Dot-com trouble sends personnel packing

The dot-com arena is reporting more unsettled fortunes, with firms trimming personnel in a bid to remain in the online game.

Ecommerce site Priceline.com announced in a statement it is to: "Eliminate approximately 48 positions, 11 per cent of its team, through ongoing efficiency measures." Viant, builder of digital businesses, announced last Thursday it has undertaken a restructuring of its workforce, reducing numbers by 125. Global management consultancy MarchFirst lowered financial estimates for the fourth quarter of 2000 and reduced its workforce by 10 per cent, or 1,000 employees. It estimates annual savings of $100m in a restructure aimed at centralising operations. US consulting firm Xpedior will close several unprofitable offices, and reduce its level of consultant, administrative and support personnel by approximately 380 employees. San Francisco-based Scient will also lay off 460 of its employees. The ebusiness systems provider cited rapid change in the ebusiness market as the reason for staff cuts and business realignment in a recent press release.