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Cloud computing has changed the way we think about IT infrastructure management. Providers of software-basedservices are now able to outsource the operation of the hardware platforms required by thoseservices.

Recently, Ariba, Inc., a provider of collaborative business commerce solutions, and IBM signed an agreement designed to help fuel better commerce by matching business-to-business buyers and sellers of goods and services in the cloud -- through state-of-the-art collaboration and social-networking technologies.

Ariba has aggressive plans to expand its cloud solution, the Ariba Commerce Cloud, with IBM (News - Alert) LotusLive to help buyers and sellers to communicate and share information more fluidly and effectively, leading to faster, more confident business decisions for organizations of all sizes. The news came during Ariba LIVE, the premier conference for business professionals engaged in buying, selling or managing cash being held at the JW Marriot Grand Lakes in Orlando, Florida.

Bhaskar Himatsingka, chief technology officer, Ariba, Inc., said that the company's integration plans with IBM LotusLive are designed to help buyers and sellers to collaborate in new ways by taking advantage of IBM's powerful set of web-based tools for real-time collaboration within Ariba's sourcing and sales process solutions.

Face-to-face meetings, phone calls, faxes, documents and spreadsheets are quickly being leapfrogged by more advanced, efficient methods of collaboration and communication such as Web conferencing, instant messaging, social networking and file sharing, among other things.

Tricia Johnson, Western Regional sales manager, Eagle Press, and user of the Ariba Commerce Cloud, said that a successful integration with IBM LotusLive would enable us to move beyond document-driven interactions with our customers and collaborate in a true sense.

LotusLive delivers cloud-based, integrated email, Web conferencing, social networking and collaboration services to help simplify and improve daily business interactions with customers, partners and colleagues -- all with IBM's focus on security, reliability and integration.

According to Sean Poulley, vice president, IBM Cloud Collaboration, the successful combination of LotusLive and the Ariba Commerce Cloud will provide such a matchmaking comfort zone in which networks of partners, suppliers and customers can easily work together across company boundaries to help do their jobs more efficiently and cost-effectively, and perhaps even develop lasting relationships.