Consistent with previous Yankee Group demand-side research, corporate interest in solutions that interface with partners is strong, said Jon Derome, Senior Analyst for the Yankee Group. Improving electronic communication with customers, suppliers and service providers continues to be a corporate priority.
According to the report, despite strained economic conditions, integration technology budgets continue to increase as the price of integration solutions become more affordable for businesses to deploy. In fact, 63% of the business executives surveyed from large, industry-leading corporations reported their e-commerce technology budgets increased in 2002 compared to 2001, and half of respondents expected those budgets to increase again in 2003.
In addition:
- When asked about the importance of improved partner communication, approximately 92% of those interviewed described electronic communications with partners as a corporate priority.
- Sixty-three percent (63%) of those interviewed said improved communication with partners was urgent.
- However, many respondents indicated until the economic situation improves, it will be difficult for companies to act on mounting interest in supply-and-demand management technologies.
According to the Yankee Group, innovative technology users are extending transaction management (TXM) systems to automate increasingly complex business processes. TXM investment is becoming more compelling as innovative deployments enabling VMI, ATP, contract manufacturing and demand planning gain attention and generate competitive pressure, the report's authors contend.
Yankee Group predicts this trend will continue as IT budgets expand and J2EE and XML mature and gain adoption.
Although the cost to deploy and operate a TXM system is significant, the group predicts the business benefits can be profound. The technology provides a clear and calculable ROI, is amenable to incremental deployment and helps control costs, the authors advise.
Customers see high value in integrating their internal systems and external integration technologies so that business transactions can move electronically from start to finish, said Sam Starr, COO, Sterling Commerce. Companies will continue to invest in these solutions even in a challenging economy because they are confident in the return on investment they bring.
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To learn more about this study or to access the full report, visit the Sterling Commerce Web site at sterlingcommerce.com.
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