Electronic Data Systems Corp has formed an alliance with Redwood Shore, California-based Oracle Corp and Newcastle, UK-based PrismTech Ltd aimed at providing asset lifecycle data management products and services for process industries.

Although details are thin at present, the proposal, called e-Asset, is set to combine Plano, Texas-based EDS’ global e-business support capabilities with Oracle and PrismTech’s internet technologies. e-Asset is intended to give companies in the pharmaceuticals, chemicals and energy industries (as well as their customers and suppliers) the means to integrate asset data, enabling information to be shared and monitored collaboratively. This is expected to greatly reduce wasted time and expense arising from data incompatibility problems.

The system is likely to include standards-based data management, application integration, and business process and performance management software centered around Oracle’s Project Synergy products, its 8i database and PrismTech’s OpenBase Asset Lifecycle Datastore. e-Asset is due to go live within the first six months of 2000.

EDS has also extended its E.Solutions business with the announcement that it is using Tampa, Florida-based Tradex Technologies Inc’s Tradex Commerce Center as part of its new web-hosted E.Procurement Marketplace offering. The system, which also takes in consulting and product management, is designed to attract mid-sized companies to use e-procurement.