Startup Viquity is making its debut with a hosted supply-chain application that relies on format-neutral XML to let manufacturers share sales forecasts and place orders directly into a supplier's back-end system.
According to CEO Chris Grejtak, Viquity was founded with an eye on high-tech manufacturers that outsource production of some components. The hosted application service, called The Viquity Dynamic Commerce Network, offers the manufacturer a way to electronically share documents with customers or suppliers in lieu of printing out reports for them or calling to complete a business deal. Instead, customers and suppliers can access the information via a Secure Sockets Layer connection over the Internet using a Web browser at the desktop.
A handful of manufacturers have started using the Viquity service, which costs $US5000 to $30,000 per month, depending on the volume of data the manufacturer transmits to business partners.
Viquity also supplies "adapter" software used to convert from proprietary ERP formats, such as SAP, Baan or Expandable, to Viquity's XML format.
