


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

              between THE viaLINK COMPANY, an Oklahoma corporation
                                   ("viaLink")

                                       and

                        PATRICK FITZGERALD, an individual
                                  ("Employee").

A. Employee hereby accepts employment with viaLink for the position described on
   the attached Compensation Plan. The commencement date of the employment shall
   be January 17, 2000. This Employment Agreement shall also be subject to the
   Terms and Conditions of Employment attached hereto. Employee agrees that
   disputes arising from the employment will be subject to binding arbitration
   according to Section 7 of the Terms and Conditions. Employee acknowledges
   that Employee understands and agrees to said Terms and Conditions.

B. Employee's annualized salary as set forth on the Compensation Plan shall be
   earned and payable bi-weekly, and subject to withholdings or other deductions
   required by law or otherwise authorized.

C. Employee agrees and acknowledges that, notwithstanding anything in this
   Employment Agreement, the Compensation Plan, the Terms and Conditions, or in
   any other document, policy or practice of viaLink, Employee's employment is
   and shall remain AT WILL, and the employment may be terminated with or
   without cause at any time, for any reason or for no reason. No change in such
   AT WILL status shall be effective unless such change is in writing and
   executed by an authorized officer of viaLink.

D. This Employment Agreement, the Compensation Plan, the Terms and Conditions of
   Employment and any other documents, if any, attached hereto constitute the
   entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all oral or written agreements
   or understandings between them regarding the subject matter hereof. No
   change, alteration or modification hereof may be made except in a writing
   signed by both parties to this Employment Agreement.

E. viaLink's offer of employment as contained in this Employment Agreement
   expires and shall be deemed cancelled and revoked if not accepted by
   Employee, through Employee's signature hereon, by January 10, 2000. This
   Employment Agreement shall only be effective if signed by both parties
   hereto.

The viaLink Company                    Employee
By: /s/ JAMES DAVIDSON                 /s/ PAT FITZGERALD
   ---------------------------         -------------------

Its: Director of HR & Training         Date: 1/3/00
    --------------------------              --------------

Date: 1/4/00
     -------------------------



<PAGE>   2

                           *Personal and Confidential*


                               THE viaLINK COMPANY
                       TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

1. BENEFITS.

     1.1. VACATION. Employee shall accrue vacation at the rate set forth in the
          then current policy of viaLink relating thereto.

     1.2. PROGRAMS. Employee shall be eligible for viaLink's group benefits
          programs currently in place which are offered to all employees of
          viaLink ("Programs"); provided, however, that such Programs may be
          amended by viaLink from time to time in its sole and absolute
          discretion. Eligibility for each of such Programs shall be subject to
          and administered according to any applicable documents relating to
          such Programs.

2. EMPLOYEE DUTIES. Employee shall (i) perform all duties which are assigned to
   Employee by viaLink from time to time, (ii) devote his full time, attention,
   knowledge and skills during the normal business hours of vialink, as they may
   be established from time to time, in furtherance of the business of viaLink,
   and (iii) faithfully, diligently, and to the best of his ability, perform the
   duties described above and further viaLink's best interests.

3. EMPLOYEE'S OBLIGATIONS, COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS.

     3.1. RULES AND POLICIES. During the employment, Employee shall at all times
          be subject to, observe and carry out such reasonable rules,
          regulations, polices, directions and restrictions as viaLink may from
          time to time establish, and those imposed by law.

     3.2. COMPANY PROPERTY. All papers, books and records of every kind and
          description relating to the business and affairs of viaLink, whether
          or not prepared by the Employee, shall be the sole and exclusive
          property of viaLink, and the Employee shall surrender them to viaLink
          at any time upon request. This section shall survive the termination
          of the employment.

     3.3. NON-COMPETITION. During the employment, Employee shall not knowingly
          engage, and shall not knowingly solicit any employees of viaLink or
          its subsidiaries or other affiliates to engage in any commercial
          activities which are in any way in competition with the activities of
          viaLink, or which in any way materially interfere with the performance
          of Employee's duties or responsibilities to viaLink.

