Automotive Suppliers Face Fresh Supply Chain Pressures…

Good news: You got a message from a customer and it starts with “I want to purchase…”

Bad news: What if the same message started with… 1001110001011100 (binary)… or Quiero comprar…, or Chcę kupić…,or Je veux acheter…, or (XML Purchase Order). Would you know that the customer wanted to buy something from you?

Welcome to the world of the automotive supplier, where order requests come into your organisation in multiple ways (i.e., electronically, manually, with or without kanban or In Line Vehicle Sequence data) and with multiple interpretations. You may be thinking… “Odette and the AIAG has set standards on EDI formats. I have common EDI formats for inbound purchase orders… right?”

Well, sort of. Nope.

Even though EDI frameworks define a common interpretation, senders of EDI transactions to suppliers often can, and do, interpret segment data in a variety of ways. This is why automotive suppliers typically cannot use a “standard” ERP system or EDI solution, and need to have systems that can interpret mixed EDI and spot buy orders, without missing a beat.

And let’s not forget that the EDI of today may not be the EDI of tomorrow… IT IS CHANGING.

To make things even more interesting, inbound EDI forecasts and Just in Time transactions are more often including information that must be on specific outbound package labels and shipping notifications. If you don’t get the labels or ASNs right, you could have supplier rating penalties and a variety of other issues that impact your profit.

The best news… if you are an automotive supplier we can help you decipher your EDI requirements and provide a solution that fully integrates with your ERP system. Contact us here at Perceptant Limited. We are UK-based EDI, XML and B2B specialists with over 20 years experience in leveraging Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Infor, Epicor, SAGE, Unit4 and many other ERP and Accounting solutions.

EDI Software and Supply Chain Solutions - How Channels Partners can Drive Revenue

Available exclusively through its channel parter network, Perceptant, the SaaS software company, today announced the availability of iHUB 5.0, its latest suite of “white-label” cloud-computing based, EDI software and Supply Chain solutions.

Designed for enterprise software vendors, consultancies and vertical market trading communities, iHUB 5.0 is a fully-managed, on-demand suite of supply chain, B2B integration and EDI applications that are rebranded, hosted, implemented and maintained by Perceptant on behalf of resellers.

How to Improve Your Accounts Payable Process

There are few initiatives these days that deliver double-digit returns but the accounts payable (AP) process is a very good example where substantial efficiency improvements can be made, and quantifiable bottom-line savings achieved!

With the demands placed on global supply chains to exchange more and more data, current inefficiencies can often be linked to slow, inaccurate, and poorly defined paper-based workflow and capture processes. The result is: re-work when processing duplicate invoices, ‘lost’ vendor payment discounts, poor working capital management, and a poor vendor feedback and experience when querying the status of an invoice. The question is – where to begin?

1. Eradicate paper
Purchase orders, invoices and credit notes are often received in paper format, even though we all know that the use of electronic documents have many advantages over paper. Of course, vendors should be encouraged to send invoices in electronic format by rewarding them through speedy feedback, processing, and payment. Where organisations do not have the ‘luxury’ of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI Software) systems, other, less costly solutions are available! It must be noted that it is best practice to scan and capture all received paper invoices and credit notes as early as possible in the AP process.

2. Scan, capture, and identify duplicates as early as possible
Vendors often send the same invoice via multiple channels (in their enthusiasm to be paid). This can be the cause for a lot of unnecessary re-work as part of the AP process before discovering that an invoice is a duplicate and discarded. The early capture of fields that uniquely identify the invoice, such as the invoice number and vendor number, enables duplicates to be identified at a very early stage in the AP process.

3. Make use the invoice information that you have in the capture and validation process
Information that you already have in the back-end accounting system such as outstanding PO numbers, and anticipated invoice amounts from a specific vendor, can be used to increase the accuracy and reliability of the captured invoice information. In the case of manual capture processes, this information can be used as default values or selection lists to minimise the impact of human error. When capture automation is used, such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and the automation technology is closely integrated with the back-end accounting system, this information can be made available to the automation technology and used to increase accuracy – this lends to faster AP processes and less human error!

4. Provide immediate feedback to the vendor
Feedback to the vendor at appropriate stages in the AP process is crucial for improving the vendor experience, decreasing vendor queries and duplicates received, and assisting the vendor to identify issues as these arise. Feedback can be typically via SMS or e-mail. The vendor information must be maintained to ensure that the correct people or systems receive the feedback in the desired format, again lending to faster and more improved AP processes.

5. Don’t underestimate the AP process
The AP process is a little trickier than it may seem at first. Some of the curveballs that you may encounter, and which should be catered for by the AP solutions, are:

* Multiple PO numbers on a single invoice

* “Standing” PO numbers that are to be used many times for an indefinite final amount

* Partial deliveries where the PO number may, or may not, be received again from that vendor

* Invoices to be paid without PO numbers such as consignment stock invoices

All of the above can and should be managed by the AP process solution, thereby ensuring integrity and speed within the AP process.

6. Don’t underestimate change management and the culture of the organisation
Culture, or “the way we do things around here” is not easily changed, and yet the human factor is often ignored – to the detriment of efforts to implement and anchor process and technology changes. Those who find security in paper are not easily convinced to give it up. For example, there are a wide range of organisations whose staff print and courier memos internally and do not know what scanning is, to those that insist on the use of workflow, content management, and scanning technologies. It goes without saying that the change management efforts in these organisations should be and are worlds apart. Often when an AP management solution is implemented, the important ‘people-aspect’ is ignored and the success of an AP solution is hugely dependent on whether or not the solution is used!

