Volkswagen, IBM, and the US software companies, i2 Technologies and Ariba, have signed a memorandum of understanding for a strategic partnership to build up a global digital marketplace.

“With this partnership we accelerate our current activities to optimize our business process,” says Dr. Jens Neumann, the Volkswagen board member responsible for Group Strategy, Legal Matters, Treasury and Organization, describing the objectives of the new alliance.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

An important aspect of the process improvement is the interactive transaction process with the suppliers. The new e-market will enable Volkswagen to easily order certain groups of products via the Internet. This includes manufacturing parts, tools and office equipment. With this powerful cooperation Volkswagen intends to increase the efficiency in its global supply chain and improve its process flow.

“In some cases this could lead to savings of up to 50% of process costs,” explains Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, VW board member for procurement, describing the advantages of the virtual marketplace.

Volkswagen will therefore not join the Internet alliance of the three American car manufacturers, formed a couple of weeks ago.

“With IBM, i2 and Ariba we will cooperate with the leading providers of e-market and supply chain management technologies,” explains Neumann about the choice of Volkswagen’s partners.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

With the new virtual marketplace Volkswagen sees the chance of creating a broad European standard. Neumann: “Our e-market is open to everybody.”