Ariba

Ariba Supplier Network vPayment interface


New York City, NY February 3, 2004


Valassis

Settlement option enables Ariba Buyer customers to increase visibility and control over supplier payments

Ariba®, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARBA) has integrated vPayment, an electronic settlement tool, into the Ariba® Supplier Network™. The new payment option, supported by GE’s Corporate Payment Services unit, will enable Ariba Buyer customers to further automate, expedite and control their spend management processes. The integration will also help customers reduce processing time and costs, and maximize collaboration with a global network of trading partners.

“This interface fits well with Ariba’s end-to-end spend management approach,” said Jeffery R. Dye, president and CEO of GE Corporate Payment Services. “vPayment will prove attractive to Ariba customers because it offers financial incentives similar to purchasing cards, but it delivers more capabilities for control and data capture.”

The vPayment integration delivers several other spend management benefits, including:

·      Speed – vPayment offers rapid and simple implementation. It follows the standard MasterCard® settlement process and can shorten the order-to-payment cycle.

·      Coverage – vPayment is accepted by more than 23 million suppliers worldwide, making it an effective solution for a diverse supplier base. Suppliers looking for an alternative to checks can be paid through vPayment. It also includes online maintenance/reporting tools and toll-free support.

·      Sustainability – vPayment increases accuracy of payment data and reduces manual processes through automation, for example eliminating paper checks.

“The Ariba Supplier Network is currently serving more than 110,000 members who transact more than $70 billion in purchase orders annually through the network,” said Bob Solomon, General Manager, Ariba Supplier Network. “By enabling this feature, we have given our customers the means to take advantage of vPayment through an established interface for buyers and suppliers.”

About Ariba, Inc.
Ariba, Inc. is the leading provider of spend management solutions. Ariba helps companies realize rapid and sustainable bottom-line results. Successful companies around the world in every industry use Ariba Spend Management software and services. Ariba can be contacted in the U.S. at 1.650.390.1000 or at www.ariba.com.