Perceptant (http://www.perceptant.com) is a specialist in accounts payable improvement and has a range of strategies to remove paperwork and speed ordering and payment. In addtion, their EDI, B2B Integration and supply chain software software helps drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of supply chains. Perceptant is headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.

Is EDI 2.0 on the Horizon?

How long is it since you came across the acronym EDI? In its heyday, it seemed the entire World was infatuated with Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), although that was over 15 years ago. Since then, many formats have come to fruition, including Ansi X12, Edifact, Tradacoms, Odette and more recently, iterations based on XML.

Unfortunately, EDI became associated in the 1980’s with cumbersome software and complicated standards, which is why these days it’s a much maligned and often overlooked technology, even though, the concept of sending electronic messages and business documents between trading partners can drive tremendous savings and efficiency improvements across supply chains.

Therefore, should the process and investment to get trading partners computer systems talking to one another be simple and cost effective, then it’s safe to assume we could be about to witness another comeback King.

Unbeknown to many industry pundits, there have been a number of low key software companies and specialists working on simplifying computer-to-computer message translation (i.e. the process of sending a purchase order (PO) straight from a customer’s computer system to a supplier’s computer system in seconds). If you’re a business that employs vendor managed inventory, real time replenishment, JIT manufacturing, collaborative planning and forecasting or simply yearns for a near-paperless working practice, then you’ll be salivating at the prospect of EDI 2.0 (pardon the pun).

EDI 2.0, deployed as a fully managed service (i.e. the edi software supplier hosts, manages, configures and supports the software for you and your trading partners), doesn’t require a team of internal IT people or hefty investment. Furthermore, electronic trading relationships with customers, suppliers or partners can be setup within hours and the business benefits reaped within days.

For minimal capital outlay, companies can reduce their average days of debt, streamline the accounts department, improve cash flow and decrease operating expenditure. How often does this type of opportunity present itself I ask myself?

History is littered with examples of “reinventing the wheel”, fundamentally because we realized the previous version had intrinsic value and applying more modern thinking and advancements in technology could make a step change in our economy or life. Certainly, EDI is one such example and a small secretive group of supply chain software vendors could be on the verge changing the way we conduct business forever.

EDI 2.0 – a Supply Chain Myth, Legend or Reality?

EDI 2.0 – a Supply Chain Myth, Legend or Reality?

Is Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment the Holy Grail of Supply Chain Management?

Supply Chain Management (SCM) means many things to many people but fundamentally it’s the management of the flow of materials and services needed to make a product and deliver it to customers. For many companies, it’s an integral part of their overall strategy for meeting customer demand.

Stage one of SCM involves selecting suppliers for the goods and services needed to create the product. Stage two relates to developing processes with suppliers for pricing, delivery and payment. So far so good…

Stage three and beyond though is where an experienced SCM Manager can really command big bucks because a manufacturer or retailer able to collaborate with suppliers on a mass scale and schedule production, manage inventory, verify shipments, authorize payments, transfer goods to manufacturing and co-ordinate logistics as seamlessly, quickly and cost effectively as possible makes the difference between a Wall Street performer or flop.

Initially thought of as the relationship between manufacturers and retailers, supply chain collaboration (SCC) is a business to business (B2B) concept that has now been extended to include raw materials, logistics and service suppliers.

In essence, SCC is two or more companies working jointly to develop shared information, develop joint plans based on that shared information, and consequently execute their businesses with greater success than when acting independently. Until recently though, such collaboration was rarely attained within a company let alone between companies.

With the introduction of the Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) business model though, which many consider the standard for direct material planning and fulfilment, companies now have a firm foundation on which to base their operational plans and supply chain solutions.

CPFR is intended to eliminate the uncertainty in demand and supply by actively promoting the exchange of information and data, including demand signals, forecasts, inventory and logistics across supply chain partners. Post implementation, companies experience increased sales, reduced inventory and cycle time and lower cost of sales. Furthermore, successful partners exhibit mutual trust and believe that both sides profit equally when both supplier and customer are responsible for using inventory efficiently, keeping stock levels low and more effectively managing transportation.

Thankfully, there is now SCM software that supports CPFR standards and enterprises that have invested time, resources, and money in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems needn’t worry because it compliments not competes with their investment. This could explain why some of the emerging Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) supply chain software vendors are seen as such hot property.

One such vendor is Perceptant (http://www.perceptant.com), the cloud computing supply chain management, B2B collaborative portal and EDI software vendor, who has openly endorsed CPFR and during a recent interview revealed it received on average two offers of venture capital a month.

SaaS drives the EDI and Supply Chain Software Market…

Once considered heretics, SaaS Supply Chain Management and EDI companies are now considered hot property due to a recent report published by ARC.


The report highlights that the Supply Chain Integration and Management market has grown at a 7 percent Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), since 2005. The growth rate would have been much higher though were it not for the global economic downturn that started pinching in 2008 and hit with full force in 2009. During that time frame however, SaaS based Supply Chain and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) solutions grew by a CAGR in excess of 20 percent.

To clarify, the SCM market includes Supply Chain Execution —production, warehouse, and transportation management — as well as Supply Chain Planning — strategic, manufacturing, and inventory planning.

“Historically, SaaS has enjoyed a significant market presence only in the transportation management market,” according to Steve Banker, Service Director for SCM at the ARC Advisory Group, “but that is changing. SaaS solutions will grow significantly faster than traditional software and services.” Steve is the principal author of ARC’s “Supply Chain Management Worldwide Outlook: Market Analysis and Forecast through 2014”.

