Supplier Enablement
Supplier Enablement can be defined as the process of adding a supplier or other trading partner to the supply chain. For buyers, using Supplier Enablement ensures that suppliers can be effectively managed, and their performance assessed. For suppliers, Supplier Enablement reduces the costs associated with managing orders and updating catalogues.
Supplier Enablement provides the necessary features and processes that allow companies to overcome barriers to effective trade, such as language, currency, and time zones. With fewer obstacles in the way, trading between buying and selling companies in different countries is now much easier. This allows buyers to obtain the best value products from anywhere in the world, and suppliers to reach a larger and potentially global market.
Supplier Enablement allows requests for information to be carried out online, using electronic catalogues and email, which cuts down on the need to send out printed catalogues. This in turn helps to lower costs for suppliers and cuts the time taken between a request for information and an order being placed.
Time consuming purchasing tasks such as creating purchase orders and chasing delivery times can be vastly reduced or even eliminated thanks to the use of eProcurement technology. All aspects of the ordering process are fully transparent, and so quality assurance and accountability can be measured. This helps to promote both buyer and supplier confidence. Reduced supply chain costs can be achieved with Supplier Enablement, as the whole process can be overseen electronically.
Supplier Enablement allows trading partners to generate accurate and standard documents, such as shipping, returns, and packing lists. This also helps to minimise the amount of paperwork. In addition, claims for damaged goods, and other issues can be automated, which reduces the amount of administration time required to process claims.
Using electronic invoicing (eInvoicing) means that invoices can be sent electronically and paid quicker using automated payment systems or bank transfers. This is much more cost effective than sending out a paper invoice, and there is no waiting days or weeks for cheques to arrive, and then clear.
Supplier Enablement helps to lower procurement costs. It takes far less time to have an order fulfilled using eProcurement than using traditional printed catalogues, paper purchase orders and relying on the post. Printing out purchase orders and invoices, as well as envelopes and postal costs becomes unnecessary, and so significant cost savings are experienced.
As the majority of the ordering and processing processes are automated, there is less chance of human error as there is less data to be entered manually. Reducing manual tasks such as manual data entry also reduces the time taken for orders to be raised or processed.
Improved communications between buyers and suppliers, in real time, can ensure that any issues or potential problems are spotted and dealt with before they become serious. In addition, there is no dedicated or specialised software or hardware required, as Supplier Enablement is often carried out over the internet using a standard web browser.
Being able to exchange documents in different formats and from different countries enables companies to provide efficient and effective communications. If you are keen to take advantage of electronic trading, eProcurement and eInvoicing, why not find out how ProcServe can help you with Supplier Enablement.
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