Now, for many, it' s a fight for survival. It will be an uphill battle. And know that many are a step away from extinction. But other industry consortia marketplaces, such as Transora in the consumer manufacturing area, dueling electronic e-markets e2open and Converge and WorldWide Retail Exchange with its massive retailer participation, are off to a good start. Look for consortia markets to wield influence in unexpected ways.
None are likely to grow into huge spot markets or become a font of cost-saving reverse auctions.
That would cause too much supply chain disruption. Private marketplaces aren't necessarily new at all. But a private e-marketplace is something more too. It's the place a company sets its own technology and process standards for B2B integration and collaboration. And for most companies, it's just getting started in 2001.