US military signs up Ariba

The US Department of Defense (DoD) is to link its internal procurement system with Ariba's Commerce Services Network to gain access to 30,000 new suppliers.

The DoD has signed up application integration vendor WebMethods to link its network, EMALL, with Ariba's Commerce Services Network - a global directory of suppliers.

The project will take two years with a price tag of $275,000.

The DoD will initially use the system for indirect procurement - the purchase of stationery supplies and office electronics.

There are also plans to link the new systems to aerospace exchanges Exostar and Aeroxchange later this summer.