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TMCNet: GXS Leading IaaS Industry in Cloud Computing Adoption; GXS Using Microsoft Windows Azure to Innovate and Build New Supply Chain Analytics Applications in the Cloud

[November 04, 2009]

GXS Leading IaaS Industry in Cloud Computing Adoption; GXS Using Microsoft Windows Azure to Innovate and Build New Supply Chain Analytics Applications in the Cloud

(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) GXS, a leading provider of business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce solutions, today announced that it is driving greater adoption of cloud computing-based technologies in the Integration-as-a-Service (IaaS) industry. With an objective of rapidly bringing more powerful, customisable analytics and services to its global customer base, beyond those available today, GXS is using Microsoft Windows Azure to put greater business intelligence behind its B2B e-commerce services. Azure provides unlimited computing power via a scalable, standardised platform.

This agile development project using Windows Azure will enable GXS to provide more detailed intelligence-visibility, monitoring, reporting, and auditing-for customers seeking greater insight into B2B transaction volumes, values and trends within specific business processes and trading partner relationships. GXS processes billions of transactions per year on behalf of its customers including purchase orders, invoices, advanced ship notices and payment instructions. Buyers and suppliers often seek access to historical and periodical data on the volume and type of transactions for planning and analysis purposes. Maintaining meta-data and providing access to customised, historical reports demands high storage capacity and produces extreme variances in processing requirements at certain times of day or month. By using Windows Azure, GXS can provide detailed analytics and reporting on-demand with an economy of scale not previously achievable via traditional computing paradigms. Leveraging the cloud, GXS can provide this data in an unlimited fashion, increasing the value of its services to customers. This advanced analytics service is being piloted by customers now and will be made broadly available next year.

"GXS is clearly demonstrating how Windows Azure can be used to innovate and build cutting-edge, valuable applications in the cloud easily and efficiently," said Michael Maggs, Microsoft senior director, partner strategy for Windows Azure of Microsoft. "We have been working closely with GXS to explore the myriad of possibilities within IaaS and believe that cloud-based B2B integration services represent a strong market opportunity that could have tremendous benefits for companies of all sizes and types. There's much more to come as our two companies continue to explore the potential possibilities." In a recent report entitled Hype Cycle for Cloud Computing, Gartner evaluated the adoption and use of cloud computing by various technology types. IaaS, of which GXS is an enterprising and leading provider, is clearly placed on the Slope of Enlightenment. According to Gartner, "The widespread use of IaaS for traditional e-commerce projects has been pulling IaaS steadily up the slope toward the Plateau of Productivity, and the fast-growing adoption of IaaS for multienterprise SOA projects and cloud-computing/SaaS integration projects will help drive IaaS momentum up the slope and ultimately into the Plateau of Productivity during the next few years." For many years, the IaaS model delivered by GXS has supported the key cloud computing tenets which include: * B2B integration infrastructure and applications delivered as a service and managed in the network cloud; * no upfront software license fees or hardware acquisition fees for storage and computing resources; * a monthly service fee based upon consumption, measured in transaction volume or throughput; * ability for customers to quickly scale B2B transaction processing volumes up or down with linear pricing; and * a standardised platform based heavily on virtualisation.

"GXS is leveraging cloud computing technologies to build valuable applications for our customers faster and at lower cost," said John Radko, chief technology strategist. "By leveraging expert partners in this space, GXS is able to maintain its core focus on B2B e-commerce services while still innovating and advancing the use of cutting-edge technology in the IaaS industry. We are eager to work with Microsoft to develop further applications and innovations that will enable us to build our analytics services and provide additional value to customers." GXS is working with other cloud computing vendors, including Amazon and Nirvanix, to explore the greater adoption of cloud computing in its operations and to leverage it for more flexible, scalable customer applications such as web-based programmatic application programming interfaces (APIs).

About GXS GXS is a leading global provider of B2B e-commerce solutions that simplify and enhance business process integration and collaboration among trading partners. Organisations worldwide, including more than 70 percent of the Fortune 500, leverage the on-demand services on GXS Trading Grid to extend supply chain networks, optimise product launches, automate warehouse receiving, manage electronic payments and gain supply chain visibility. GXS Managed Services, GXS' B2B outsourcing solution, empowers customers with the expertise, technical infrastructure and program support to conduct B2B e-commerce with trading partners globally.

Based in Gaithersburg, Md., GXS has an extensive global network and has local offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions. GXS can be found on the Web at http://www.gxs.co.uk, http://blogs.gxs.com/ and http://twitter.com/gxs.

((Comments on this story may be sent to info@m2.com)) (c) 2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

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