J.D. Edwards wraps up Siebel integration
The business management software maker finishes integrating its core technology with Siebel Systems' customer management software.
The two companies signed an exclusive agreement in May under which J.D. Edwards would resell Siebel's front office applications to joint customers. Siebel's software helps sales forces and call centers better collect and share information about customers.
By integrating the two product suites, a customer will be able to more easily tie sales and customer service information to the company's back office financial and order entry system.
J.D. Edwards also bought supply chain software maker Numetrix in May and is working to integrate the three product lines to sell them as a package to customers.
J.D. Edwards, like its rivals Oracle, SAP, PeopleSoft, and Baan, have been moving further into new markets--including supply chain management and online buying and selling--as demand for their core back office software declines. Analysts have projected tremendous growth rates for both markets.
International Data Corporation (IDC) expects the worldwide market for customer relationship management software will grow to $11 billion in 2003 from $1.9 billion in 1998. In addition, the market for supply chain software is forecasted to grow 50 percent annually to $13.6 billion by 2002, according to Boston-based AMR Research.