The Emergence of SaaS in the SCM Market
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) can encompass either multitenant solutions or hosted solutions particular to an individual customer. The Transportation Management Systems (TMS) market is the only SCE market where SaaS is well entrenched. In TMS, SaaS solutions win not just because of lower price points, but also because they leverage the power of the network. Transportation optimization has little value if companies can’t successfully tender the optimized loads. Networked SaaS TMS solutions have a key advantage in on-boarding new carriers and in the data quality of the messaging with those carriers.

But in 2008, we saw SaaS emerge in the production management and supply chain planning markets. In 2009, SaaS made significant progress in the warehouse management systems market.

Ten years ago ARC began referring to production management systems as “Collaborative Production Management.” This reflected our belief that production management was not just about better processes at an individual factory. That for factories to operate well they needed to collaborate with suppliers and customers, that the network of factories needed to synchronize their work, and that increasingly that network would be composed of not just company owned factories but factories run contract manufacturing partners. In WMS, network centric solutions are emerging, that potential exists in production management as well.

Perceptant, a SaaS Supply Chain and EDI Solutions Company
Perceptant is a leading provider of fully-managed SaaS solutions that drive Supply Chain Execution, Integration and Collaboration. Our hosted, on-demand service encapsulates over 20 years experience in process improvement, inefficiency removal and cost reduction. Perceptant has its headquarters in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.

Reverse Logistics Portal Empowers the Supply Chain...

Perceptant, the cloud computing integration, messaging and supply chain specialist, has developed a Reverse Logistics Portal to allow manufacturers and 4PLs to control returned and refused stock.

The Reverse Logistics Executive Council (RLEC) estimates that Reverse Logistics costs account for approximately one-half of one percent of total GDP. Therefore, Reverse Logistics is becoming an increasing area of focus for retailers and manufacturers looking to improve profitability and competitive positioning.

No area is this more apparent than within grocery logistics where sustainable distribution is a hot topic, and refused deliveries are commonplace. In practice, product refusals are normally due to damaged or miss-picked goods – leaving the driver needing to drop off the refused goods quickly in order to get to the next job. This means taking them to the provider’s nearest depot.

Logistics providers running national distribution will therefore have refused product scattered across not just their own depots but also those of their subcontractors’. The job of the logistics provider is to identify and manage the return of these products to the original manufacturer or arrange their authorised disposal. In sectors with perishable goods, for example the food and drink sector, a delay in this process will result in goods being written off that would otherwise be saleable. However reverse logistics is often a neglected area in the systems used to manage transport companies, which leaves the logistics companies and their customers exchanging spreadsheets to keep track of the stock.

Perceptant (www.perceptant.com), a pioneer of cloud computing supply chain collaboration and electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions, has developed a Reverse Logistics Portal, aptly named RLP, to give manufacturers, and the logistics service providers delivering their goods, better control and visibility of returned and refused stock without resorting to supplier access to ERP systems. Designed to compliment SAP, Epicor, Infor, Unit 4, Microsoft Dynamics and Warehouse/Transportation Management Systems, Perceptant RLP, includes a secure log-in and product code verification suite that supports secure processes while promoting efficiency across all parties.

“With a foundation of world class messaging capability we are able to ensure that the portal is efficient for all parties”, says Matthew Slinn, CEO and founder of Perceptant “Users only enter the data that cannot be interfaced from their existing systems. The portal supports users with all levels of sophistication and can therefore be rolled out to entire communities, with the only prerequisite being an internet connection”.

Perceptant has used the services of Labyrinth Logistics Consulting to specify the portal. “Where transport is contracted out separately from warehousing, the management of return and refused stock is difficult using Transport Management Systems, as access to data such as product codes is not normally part of their functionality”, says Jo Godsmark, Director of Labyrinth “Perceptant’s portal plugs this gap and gives 4PLs working on any contract, but particularly those involving perishable goods, a tool to reduce their customers’ stock losses.”

About Perceptant

Perceptant provide software solutions that drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of supply chains. Available via cloud computing and simple monthly charging tariffs, our fully managed supply chain management, SaaS Integration and EDI 2.0 solutions help companies of all sizes automate B2B transactions, integrate enterprise software applications and implement collaborative business applications. Perceptant has its headquarters in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.

Improve Your Accounts Payable Process to Boost Cash Flow and Profitability

There are few initiatives these days that deliver double-digit returns but the accounts payable (AP) process is a very good example where substantial efficiency improvements can be made, and quantifiable bottom-line savings achieved!

With the demands placed on global supply chains to exchange more and more data, current inefficiencies can often be linked to slow, inaccurate, and poorly defined paper-based workflow and capture processes. The result is: re-work when processing duplicate invoices, 'lost' vendor payment discounts, poor working capital management, and a poor vendor feedback and experience when querying the status of an invoice. The question is – where to begin?

1. Eradicate paper

Purchase orders, invoices and credit notes are often received in paper format, even though we all know that the use of electronic documents have many advantages over paper. Of course, vendors should be encouraged to send invoices in electronic format by rewarding them through speedy feedback, processing, and payment. Where organisations do not have the 'luxury' of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems, other, less costly solutions are available! It must be noted that it is best practice to scan and capture all received paper invoices and credit notes as early as possible in the AP process.

