Tyson Launches ProvisionX.com

Ironically, IBP is a partner in the Web site with Tyson. Other pilot companies include Cargill Inc., Golf Kist Inc. and Farmland Industries. There are also three retail and foodservice distributors involved — Foodbrands America, Topco Associates and Good Source. Those companies are working together as Commerce Ventures LLC.

The site features a self-guided marketplace demonstration for buyers and sellers, general product and company information, career contacts and company news.

“Businesses in the meat and poultry industry are ready for an innovative site with a solid business model to help conduct trading,” Kevin Nemetz, CEO of Provision X, said recently. “Provision X was created by industry professionals for industry professionals, which means we’re going to be sure we deliver our best product to our customers.”

On its launch day, ProvisionX.com had 90 buyers and sellers representing eight companies signed on to place or receive orders.

The members-only site features password-protected trading areas that include:

* Request for quote, including preferred supplier lists and pre-loaded product catalogs

* Price-comparison/negotiation tools

* Pricing lists, both supplier-defined private pricing sheets and open-market, “street” prices for supplier comparison

* Order management, with user-defined templates and ID-coded status tracking

* Contract-order pricing, fulfilment and monitoring

* Catalog browse and search capabilities

* Shipping and receiving status

* Invoicing

* Customized reports and data summaries

“What makes our exchange attractive is that our online customers will still have a single point of contact with each company they do business, just like today,” said Del Holzer, vice president of marketing. “Business relationships, order amounts, contract terms — all information pertaining to transactions is kept between the buyer and the seller. That will continue online at Provision X because our marketplace keeps the private pipeline of information intact.”