A consultant, Diamond Technologies, was hired to evaluate Oracle and Commerce One's software suites. It recommended Commerce One. Oracle executives went ballistic, according to industry insiders. When the decision is made, I would expect Commerce One to get some stuff and Oracle to get some stuff. Getting all parties, from buyers to suppliers, to buy into the idea of Internet marketplaces.
Revolutionary change starts slowly.
Many distrust corporate rivals and fear losing trade secrets in cyberspace. Even with encryption and other security measures, no Internet network is fail-safe, they warn. Suppliers worry that the online marketplaces and their auctions, similar to eBay's auctions in the e-tailing world, will drive down the prices of their goods and favor buyers. Some companies that already use the Internet for their private exchanges have no desire to share their online expertise with competitors. At Wal-Mart, the world's No. 1 retail chain, executives have turned down several invitations to join exchanges in the retail and consumer goods industries.