     3.4. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. During the employment, Employee shall not,
          directly or indirectly, alone or as a partner, officer, director,
          employee, shareholder, consultant or agent of any other corporation,
          partnership or other business organization, be actively engaged in or
          concerned with any



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<PAGE>   3

                           *Personal and Confidential*


          other duties or pursuits which materially interfere with the
          performance of his duties as an Employee of viaLink. Without limiting
          the generality of the foregoing, Employee shall comply with any other
          conflict of interest policies which may be adopted by viaLink from
          time to time.

     3.5. MISAPPROPRIATION. Employee shall not knowingly acquire, use, copy, or
          misappropriate any trade secret or proprietary information belonging
          to any other company or person and shall not cause, encourage or
          induce viaLink to acquire, use, copy, or misappropriate any trade
          secret or proprietary information belonging to any other company or
          person.

     3.6. COMPLIANCE. Employee represents and warrants that Employee is and
          shall at all times during the employment remain in compliance with any
          and all applicable federal and/or state laws, rules or regulations
          regarding Employee's eligibility for employment and/or continued
          employment with viaLink.

     3.7. NON-BREACH. Employee represents that by entering into the employment,
          Employee is not in violation of any agreement, term or condition of
          any other agreement Employee has had with any third party, nor does
          the execution of the Employment Agreement constitute a breach of any
          other agreement to which Employee is a party.

4. WORK PRODUCT.

     4.1. Employee agrees that any and all inventions, improvements,
          developments, discoveries, copyrightable works, or contributions
          thereto, including, without limitation, any written works, software
          products or code, images, designs, and/or instructions, whether or not
          they are the subject of patent or copyright or other proprietary
          rights protection under any federal, state, local or foreign law(s),
          created in whole or part by Employee during the term of this Agreement
          or relating in any way to the business of viaLink (hereinafter "Work
          Product") shall be the sole and exclusive property of viaLink and
          shall belong to viaLink free and clear from all right, title and
          interest of any other person, including, without limiting the
          generality of the foregoing, Employee. It is specifically agreed and
          understood that Employee shall not retain any right, title, interest
          or any right to use any of such Work Product. Employee shall promptly
          and fully disclose to viaLink all such Work Product. Employee
          acknowledges that all Work Product shall be a work for hire.

     4.2. Employee conveys, transfers and assigns all rights, title and interest
          in and to any Work Product to viaLink, and further agrees to execute
          any written assignment or other agreement viaLink deems necessary at
          any time to effect the foregoing and to obtain or uphold, for
          viaLink's benefit, all copyright, patent and/or other rights of
          viaLink in such Work Product.



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                           *Personal and Confidential*


     4.3. Employee's obligations in this Section 4 shall survive the termination
          of this Agreement.

5. TRADE SECRETS AND CONFIDENTIALITY.

     5.1. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. "Confidential Information" means proprietary
          business information, Trade Secrets and/or other confidential
          information regarding viaLink or any of its subsidiaries which (i)
          have not otherwise become public knowledge, (ii) were not already
          known to Employee or learned by Employee from independent and
          unrestricted sources prior to the Effective Date, and (iii) have not
          been disclosed by viaLink to others without substantial restriction on
          further disclosure. "Trade Secrets" means any proprietary information
          not generally known in the industry in which viaLink is engaged or may
          become engaged, including, without limitation, information relating to
          viaLink's business affairs, finances, properties, methods of
          operation, software developed by viaLink, sources of and arrangements
          for hardware supplied to clients of viaLink, submission and proposal
          procedures of viaLink, viaLink's client or contact lists, commercial
          information supplied to viaLink by viaLink's clients, and other
          confidential information respecting the business or affairs of
          viaLink. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the business and good
          will of viaLink depend upon its keeping such Confidential Information
          confidential.

     5.2. NON-DISCLOSURE. Except when directed to do otherwise by the President
          or Chief Executive Officer of viaLink, or any successor to either of
          them, and except as required by law, court order or subpoena, Employee
          shall keep confidential and shall not divulge to any other person or
          entity, during the term of this Agreement or at any time thereafter,
          any of viaLink's Confidential Information. In any case where Employee
          is compelled by law, court order or subpoena to disclose any
          Confidential Information to any third person, Employee shall advise
          viaLink in advance of such requirement and shall permit viaLink to
          object, contest, intervene or obtain appropriate protection of such
          information prior to its disclosure to any person.

