Defunct American software company (acquired by IBM in 2010)
Sterling Commerce was a software and services company providingOmni-Channel Commerce,B2B includingElectronic data interchange (EDI) translation software and one of the first B2B Integration platforms andmanaged file transfer ("MFT") products[1] such asConnect:Direct (originally namedNetwork Data Mover). Sterling Commerce was headquartered nearColumbus, Ohio inDublin, Ohio. SBC Communications acquired Sterling Commerce (see "Ownership" below), then SBC merged withAT&T (renamed as Sterling Commerce, an AT&T Company), who sold Sterling Commerce toIBM. Sterling Commerce's Columbus, Ohio campus is now an IBM facility.
In September, 2003, Sterling Commerce divests its Banking Systems Division to Thoma Cresse Equity Partners who in turn launch VectorSGI in the banking industry[2]
In April, 2004, Sterling Commerce acquired TR2, a Boston Based Data Synchronization Software Company[3]
In January, 2005, Sterling Commerce acquired Yantra a provider of Distributed Order Management and Warehouse Systems as part of its cross-channel supply chain execution application strategy.[4]
In May, 2006, Sterling Commerce acquired Nistevo, a provider of on-demand transportation management products as part of its cross-channel supply chain execution application strategy.[5]
In November, 2006, Sterling Commerce acquired Comergent, a provider of Advanced Web Selling for B2B and B2C platforms as part of its cross-channel supply chain execution application strategy.[6]
Sterling Commerce evolved from a company called OrderNet which was one of the first EDI-based Value Added Network companies found by William Plumb which started around 1978 and was a division ofInformatics, Inc. William Plumb is often cited as one of the fathers of EDI.[7]
In June, 1985, Sterling Software, a public company chaired bySamuel E. Wyly, made a successful tender offer for Informatics and acquired the company. Sterling Software was about 10% of the size of Informatics. Through the integration, the company sold off several divisions of Informatics but kept and invested in OrderNet, renaming it Sterling Commerce.[8]