2. Scan, capture, and identify duplicates as early as possible

Vendors often send the same invoice via multiple channels (in their enthusiasm to be paid). This can be the cause for a lot of unnecessary re-work as part of the AP process before discovering that an invoice is a duplicate and discarded. The early capture of fields that uniquely identify the invoice, such as the invoice number and vendor number, enables duplicates to be identified at a very early stage in the AP process.

3. Make use the invoice information that you have in the capture and validation process

Information that you already have in the back-end accounting system such as outstanding PO numbers, and anticipated invoice amounts from a specific vendor, can be used to increase the accuracy and reliability of the captured invoice information. In the case of manual capture processes, this information can be used as default values or selection lists to minimise the impact of human error. When capture automation is used, such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and the automation technology is closely integrated with the back-end accounting system, this information can be made available to the automation technology and used to increase accuracy - this lends to faster AP processes and less human error!

4. Provide immediate feedback to the vendor

Feedback to the vendor at appropriate stages in the AP process is crucial for improving the vendor experience, decreasing vendor queries and duplicates received, and assisting the vendor to identify issues as these arise. Feedback can be typically via SMS or e-mail. The vendor information must be maintained to ensure that the correct people or systems receive the feedback in the desired format, again lending to faster and more improved AP processes.

5. Don't underestimate the AP process

The AP process is a little trickier than it may seem at first. Some of the curveballs that you may encounter, and which should be catered for by the AP solutions, are:

* Multiple PO numbers on a single invoice

* “Standing” PO numbers that are to be used many times for an indefinite final amount

* Partial deliveries where the PO number may, or may not, be received again from that vendor

* Invoices to be paid without PO numbers such as consignment stock invoices

All of the above can and should be managed by the AP process solution, thereby ensuring integrity and speed within the AP process.

6. Don't underestimate change management and the culture of the organisation

Culture, or “the way we do things around here” is not easily changed, and yet the human factor is often ignored - to the detriment of efforts to implement and anchor process and technology changes. Those who find security in paper are not easily convinced to give it up. For example, there are a wide range of organisations whose staff print and courier memos internally and do not know what scanning is, to those that insist on the use of workflow, content management, and scanning technologies. It goes without saying that the change management efforts in these organisations should be and are worlds apart. Often when an AP management solution is implemented, the important 'people-aspect' is ignored and the success of an AP solution is hugely dependent on whether or not the solution is used!

Perceptant (http://www.perceptant.com) is a leading provider of software and services that drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of supply chains. Our hosted, on-demand supply chain management, application integration and electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions process millions of business-to-business transactions, integrate leading enterprise software applications and help seamlessly connect the demand chains of many complex trading communities. Perceptant is headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.

Free Global B2B Exchange from Perceptant Hits the Supply Chain…

Perceptant, the SaaS Supply Chain Integration Software Company, today announced the availability of B2B Express 2.0, its latest internet EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) & XML solution for supply chain principals, suppliers and their trading communities.

Designed for businesses involved in the electronic receipt of purchase orders and the transmission of invoices and advanced shipping notices, B2B Express 2.0 is free to use for low document volumes, however can be cost effectively scaled to deliver fully integrated B2B messaging with SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, Infor, Epicor, Unit 4 and most leading back office and accounting systems.

“EDI and XML based B2B messaging has so far failed to reach the masses due to high costs, technical complexity and lack of integration”, says Richard Clover, director of supply chain integration at Perceptant. “B2B Express 2.0 removes these barriers to entry, not only because it’s delivered as a fully managed service over the internet but can be configured and operational within minutes”.

Pre-configured with UN EDIFACT, ANSI ASC X12, TRADACOMS, EANCOM and ODETTE EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) messages, including their XML equivalents, B2B Express 2.0 can also be tailored to use variations of these messages as used by leading retailers (e.g. Walmart, Carrefour, Tesco, Metro AG, Home Depot, CVA Caremark, Kroger, Costco, Target and Groupe Auchan SA), chemical & pharmaceutical companies, electronics, logistics, motor manufacturers and conglomerates.

“Existing users of EDI and B2B messaging more often believe there isn’t an alternative to their current supplier whereas companies under pressure to trade electronically often take the solution recommended by their customer”, says Richard Ward, COO of Perceptant. “Many of our current customers have switched over from a competitive solution, which is a seamless process and on average drives cost savings of 53%”.

About Perceptant

Perceptant (http://www.perceptant.com) is a leading provider of software and services that drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of supply chains. Our hosted, on-demand supply chain management, application integration and electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions process millions of business-to-business transactions, integrate leading enterprise software applications and help seamlessly connect the demand chains of many complex trading communities. Perceptant is headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.

The Universal Supply Chain Management Language

During the 1970’s and early 80’s many of us believed that supply chains would seamlessly communicate with each other via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Unfortunately, due to multiple standards, clunky translation software, expensive teams of technicians and the requirement for rooms full of super computers this eNirvana turned in to a debacle.

Large hubs demanded suppliers’ trade with them electronically, often forcing them to take archaic software that sat on a standalone PC. Periodically, the supplier would check the PC for new orders, print them out and manually rekey them in to their own computer systems.

This eNirvana (every buzz word back then remotely related to EDI started with an e) spurned a myriad of software and value added network suppliers who quickly got fat from their spoils. IT Directors professed the world of Supply Chain Management was now electronic and Financial Directors rejoiced at the resultant business benefits and cost savings.

Through the 1990’s things were still progressing well until one very well respected and high profile technology executive questioned the validity of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Why were there so many sub-standards, why were the costs prohibitive, why was it restricted to just one or two documents, why weren’t any suppliers integrating the messages and how come it took so long to go-live.

