US Interactive, Deloitte partner to bring companies online

Under the agreement, Deloitte and US Interactive said they will jointly offer services and consulting to Fortune 500 companies who want to make the transition to the Web.

By joining US Interactive's e-services offerings, such as Web design, Internet strategy, and implementation services with Deloitte's management consulting offerings, the two companies said they hope to offer their clients a wide range of services to help them move their business to the Internet.

Deloitte, like its competitors EDS, Andersen Consulting, and PricewaterhouseCoopers, have began to feel the pressure from smaller, more nimble Internet consulting players, such as Viant, Razorfish, Scient, and as the services industry undergoes an evident shift to focus on Internet and e-commerce business. EDS and Andersen Consulting have both recently launched hefty ad campaigns to gain awareness for their new e-commerce focus.

Deloitte and US Interactive said they are currently working on a large, joint project that will be unveiled in the first quarter of next year. At present, the two companies are working with Clubessential Incorporated, a new company sponsored by KSL Recreation, to develop Internet site software for the private club industry.