Hudson's Bay Co. Plans Online Move After 330 Years

'Hudsons Bay Co., Canada's oldest retail corporation, has formed an alliance with <IBM Canada Ltd., Microsoft Canada Co. and Oracle Corporation Canada Inc. to help the department store retailer overhaul its technology to support its plans to move into the online world. The three technology companies will deliver technology solutions to all parts of HBC's business, including operations, communications, associate productivity, customer relationship management, merchandising, marketing and e-commerce by 2002. The companies did not disclose details of the technology overhaul or of the e-commerce strategy but HBC says it aims to become a leading e-commerce retailer in North America. Hudson's Bay operates 500 Zellers and the Bay stores in Canada.