It came as no surprise to some of us though when this same respected individual proclaimed to have the answer. A software product and data set so ahead of its time that it made EDI look prehistoric. Call it middleware if you will, that threw caution to the wind and embraced a new phenomenon called XML.

The panacea of business to business (B2B) collaboration was we were led to believe now called XML and that it would solve all of the drawbacks associated with EDI.

The bandwagon was rolling and many jumped starry eyed on to the shirt tails of our new saviour, who many likened to Obi-Wan Kenobi. The more cynical (or should that be sane) individuals and companies saw fundamental flaws in this new approach. Flaws that explain why a single Global messaging standard, be it XML or EDI will never work. You see, not one messaging standard or technology will ever become the de facto method for B2B communication, period. From a technological standpoint, what is needed is akin to a universal spoken language convertor, something that in real time allows people from France, Spain, China, Japan, England and Germany to hold a flowing conversation with each other in their native tongues.

Because of this, there are now a new and emerging range of companies that quietly over the last few years have developed the answer to our prayers and are able to demonstrate universal business translators. Translators that sit within a supply chain, taking XML, EDI, flat-files and many other electronic file formats and in real-time converting these in to a format that is understood by the computer systems of connected parties. SAP can now talk to Infor, SAGE can communicate with Epicor and CODA can interpret Microsoft Navision. Now whilst this may have been technically possible with predecessors, none of us would argue that costs, timescales, speed and overheads would have grounded the project before it even began.

People have finally accepted that no one B2B language will rule the World, failed supply chain projects litter news desks and archaic technology has been banished to the broom cupboard. Dare I say it but eNirvana has finally arrived and it’s a fascinating to see how the landscape has evolved over the last few years to bring us to this point.

A handful of software companies that dared to buck the “one size fits all” trend are now leading the universal business to business translation market. Their solutions are delivered on-demand via low, fixed cost pricing models, managed and hosted on behalf of customers and operate in real-time. The killer blow though is their ability to enable supply chains to collaborate, synchronise and integrate, immaterial of their Mother tongue. Viva la supply chain!

Perceptant is a recognised expert in Supply Chain Management & Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and has been linking supply chains for over 20 years. For a limited period companies can get a free review of their supply chain by visiting the Perceptant online B2B Collaboration and Integration Forum, which can be found on their homepage.

Logistic & FMCG Companies: How to Profit from a 21st Century Supply Chian

Major retailers are under tremendous pressure to go green and reduce their carbon footprint. To achieve this, they first turned to initiatives close at hand, including the reduction of energy consumption at the store level, product packaging resizing and the more efficient construction of new stores.

Some would argue however that their supply chains represent the biggest source of carbon reduction and as close to home initiatives begin to dry up, retailers are now turning their attentions towards suppliers.

FMCG companies for example are being placed under tighter and tighter scrutiny to deliver on-time, with full loads that aren’t rejected. This can have a major impact on sustainability, as full loads mean fewer lorries on our roads, fewer rejections equal less waste and on-time deliveries reduce bottlenecks and returns.

As if suppliers weren’t being squeezed enough, now comes a whole raft of new initiatives that, unless automated, will place margins under greater and greater pressure.

Nevertheless, supply chain’s can fight back, to not only deliver the carbon reductions retailers seek, but turn these initiatives in to an opportunity to improve profitability.

Picture, if you will, a supplier faced with a mandate from a major retailer to reduce its carbon footprint by 25%. That’s not a 25% reduction in its own internal footprint but the footprint it creates in trading with the retailer. Understandably, all eyes turn to logistics and product returns as two major areas that can achieve this. But how and at what cost?

The answer lies in the redesign and integration of business processes between the supplier and its hauliers that, if done correctly, can not only help them deliver major improvements in carbon footprint but also improve cash-flow and reduce costs.

For example, by exchanging delivery requests, load plans and despatch advices in real-time, suppliers and their logistics providers can increase the number of full loads and decrease the number of incorrectly timed deliveries. Furthermore, by equipping drivers with simple mobile-phone based text messaging (SMS) or Apple iPhone applications, proof of delivery (POD) messages can be sent back to the supplier’s computer system immediately the goods are received. This not only allows the supplier to invoice more quickly (sometimes by weeks) but also has a dramatic impact on reducing invoice queries.

In summary, there are many such initiatives that if implemented can help suppliers and their hauliers drive improvements to margins, cash-flow and customer service, whilst in tandem delivering the sustainability returns their customers demand.

Perceptant is a recognised expert in Efficient Logistics, Supply Chain Management & Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and has been helping companies seamlessly collaborate for over 20 years. For a limited period, organisations can have a free review of their logistical supply chain by visiting the Perceptant’s Solutions Forum, which can be found on their homepage.

Perceptant Unveil Global Import-Export Solution for Freight Forwarding, Third Party Logistic (3PL) and GTM Companies

"Perceptant iHUB Import Export (IE) 2.0 brings Freight Forwarders, Third Party Logistics companines and Global Trade Management providers an on-demand, fully-mapped messaging solution for the global exchange of import and export documentation".

Perceptant, the on-demand supply chain management company, today announced the availability of iHUB Import Export 2.0, its latest suite of supply chain management solutions and services for freight forwarders, global trade management companies and third party logistic providers.

Designed for businesses involved in managing and maintaining import and export documentation for customers, iHUB IE 2.0 is a fully-managed, on-demand suite of mapped import and export messages and complimentary Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transactions that are hosted, and maintained by Perceptant and made available to customers via Software as a Service (SaaS).

