RightWorks, Ironside Join Forces on B2B Battlefield

Two aspiring B2B players joined forces Monday as RightWorks announced it had teamed up with Ironside Technologies to combine their e-marketplace solutions. <P> The alliance will integrate RightWorks eProcurement and eMarketplace solutions with Ironside's back-end supplier integration products, such as Ironworks and the Ironside Network. The joint venture is expected to enhance the RightWorks B2B platform and provide buyers with critical up-to-date market information and real-time supplier information. <P> The two companies believe the alliance will give them an edge in serving online trading and B2B purchasing by improving supplier integration and allowing companies to establish their own private trading networks. <P> "The partnership between RightWorks and Ironside demonstrates a mutual commitment to providing suppliers with an unmatched number of enablement options and buyers with access to real-time product information," said Doug Sallen, RightWorks senior vice president of business development, in a press statement. "This second-generation approach to supplier enablement and content management delivers the value of a truly integrated supply chain." <P> Before teaming up, the two B2B software makers made other alliances. RightWorks struck a major deal last month with Hewlett-Packard to integrate the RightWorks eBusiness Application Suite with the HP-UX11i operating system. Ironside signed an agreement in December as well with VerticalNet to add Ironside Network to VerticalNet's trading communities.