Ariba: Supplier Network
Ariba was one of the first of a cadre of web-based software companies that set precedents for modern day SaaS titans. The company went public in 1999 as the first B2B Internet company. It started as a procurement application, but by the time it sold to SAP for $4.3B in 2012, Ariba had expanded to spend visibility analysis, sourcing, contract management, invoice management, discovery & marketing, dynamic discounting, and more. At the time of its sale, the Ariba network was the largest global trading network, connecting and automating $300B+ in transactions for 700,000+ companies.
Bob Solomon, Former SVP/GM of Supplier Network and Financial Services at Ariba, is a long-time friend of mine and one of the smartest strategists in B2B platforms. We were fortunate to have Bob sit down with my colleague Phil to talk through the Ariba story.
Their discussion brings Ariba to life. It’s one of the oldest and most complete examples of a supplier extension. In this interview, we’ll discuss:
At Tidemark, we try to open-source our thinking as much as possible to help founders win; however, as investors, we can’t give everything away in public. If you’re an operator or founder, you can request access to the rest of this piece below.
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