     5.3. RETURN OF PROPERTY. Upon termination of this Agreement, Employee and
          Employee's Personnel will turn over to viaLink all documents, papers
          and other matter in the possession of or under the control of Employee
          or Employee's Personnel that are or relate to Confidential Information
          or Work Product.

     5.4. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. Employee acknowledges that disclosure of any
          Confidential Information or Work Product by Employee will give rise to
          irreparable injury, which is inadequately compensable in damages, to
          viaLink or the owner of such Confidential Information. Accordingly,
          viaLink or such other party, in addition to any other remedies which
          are



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<PAGE>   5

                           *Personal and Confidential*


          elsewhere granted in this Agreement or which may be otherwise
          available at law or in equity, may seek and obtain injunctive relief
          against the breach or threatened breach of the foregoing Section 5.2,
          any infringement upon any intellectual property rights of viaLink, or
          any other breach of any term, covenant, condition, warranty or
          representation of this Agreement.

     5.5. All obligations under this Section 5 shall survive the termination of
          this Agreement.

6. EMPLOYEE'S OBLIGATIONS AFTER EMPLOYMENT ENDS. Employee acknowledges and
   agrees that the obligations contained in this Section shall begin upon
   termination of employment.

     6.1. For a period of two (2) years after cessation of Employee's employment
          with viaLink for any reason (including termination of employment by
          viaLink), Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, alone, or as a
          partner, officer, director, employee, shareholder, consultant or agent
          of any other corporation, partnership or other business organization,
          knowingly solicit the employment of, or hire, any employee of viaLink,
          or any viaLink subsidiary, or cause any such employee to terminate the
          employee's relationship with viaLink or any viaLink subsidiary,
          without the prior written approval of viaLink.

     6.2. For a period of two (2) years after cessation of Employee's employment
          with viaLink for any reason (including termination of employment by
          viaLink), Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, alone, or as a
          partner, officer, director, employee, shareholder, consultant or agent
          of any other corporation, partnership or other business organization,
          knowingly solicit any of the accounts of viaLink which were directly
          or indirectly serviced by the Employee unless such solicitation is
          undertaken on behalf of a business venture which does not compete,
          directly or indirectly, with the products or services owned, sold,
          manufactured, marketed, provided or developed by viaLink and its
          subsidiaries during Employee's employment by viaLink. For the purposes
          of this section, a business shall be deemed to be in competition with
          viaLink and its subsidiaries if the products or services of such
          business are substantially similar in purpose, function or capability
          to the products or services then being developed, manufactured,
          marketed, provided or sold by viaLink or a viaLink subsidiary.

     6.3. The parties agree that the any breach or threatened breach of the
          provisions of this Section 6 will cause irreparable injury to viaLink
          and that money damages will not provide an adequate remedy.
          Accordingly, viaLink shall, in addition to other remedies provided by
          law, be entitled to such equitable and injunctive relief as may be
          necessary to enforce the provisions of these Terms and Conditions
          against the Employee or any person or entity participating in such
          breach or threatened breach.



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                                                                  Initials: P.F.
<PAGE>   6

                           *Personal and Confidential*


          Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting viaLink
          from pursuing any other and additional remedies available to it, at
          law or in equity, for such breach or threatened breach, including any
          recovery of damages from the Employee and the immediate termination of
          the employment.

7. RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating
   to the employment or termination thereof (including, without limitation,
   claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the
   Americans with Disabilities Act, and any other federal and/or state
   employment rights laws), and/or arising out of a controversy or claim
   regarding the Employment Agreement, these Terms and Conditions, the Programs,
   or any breach of any of the foregoing, and except for any claims for
   injunctive relief permitted by these Terms and Conditions, shall be settled
   by arbitration pursuant to the then current National Rules for the Resolution
   of Employment Disputes ("Rules") of the American Arbitration Association
   ("AAA"), subject to the following:

     7.1. Within 15 days after the commencement of arbitration, each party shall
          select one person to act as an arbitrator and the two selected persons
          shall select a third arbitrator within 10 days of their appointment.
          If the arbitrators selected by the parties are unable or fail to agree
          upon the third arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be selected by
          the American Arbitration Association. All arbitrators selected shall
          be persons having experience with and knowledge of the resolution of
          employment-related disputes in the area in which the claim or
          controversy arises.

