GM, Ford and Chrysler are acceding, forming a joint venture to build a single hub for electronic procurement, planning, fulfillment and collaboration. In the heyday of EDI, the biggest manufacturers and retailers called the shots, mandating that all their suppliers invest in expensive, dedicated connections to the mother ship. It used to be the big manufacturers would place ultimatums on tier-one suppliers, which would cascade down to tier two or three. Now it's a changed landscape. In the end, it's in the big manufacturers' or retailers' best interests to make it easier on their suppliers.
More suppliers mean more choices.
And because Web-based trading exchanges are easier to implement and use than unwieldy and sometimes arcane EDI links, suppliers will be better positioned to give their business customers what they want, when they want it. This trend toward a community of partners will surely seep into other industries where two or three players are still trying to dominate and dictate the terms of the Web supply chain. Look for more cooperation among e-marketplace principals in the retail, energy and chemicals industries, in particular. Drop us an e-mail. Robert Preston is editor in chief of InternetWeek.