Integrated in to existing software applications, via simple web calls, iHUB IE 2.0 equips partners with a range of fully-mapped EDIFACT, X12, IATA and EANCOM messages that are externalised in any format via AS2, VAN, P2P or FTP.


"Freight forwarders, GTM and 3PL providers have for many years' maintained costly IT departments to support the messaging requirements of their customers. In addition, the sheer complexity of import and export documentation has also hampered their growth and profitability", says Matthew Slinn, CEO and founder of Perceptant. "By partnering with us, customers gain immediate access to a silo of pre-mapped messages that can be tailored if required to their specific needs. Furthermore, our solutions are offered as a fully-managed service, maintained and hosted by staff with decades of experience in Electronic Data Interchange EDI, XML, Supply Chain Management and Application Integration".


Customers opt to either contract directly or resell the solutions and can elect to have the applications rebranded with their corporate identity if required.


Europe's largest business-to-business industry exchange, encompassing thousands of companies and millions of business transactions is delivered in this way, which has not only proven to be of great benefit to the market but also of significant commercial benefit to the contributing members.

"For the first time, comprehensive and complimentary business applications are now available, on-demand, via cloud computing and companies involved in import and export are beginning to realise that build versus buy or buy and spend months implementing are arguments that no longer stack up" says Matthew Slinn, CEO and founder of Perceptant. "Within weeks, our partners have an integrated suite of complimentary applications that drive new routes to market, provide competitive differentiation and generate significant incremental revenue".

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is Dead, Long Live EDI…

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) during the 1970’s and 1980’s professed to being the holy grail of business to business communication. However multiple standards, clunky translation software, expensive teams of technicians and the requirement for rooms full of super computers saw it never realise its full potential.

On the premise of receiving Purchase Orders at the click of a button, suppliers were often cajoled by large customers to adopt archaic software that sat on a standalone PC. The supplier would then periodically check the PC, print out the orders and manually rekey them in to their back office applications.

The “new-world” of electronic trading saw software and value added network (VAN) suppliers rejoice at their “sophisticated” solutions and ever growing profits. IT Directors professed the world of trading was now “e-lectronic” and Financial Directors regaled the resultant business benefits and cost savings.

All was well until one very well known and respected individual asked whether the emperor had actually any cloths. Why were there so many standards (and sub-standards), why so costly, why was it restricted to only one or two business documents, why was there such a lack of integration and why did it take so long to implement.

We should have all seen this coming but the same individual who asked the emperor what had happened to his cloths claimed to have the answer. A software product so ahead of its time that it made EDI look prehistoric, a middleware if you will that threw caution to the wind and embraced a new phenomenon called XML.

The new world of business to business (B2B) communication was now known as XML, which (so we were lead to believe) would become the universal standard for supply chain integration and had the power to overcome all the frailties associated with EDI.

Many jumped on to the bandwagon although a few some would say more sane companies decided to tread their own path, a path towards many messaging standards that worked in harmony. You see, not one messaging standard or technology will ever become the de facto method for B2B communication, period. From a technological standpoint, what is needed is akin to a universal spoken language convertor, something that in real time allows people from France, Spain, China, Japan, England and Germany to hold a flowing conversation with each other in their native tongues

Because of this, there are now a new and emerging range of companies that quietly over the last few years have developed the answer to our prayers and are able to demonstrate universal business translators. Translators that sit within a supply chain, taking XML, EDI, flat-files and many other electronic file formats and in real-time converting these in to a format that is understood by the computer systems of connected parties. SAP can now talk to Infor, SAGE can communicate with Epicor and CODA can interpret Microsoft Navision. Now whilst this may have been technically possible with predecessors, none of us would argue that costs, timescales, speed and overheads would have grounded the project before it even began.

It’s fascinating to see how the landscape has evolved over the last few years to bring us to this point. People have finally accepted that no one B2B language will rule the World, failed supply chain projects litter news desks and archaic technology has been banished to the broom cupboard.

A handful of software companies that dared to buck the “one size fits all” trend are now leading the universal business to business translation market. Their solutions are delivered on-demand via low, fixed cost pricing models, managed and hosted on behalf of customers and operate in real-time. The killer blow though is their ability to enable supply chains to collaborate, synchronise and integrate, immaterial of their Mother tongue. Viva la supply chain!

Perceptant is a recognised expert in Supply Chain Management & Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and has been linking supply chains for over two decades. For a limited period you can get a free review of your supply chain by visiting their online B2B Collaboration and Integration Forum.

Flared Trousers, Platform Shoes or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)?

During the 1970’s and 1980’s the computer industry and many retailers were infatuated with Electronic Data Interchange or EDI as it’s often commonly referred to. These days, EDI is a much maligned and often overlooked technology because it’s seen as costly, complicated and cumbersome. Contrary to this popular myth though, EDI can drive tremendous savings and efficiency improvements throughout a supply chain and/or trading community.

If you’re new to this three letter acronym, please find the following description from Wikipedia – Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the structured transmission of data between organizations by electronic means. It is used to transfer electronic documents from one computer system to another, i.e. from one trading partner to another trading partner. It is more than mere E-mail; for instance, organizations might replace bills of lading and even Cheques with appropriate EDI messages. It also refers specifically to a family of standards, including the X12 series. However, EDI also exhibits its pre-Internet roots, and the standards tend to focus on ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)-formatted single messages rather than the whole sequence of conditions and exchanges that make up an inter-organization business process.

