New strategic partnerships will allow increasing numbers of Asian companies to exchange business transactions and related information through computer networks. Under the partnerships, local Asian companies will offer the global services of Sterling Commerce, a U. S. based software service firm with over 20 years experience in electronic commerce (EC).

The first of the new partnerships joins Sterling Commerce with Satyam Infoway Private Limited, a subsidiary of Satyam Computer Services Ltd., a major Indian software service firm. Sterling intends to establish similar distributor relationships with software, service and telecommunications companies in other Asian countries.
Electronic commerce is a composite of technologies and services that foster the automatic exchange of business transactions and related information within a company and between a company and its customers and suppliers.
By reducing cycle times, EC can help reduce operating costs. In addition, adoption of EC is increasingly becoming a requirement for smaller companies that do business with larger organizations that are already using EC systems.
“While electronic commerce has been widely used in large organizations for more than 20 years, recent developments have made it practical for companies of moderate size to impelement paper-free, instantaneous pathways for the flow of information, documents and financing on a local or worldwide basis,” said Thomas A. Lutz, president of Sterling Commerce’s Paris-based International Group.
“In addition to a suite of proven software products, we offer the services of industry specialist consultants who have implemented EC systems in manufacturing, trade and transport, retail and grocery, health care, government, banking and other industries.”
The company’s EC products include COMMERCE:Exchange, a locally-deployed electronic commerce management system that features standards-based messaging support, mailboxing services, a variety of connectivity options and full redundancy. It also includes seamless connectivity to Sterling’s worldwide COMMERCE:Network service.
“Sterling Commerce’s know-how and support will enable Satyam to offer world-class electronic commerce solutions to corporations throughout India,” said B. Ramalinga Raju, chairman of Satyam Computer Services. “The government of India has been strongly endorsing the adoption of electronic commerce through its own initiatives in the areas of customs, ports and banking. Satyam believes the exchange of information among businesses in India will become increasingly electronic.”
Sterling Commerce, with headquarters in Dallas, Texas, USA, is a global provider of software and services that enable businesses to engage in electronic communications and transactions. The company has over 30,000 customers worldwide.

For additional information, contact:
David Gobey, Vice-President, Marketing & Distributor Operations
Sterling Commerce, International Group
Washington Plaza
44, rue de Washington
75408 Paris Cedex 08 France
Tel. +33 1 53 93 1700, Fax +33 1 53 93 1717
Email david_gobey@ig.stercomm.com