     7.2. The arbitration shall be conducted at the offices of viaLink or such
          other location at which Employee is then or was most recently employed
          by viaLink.

     7.3. The arbitration shall be completed within six months of the filing of
          the notice of intention to arbitrate (demand), and the arbitrators
          shall agree to comply with this schedule before accepting appointment.
          However, this time limit may be extended by agreement of the parties.

     7.4. Any arbitration award made shall not exceed the amount that would have
          been available to the parties had the matter been determined by
          litigation in a court of law.

     7.5. The prevailing party shall be entitled to an award of all of its
          reasonable costs incurred, including, without limitation, reasonable
          attorneys' fees.

     7.6. Except as may be required by law, neither a party nor an arbitrator
          may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration
          hereunder without the prior written consent of both parties.

     7.7. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered by
          any court having jurisdiction thereof.



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                                                                  Initials: P.F.
<PAGE>   7

                           *Personal and Confidential*



8.  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The rights and obligations of viaLink hereunder
    shall run in favor of and shall be binding upon viaLink, its successors,
    assigns, nominees or other legal representatives. Employee acknowledges that
    viaLink may assign its rights and obligations under the Employment Agreement
    without the consent of Employee. Employee may not assign his rights and
    obligations under the Employment Agreement.

9.  NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder
    must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt
    if delivered by hand, sent by telecopier or by courier, or three (3) days
    after such communication is mailed within the continental United States by
    first class certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to
    the other party, in each case addressed as follows: (i) if to viaLink, to
    Human Resources, The viaLink Company, 13800 Benson Road Suite 100, Edmond,
    Oklahoma 73013 and (ii) if to the Employee, to the last address shown for
    the Employee in the personnel records of viaLink. Addresses may be changed
    by written notice sent to the other party at the last recorded address of
    that party.

10. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of the Employment shall be adjudged by any
    court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable for any
    reason, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder
    of said terms and provisions.

11. HEADINGS. The captions and headings in these Terms and Conditions are for
    convenience and reference only and shall not be construed as part of these
    Terms and Conditions or to limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

12. GOVERNING LAW. Jurisdiction over disputes with regard to the Employment
    Agreement and/or these Terms and Conditions shall be exclusively in the
    courts of the State of Oklahoma, and shall be construed in accordance with
    and governed by the laws of the state of Oklahoma.

13. NONWAIVER. The waiver of any violation or breach of these Terms and
    Conditions by either party hereto shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any
    continuing violation or breach or a waiver of any other violation or breach
    of these Terms and Conditions.



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                                                                  Initials: P.F.
<PAGE>   8

                           *Personal and Confidential*



                               THE viaLINK COMPANY
                                COMPENSATION PLAN
                                      FOR:
                               PATRICK FITZGERALD
                                   "Employee"


Salary: The Annual Salary is earned and payable bi-weekly.

<TABLE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employee's Position:                   Annual Salary:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>
Senior Vice President of Sales         $ 190,000.000*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


EMPLOYEE IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION PROVISIONS BELOW.

[ ] Performance Bonus:

Employee shall be eligible for a potential bonus of $150,000.00, payable in
accordance with the following schedule:

     o $60,000.00 for the first target account signed (must be retailer),
     o $40,000.00 for the second target account signed (must be retailer),
     o $20,000.00 for the third target account signed (can be either retailer or
       supplier),
     o $20,000.00 for the fourth targeted account (can be either retailer or
       supplier), and
     o $10,000.00 for the fifth target account (can be either retailer or
       supplier).

A list of target accounts shall be supplied (see attachment "A").

