AstraZeneca expands Ariba contract

Pharmaceuticals maker AstraZeneca said Tuesday that it has agreed to purchase software from Ariba to reduce the cost of keeping its supplies in stock. Earlier this year, the $8.7 billion manufacturer bought Ariba's electronic-auction applications and has been using them to negotiate contracts with suppliers online. AstraZeneca expects the additional software, called Ariba Spend Management Suite, to help it cut costs through electronic invoicing and ordering. Neither company would disclose the value of the deal.