Basics, standards, issues, business models were the discaussion fare. While the conference had only about 40 exhibits, one exhibitor remarked that had the conference been held a year ago, most of the people attending wouldn't have shown up. Interest in SupplyWebExchanges has grown a lot in a year. AMR Research reported that current Internet activity is still focused on content, not supply chain effectiveness. Customers are still using it for marketing and customer information.
Many companies feel it is more hype than reality.
There is even less online sharing of information. That's not to say companies aren't interested in automating their supply chains. Before the Supply Web, eProcurement systems existed, functioning on some level within many companies' ERP systems. They are fine up to a point, but do not work well for multi-user trading communities. Yet, for the reluctant trading partner, there has to be a very compelling reason to invest in the Supply Web.