Whilst the mere description of EDI may fill you with dread, there really isn’t anything to fear. Long gone are the days where you had to employ teams of technical people and invest in expensive technology. Electronic trading relationships with customers, suppliers or partners can now be setup within hours and the business benefits reaped within days.

Imagine if you will a company sending all of its invoices electronically, properly matched and guaranteed to reach its customers computer systems within seconds. This is what EDI can do and it has a major effect of reducing average days of debt, streamlining accounts departments, improving cash flow and decreasing operating expenditure.

Retailers have effectively used EDI for many years although there are still many industries that have yet to experience its benefit. Chemicals and pharmaceuticals for example is a vertical market awash with paper documents, data and information that needs to flow up and down its supply chain. In addition, because of regulatory and compliance issues, a lot of this data needs to be stored for retrieval on an as required basis.

By adopting EDI and using structured messages and exchanging these electronically in real-time with its partners, customers and suppliers, many of high-costs of doing business within Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals could be eradicated.

EDI is a well grounded methodology and proven way to drive significant supply chain improvements. Almost in secret, a small group of vendors have been addressing the pitfalls that blighted its uptake a decade ago and dare I say it “resurgence is just around the corner”.

Learn more about Supply Chain Management. Stop by our site where you can find out all about Perceptant and what we can do for you.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI): Resurgence past due?

A much maligned often overlooked technology is Electronic Data Interchange or EDI as it’s often commonly referred to. During the 1970’s and 1980’s it was seen as the solution to all business to business communication although high costs and many interpretations of so called standards lead to its stagnation. When all’s said and done though, EDI can drive tremendous savings and efficiency improvements throughout a supply chain and/or trading community…

For those of you still to discover what this acronym actually refers to, here’s an overview from Wikipedia – Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the structured transmission of data between organizations by electronic means. It is used to transfer electronic documents from one computer system to another, i.e. from one trading partner to another trading partner. It is more than mere E-mail; for instance, organizations might replace bills of lading and even Cheques with appropriate EDI messages. It also refers specifically to a family of standards, including the X12 series. However, EDI also exhibits its pre-Internet roots, and the standards tend to focus on ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)-formatted single messages rather than the whole sequence of conditions and exchanges that make up an inter-organization business process.

Now whilst this may sound technically complicated, it really isn’t. Long gone are the days where you had to employ teams of technical people and invest in expensive technology. Electronic trading relationships with customers, suppliers or partners can now be setup within hours and the business benefits reaped within days.

Imagine if you will a company sending all of its invoices electronically, properly matched and guaranteed to reach its customers computer systems within seconds. This is what EDI can do and it has a major effect of reducing average days of debt, streamlining accounts departments, improving cash flow and decreasing operating expenditure.

Wal*Mart, Tesco and many other retailers have effectively used EDI for many years although there are still many industries that have yet to experience its benefit. The Pharmaceutical industry for example is a market awash with paper documents, data and information that needs to flow up and down complex supply chains. Furthermore, due to regulatory and compliance issues, a lot of this data needs to be stored for retrieval on an as required basis.

Were this industry to embrace EDI and using structured messages and exchange these electronically in real-time with its partners, customers and suppliers, much of the cost and complexity of doing business would be eradicated.

EDI is certainly not the panacea of computing but is a well grounded methodology and proven way to drive significant supply chain improvements. Almost in secret, a small group of vendors have been addressing the pitfalls that blighted its uptake during the 1980’s and dare I say it “resurgence is just around the corner”.

Learn more about Supply Chain Management. Stop by our site where you can find out all about Perceptant and what we can do for you.

Free Value Added Networks (VAN’s) hit the Supply Chain…

Perceptant, the on-demand Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Company, today unveiled its free to use, global value added network service to customers.

Supply Chain Exchange 2.0, harnesses all the leading attributes of competitive Value-Added Networks, including security, robustness, scalability and traceability but offers users the ability to exchange data and messages on an inclusive, free to use basis.

Designed to be used not only with Perceptant’s range of Supply Chain, EDI and Busines-to-Business Integration solutions, the company also encourages connections from thrid party applications once certifcation and security tests are completed.

“Traditionally, companies have been financially peralised for using value-added networks” says Matthew Slinn, CEO and Founder of Perceptant. “The more they used the network the more thay had to pay, which in a lot of cases has severely limited the uptake of electronic trading and B2B data integration”. “Through this new Global initiative, companies can harness the power of a trading-grid of World-class SCM and EDI applications underpinned by a Value Added Network that doesn’t financially penalise them”.

“Over the next five years, AMR Research predict the market for SCM applications will grow at 7% per annum, despite the gloomy economic conditions of 2008 so companies are going to place an ever reliance on interconnected applications and services” says Tim Howden, Senior SCM Consultant. “EDI and SCM vendors have historically hampered the growth of these initiatives by charging customers based on data volumes and network usage or expecting companies to send sensitive information and data across unsecured Internet connections. Perceptant has finally broken this mould and we expect initiatives like this to further fuel customer demand”.

“This certainly strengthens Perceptant’s hand and pushes them to the forefront of the Software as a Service (SaaS) business application vendors in the Supply Chain Management, B2B Integration and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) space “.

To request further information: Amanda Dines, Head of Marketing at Perceptant – http://www.perceptant.com/

About Perceptant: Perceptant is a leading provider of software and services that drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of global supply chains. Our hosted, on-demand Supply Chain Management, B2B Integration and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solutions process millions of business-to-business transactions, integrate leading enterprise software applications and help seamlessly connect the demand chains of many of the World’s leading trading communities. Perceptant is headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.

