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The armored truck of e-commerce Open Market, Inc. hopes to become one of the major players in the game of Internet commerce. Founded in 1994, Open Market developed SecureLink technology, which enables safe, efficient business-to-business and business-to-consumer transactions on the World Wide Web. The company's flagship Internet commerce software, called Transact, is a comprehensive application that handles everything from inventory, order-filling, and secure payment processing, to customer service and database management. Open Market has licensed Transact to companies that run some of the most popular sites on the web, including Disney Online, SegaSoft, Inc., Time-Warner, and The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition. Another fast-moving product is LiveCommerce, an application aimed at business-to-business manufacturers and large retailers. It is used to build large Internet-based catalogs that may be customized for specific customers or demographic groups. In 1999, Open Market announced two additions to its portfolio - LivePublish, which ensures the secure delivery of information through assorted networks, and SecurePublish, a subscription server that allows online publishers to charge subscribers according to content usage rather than site access. A basket of acquisitions Open Market went public in 1996. The following year, it expanded its product line with the acquisition of Folio Corporation - a maker of electronic publishing technology used for the management and distribution of information on the Internet, intranets and CD-ROMs. Since then it has been investing in further development of CD-ROM, LAN-based, and Internet publishing software. In 1997, it also opened two new customer support centers and purchased Waypoint Software, which produces industrial cataloging applications. In 1998, the company bought ICentral, which makes web sites for small businesses that want to sell their products on the Internet. Making the market smarter... at what price? Also in 1998, Open Market won three patents for e-commerce products, which it hoped would eventually translate into financial gain. The patents were for electronic shopping carts, session identifiers (which allowed merchants to track buyer activity on a web site), and real-time net authorization, which allowed immediate verification of credit-card information online. Because it is such a small company, enforcing the patents (and collecting royalties) was difficult; so instead it hoped the wins would lead to co-development and joint-marketing deals with other e-commerce software companies. In July, Intel bought a minority stake in the company, and agreed to bundle Transact software with its Pentium II-based servers as well as with its new IA-64 processors. The two planned to collaborate on joint marketing activities in the future. Open market dealings in 1999 included an alliance with Lycos in February; the acquisition of Future Tense, a producer of internet content management software, in August; and a partnership with Autonomy, a leader in e-business technology, in November. Although Open Market, the virtual muscle behind such clients as AT&T, Sony, Lycos, and Citibank, is No. 1 in e-commerce software, sales have been disappointing. The company was forced to cut 20 percent of its workforce in late 1998. While the e-commerce business was exploding, Open Market's revenues were not increasing. However, recent moves by the company presage a successful future. In December 1999, it introduced an integrated suite named Project Golden Gate; three months later, it released an improved server platform. With the February 2000 spinoff of disappointing Folio, Open Market stocks reached a 52-week high.
Open Market looks for creative applicants with fresh thinking and a strong work ethic. Look for hiring under the Corporate Overview section of Open Market's web site for details on job openings. The company also advertises through various on-line job boards . Send or fax resumes to Open Market headquarters, or e-mail resumes at hiring@openmarket.com. If you don't see an opening that sounds enticing, employees suggest contacting the hiring department anyway, there might be an opening that hasn't been posted. If you're willing to do an internship, mention that too. Also, don't be surprised if it takes a week or two before you hear from Human Resources.
If you like to dress casual, work hard, and bring your dog to work, this firm is the place to be. Like the majority of other high-tech companies, Open Market doesn't require suits in the workplace. With the exception of occasional client meetings, most employees dress down Monday through Friday. Some even stay in their jammies on the days they work from home. Still, others expound on the merits of dressing the part. When one woman was promoted to a junior-level management gig, she switched from jeans and shorts to skirts and dresses. She did agree, though, that suits are definitely not required unless you're meeting with clients. The corporate culture is relaxed but charged, and the people are casual but aggressive. What's interesting is that they've managed to take the starch out without losing their hardy work ethic. Because it's a start-up company, things can get a little frenzied at times, but insiders say they don't mind the intensity. In the startup world, you usually have a lot of young, relaxed but hardworking folks who like chaos. "People work long hours because they believe in the work they are doing, and they want to beat the competition," said one employee. They're also proud to be working with some of the best and brightest folks in the business. In addition, the climate is getting more professional than it used to be, so it's a bit less casual and chummy. But insiders maintain that you will absolutely not have a problem finding people to talk to. Salaries are on par with the other high-tech firms in the Boston area, and the average workday lasts from about 9 to 7. Basic benefits include full medical coverage, a non-matching 401(k) plan and disability insurance. Open Market also reimburses its employees if they use public transportation to get to work. Other perks include a Friday happy hour, free dinner when you work late, and most importantly, no worries about having to leave Rex at home. Though the demographics are fairly standard for the high-tech business (i.e., white and male), sources say the company is becoming pretty colorful. They also point out that the company allows mothers to work a four-day week, and that two of the most senior posts in the company are held by women.
Michael Messier Human Resources
BroadVision;CheckFree;CONNECT;Cylink;DigiCash;INSO;Oracle;PC DOCS;Sterling Commerce;Verity;V-ONE More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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