Case Study
Industrial Automation implements B2B for under $1,000.
The need to engage in e-commerce is an ever increasing probability
for a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME). Driven by reducing costs,
electronic procurement solutions are on the increase world wide. A
daunting expense to the SME the push to engage in B2B e-commerce is
being driven by the big buying corporates and governments. Most SME
are adopting a wait and see approach to B2B, some are taking the
lions share of new contracts by embracing B2B.
Here's how one SME setup and engaged in B2B e-commerce at a
fraction of what most organizations expect the cost to be.
The Need
Industrial Automation a forward thinking
company supplying advanced water management systems knew the future
growth of their business would require them to embrace the internet
as a tool to servicing customers.
The Push
The Western Australian Water Corporation was in
the process of implementing the e-procurement module of their SAP
system. The Water Corporation approached Industrial Automation to
supply their catalogue of goods electronically and to engage in the
exchange of XML based business documents. The Water Corporation
required current product pricing along with the exchange of
electronic Purchase Orders, Advanced Shipping Notices and Invoices.
The Requirements
Industrial Automation saw the Water
Corporation as a major customer they wanted to keep. However if they
where to undertake B2B e-commerce it needed to be for all their
customers not just the Water Corporation. Industrial Automation had
in-house computing skills and already hosted their own Web Site,
they did not wish to outsource this.
The Solution
Cat Tech’s RMS Catalogue was already tested
with the Water Corporation, along with the Western Australia
Governments GEM procurement system. The product also supported
general purchasing and ordering by all of IA’s customers who had
internet access. Cat Tech’s product could be purchased as a software
license to be hosted in-house and enhance their existing Web Site.
The Result
Industrial Automation purchased a Cat Tech
license for under $1,000. The software was supplied with manuals and
a fully functioning e-commerce example. The software was built on an
“Open Platform”, this meant there was no infrastructure costs for
Industrial Automation. The staff at Industrial Automation were able
to install set up and have a fully functioning B2B e-commerce
solution running with no additional financial outlay. Enhancing the
software to match the Industrial Automation existing Web Site was a
simple task and the entire process was able to be undertaken without
impacting existing staffing schedules.
The Outcome
Industrial Automation now has an online
catalogue publishing detailed product information, images and
prices. Contracted, client specific prices are supported for all
their customers and all customers are able to order products. Where
no credit arrangements are in place credit card details are required
to complete an order. In addition the Web Site supports a secure
document exchange engine sending and receiving XML based
transactions over the internet between Industrial Automation and the
Water Corporation.
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