Learn more about Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Alternatively, stop by Perceptant’s site where you can find out all about SaaS EDI Solutions and what they can do for you.

Perceptant Offer Supply Chain’s Free Access to Global Value-Added and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Network

Perceptant announce Supply Chain Exchange 2.0, an on-demand, fully-managed Value Added Network service that allows the exchange of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) messages and Supply Chain Management data on an inclusive, free to use basis.

London, England, December 09, 2009 – Perceptant (http://www.perceptant.com/), the on-demand Supply Chain Management and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Company, today unveiled its free to use, global value added network service to customers.

Supply Chain Exchange 2.0 (www.perceptant.com/services_edi_van.shtml), harnesses all the leading attributes of competitive Value-Added Networks, including security, robustness, scalability and traceability but offers users the ability to exchange data and messages on an inclusive, free to use basis.

The service is not only designed to be used in conjunction with Perceptant’s SCMaaS (Supply Chain Management as a Service) suite of supply chain, B2B integration and electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions but also allows connections from complimentary third party applications.

“Now companies not only have access to a trading-grid of World-class supply chain and EDI applications but also a Value Added Network that doesn’t penalise them based on increased usage” says Matthew Slinn, CEO and founder of Perceptant. “For existing users of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Value Added Networks this initiative could save them $m’s, for companies contemplating the use of a VAN or worried about security issues relating to AS2, FTP and P2P this is the answer”.

“With AMR Research (www.amrresearch.com) recently estimating that the supply chain management (SCM) applications market will grow 7% annually for the next five years, despite the gloomy economic conditions of 2008, it’s plain to see companies will place an increasing reliance on interconnected applications and services” says Tim Howden, Senior Supply Chain Consultant. “Supply Chain vendors have historically hampered the growth of these initiatives by charging customers based on data volumes and network usage or expecting companies to send sensitive information and data across unsecured Internet connections. It’s therefore refreshing to see Perceptant has finally broken this mould and we expect significant demand for their service”.

About Perceptant
Perceptant is a leading provider of software and services that drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of global supply chains. Our hosted, on-demand supply chain management, B2B Integration and EDI solutions process millions of business-to-business transactions, integrate leading enterprise software applications and help seamlessly connect the demand chains of many of the World’s leading trading communities. Perceptant is headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.

http://www.perceptant.com/

Contact:
Amanda Dines, Director of Marketing
Perceptant Limited
+44 (0)1246 291759

Perceptant’s Resellers tap the $6.7 billion Supply Chain Management Market

Perceptant announce SCMaaS (Supply Chain Management as a Service), a suite of on-demand, fully-serviced supply chain solutions designed for resellers to capitalise on the $6.7 billion supply chain market and generate seven figure reoccurring revenue streams.

London, England, November 13, 2009 – Perceptant (http://www.perceptant.com/), the on-demand Supply Chain Management Company, today unveiled its range of cloud-computing based, supply chain management solutions and services, available exclusively to resellers, partners and consultancies.

The market for supply chain management software applications and services, or SCM, topped $6.68 billion in 2008, a 4% increase over 2007, according to the most current estimates from AMR Research (617-542-6600, http://www.amrresearch.com/).

SCMaaS (Supply Chain Management as a Service) is a suite of supply chain, B2B integration and electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions that can be integrated on a fixed fee basis in to back-office applications, rebranded and implemented by Perceptant on behalf of its partners.

“Many of our partners are looking for new, cost efficient ways to drive revenue from existing customer bases and prospects” say Matthew Slinn, CEO and founder of Perceptant. “By partnering with us, resellers gain immediate access to a suite of solutions that allow them to tap in to three of the fastest growing markets right now, namely, Supply Chain Management, B2B Integration and EDI”.

Available via hosted data centres, SCMaaS (http://perceptant.com/services_supply_cas.shtml), is supplied on a fully-managed, on-demand basis and can be rebranded, implemented and maintained using the partners corporate identity and branding.

Partners opt to either resell and rebrand the applications themselves or take advantage of Perceptant’s complementary services, which include sales and marketing campaigns, branded collateral, competitive analysis and roll-out programs.

Europe’s largest business-to-business construction industry exchange, encompassing thousands of companies and millions of business transactions is delivered in this way, which has not only proven to be of great benefit to the entire construction industry but also of significant commercial interest to the exchanges’ owner.

“For the first time, consultancies and software vendors have on-demand access to a suite of white-label supply chain management, integration and messaging solutions via SaaS” says Matthew Slinn, CEO. “Typical partnerships are now generating seven figure ($m’s) revenue streams for our resellers, which is testament to having the right solutions, at the right time for the right partners”.

About Perceptant

Perceptant is a leading provider of software and services that drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of global supply chains. Our hosted, on-demand supply chain management, B2B Integration and EDI solutions process millions of business-to-business transactions, integrate leading enterprise software applications and help seamlessly connect the demand chains of many of the World’s leading trading communities. Perceptant is headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.

http://www.perceptant.com/

Contact:
Amanda Dines, Director of Marketing
Perceptant Limited
+44 (0)1246 291759

supply chain management, application integration, demand forecasting, EDI, http://www.perceptant.com, perceptant, resellers, supply chain integration, electronic data interchange

Perceptant, Global Headquarters, The Red House, Church Street, Dronfield, S18 1QB,United Kingdom, ( 44)1246291759,

Perceptant, Global Headquarters, The Red House, Church Street, Dronfield, S18 1QB,United Kingdom, ( 44)1246291759,

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