BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : MAY 8, 2000 ISSUE
COVER STORY Assembling an E-Business Powerhouse Oracle Corp.'s software is the foundation for Web sites, e-commerce, and corporate networks. Here are its most crucial markets: DATA STOREHOUSES Database software for storing and analyzing corporate data, inventories, and customer info. MARKET SIZE $10.5 billion in 1999 for software and maintenance; heading for 16.6 billion in 2003. ORACLE'S THIRD-QUARTER SALES Software-license sales grew 32%, to $778 million. MARKET SHARE 40%, compared with 18% for IBM, 5.7% for Informix, and 5.1% for Microsoft. PROSPECTS Oracle dominates the database-software realm on both Unix and Windows NT operating systems. Analysts predict it will hold off the competition indefinitely, thanks to its strong technology and new cachet with dot-coms. BUSINESS APPLICATIONS For running everything from accounting to customer management to Web sales. MARKET SIZE $26 billion in 1999; heading for 33 billion this year. ORACLE'S THIRD-QUARTER SALES Up 35%, to $199 million. MARKET POSITION Oracle is a distant second behind SAP in the market for core corporate applications. Siebel Systems leads in customer-management software. PROSPECTS In May, Oracle plans to release the most comprehensive package of business applications available. It has a good chance to gain market share because its applications are integrated, while others offer pieces that have to be stitched together. E-MARKETPLACES Web-site and internal software for transactions between companies, including auctions. MARKET SIZE $3.9 billion in 1999; heading for 18.6 billion in 2003. ORACLE'S THIRD-QUARTER SALES $26 million for supply-chain and procurement software. MARKET POSITION The procurement market is expanding into e-exchanges, and Oracle is an early leader along with Commerce One, Ariba, and i2. PROSPECTS Oracle has deals to power exchanges for Ford, Sears, and Chevron and is expected to have staying power, thanks to its army of 7,000 software programmers. DATA: INTERNATIONAL DATA CORP., AMR RESEARCH, COMPANIES _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP					RELATED ITEMS Oracle: Why It's Cool Again COVER IMAGE: Oracle Is Cool Again TABLE: Squeezing Savings out of an E-Business TABLE: Assembling an E-Business Powerhouse Putting His Money Where His Passion Is TABLE: Ellison Dabbles in Startups How Long Will Microsoft Play Second Fiddle? ONLINE ORIGINAL: Larry Ellison's Brush with Death aboard Sayonara (or audio version) ONLINE ORIGINAL: Oracle vs. Microsoft: They Could Both Be Right INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

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