cyberspace • B2B Internet procurement exchanges are set to explode across the web over the next few months as companies vie to break into the market first.
June should see the launch of Achilles Marketplace, a joint venture of PowerGen, GPU Power Distribution, the Environment Agency, and a number of UK water companies such as Anglian and Yorkshire Water.
Trading, for goods and services to the utility business is expected to begin by 30 June, ahead of a similar scheme announced by Scottish Power, United Utilities and Northern Electric last month. The investment costs of setting the business-to-business supply exchange is around £10 million ($15.1 million) and none of the founder members is expected to hold a majority stake, each with less than 10 per cent.
The exchange expects to cut utilities costs by 8-15 per cent.
