Novell ’ s iChain

ith the evolution of the Internet over the last few years, e-business has become more than just a buzzword: It has become one of the most important strategic issues companies face today. In fact, industry analysts are predicting that e-business is the future of business: For example, International Data Corp. (IDC) predicts that the amount of commerce conducted over the Internet will exceed U.S. $3 trillion by the year 2003. The number of users who make purchases over the web will jump from 31 million in 1998 to more than 183 million by 2003. To succeed in the emerging digital economy, companies need a coherent e-business strategy. However, putting your company’s business online is no easy task. Transforming your company into an effective e-business presents technical, operational, and human challenges that are far greater than you ever imagined. If you are grappling with the issues of building an e-business, Novell’s latest Novell Directory Services (NDS) based e-business solution, iChain, can help you expand your company’s current network to connect the people and organizations with which your company does business. If your company has launched an e-business effort and is struggling to survive in this competitive economy, iChain can also help you integrate your company’s existing web sites and manage your company’s business-to-business and customer relationships. Scheduled for general release later this year, iChain enables you to build strong, secure, and manageable connections with your company’s customers, partners, suppliers, and employees.