Commerce One Inc. next week will officially roll out an update of its namesake collaborative e-business software platform with an expanded suite of applications that add capabilities in the procurement, sourcing, auction and payment modules.
Commerce One 5.0, available now, enables companies to communicate and work together on what Pleasanton, Calif., company refers to as a flexible, open enterprise hub that can connect applications across the enterprise.
The upgrade features a new process engine that connects and adapts applications to support a companys business processes as they change. The process engine is a differentiator as it does not force organizations to adapt their business processes to fit proprietary applications, according to CEO Mark Hoffman.
The 5.0 upgrade also lines up Commerce Ones long-term plan for Web services by enabling enterprises to move sourcing and procurement on to the Internet.
Commerce Ones Source application, which was announced last month, is a critical component in Version 5.0. As the companys supplier relationship management offering, Source competes with SAP AGs SRM software. SAP also owns a 20 percent stake in Commerce One.
In addition to new applications in Commerce One 5.0, the company has also restructured the product so the modules are smaller, less expensive and easier to implement.
“We expect this to drive a quicker [return on investment], with relatively smaller investments that help companies work up to an expanded suite,” Hoffman said in a conference call this week. “This will also help us in up-selling…a broad product line.”
Commerce One will discuss further details of its product strategy during an analyst day at its headquarters next week.
“Over the past two quarters we have made very significant changes to our product and our service offerings, fully tailoring our capabilities to the enterprise” said Hoffman. “The same capabilities – process management, transaction management and business-to-business integration – that have made Commerce Ones collaborative platform so vital in the creation of public e-marketplaces are critical for driving short-cycle return on investment for the enterprise.”