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Bonus provision, in order to
receive a Bonus due hereunder, Employee must be an employee of viaLink under
this Agreement at the time target account is signed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ ] Severance:

In the event that viaLink terminates the employment without cause at any time,
Employee shall be entitled to severance compensation in an amount equal to six
months of salary at Employee's salary rate at date of hire, payable over 12
months.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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                                                                  Initials: P.F.
                                                                           -----
<PAGE>   9

                           *Personal and Confidential*


[ ] Relocation:

Employee shall be eligible for relocation reimbursement pursuant to the attached
policy of viaLink regarding relocation expenses.

Current lease shall be indemnified up to $7,000.00 per month for one year. If
taxes are paid on lease by Employee, viaLink will not gross up Employee to cover
amount.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ ] Hiring Bonus

Following acceptance of Employment Agreement, Employee shall receive a
$10,000.00 hiring bonus which shall be payable on the first payroll following
date of employment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ ] Stock Options:

Subject to the conditions and restrictions ("Conditions and Restrictions")
hereinafter set forth and subject to the terms, covenants and conditions of
viaLink's 1999 Stock Option Plan ("Plan"), viaLink shall grant to Employee an
option to purchase 100,000 shares of viaLink common stock at the grant price
equal to the closing price of the viaLink common stock on the date of the
actual grant of the options to Employee by viaLink. Such Conditions and
Restrictions are as follows:

o Employee must be an employee of viaLink on the actual date of said grant.

o Employee must execute a Stock Option Agreement generally used by viaLink for
  the granting of stock options under said Plan. Such Stock Option Agreement
  shall include, but not limited to, the following terms and conditions:

     o 50,000 option rights shall vest over two years (25,000 each year) and
       50,000 shall vest in accordance with the following schedule:

          o 5,000 when first target account is signed, (can be either retailer
            or supplier);
          o 5,000 when the second target account is signed,
          o 10,000 when each of the third and fourth target accounts are signed,
            and
          o 20,000 when the fifth target account is signed.

o If Employee is terminated or the Employment Agreement is not renewed, whether
  with or without cause, or if said Agreement otherwise expires, except as may
  otherwise be provided in the change of control provisions in the Plan under
  which any options granted, Employee shall not be entitled to exercise any of
  such options which have not vested as of the date of such termination,
  non-renewal or earlier expiration of the Employment Agreement



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                                                                           -----
<PAGE>   10

                                  ATTACHMENT A

                               The viaLink Company
                       Relocation Reimbursement Agreement

I hereby acknowledge that I have received and read a summary regarding benefits
available to me under the Company relocation policy. I understand the benefits
available and agree to the following:

1.  Any expenses that deviate from the policy must be approved in advance by the
    Vice President of Human Resources or his/her designee. If I should incur
    such an expense without prior approval, the Company may refuse to provide
    reimbursement, even though past practice has implied that the expense
    would/should have been reimbursed.

2.  Tax assistance will be paid on certain allowable items, which the Company
    believes are nondeductible (excluding the Relocation Allowance).

3.  The payment of my relocation expenses by the Company is conditional on my
    remaining in the employ of the Company for twelve (12) consecutive months
    after my effective start date with the Company, or my effective date of
    transfer into my new position (whichever may apply). If I should voluntarily
    resign from the Company or should my employment with the Company be
    terminated for cause prior to the completion of twelve (12) consecutive
    months after such date, I will repay to the Company all relocation
    reimbursement payments made to me or on my behalf, in accordance with the
    following schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                TERMINATION WITHIN                            REPAYMENT
                ------------------                            ---------
<S>             <C>                                           <C>
                     1-3 months                                 100%
                     4-6 months                                  75%
                     7-9 mouths                                  50%
                     10-12 months                                25%
                     After 1 year                                 0
</TABLE>

4.  Any repayment required under this agreement would be due and payable to the
    Company on the final working day of employment.

5.  If required, I authorize deductions to be withheld from my wages, salary,
    bonus, or other sums due me for any reason for any relocation expense
    amounts due the Company in accordance with the above schedule.

6.  Reimbursement or repayment of relocation expenses by the Company does not
    constitute a commitment by the Company with respect to the duration of
    employment.



/s/ PAT FITZGERALD                     Pat Fitzgerald
-------------------                    -------------------------------
Name (Signature)                       Name (Print)

Date: 1/3/00
     -------------