Electronic Procurement ( E Procurement ) Essay

{Build the Supply Base: supplier selection1. supplier evaluation- find potential suppliers, supplier certification (qualification, education, certificationISO 9000,14000). 2. Supplier development- integrate supplier in system, quality require, product specs, schedule/delivery, procurement polices, training, engineer/production help, information transfer procedures. 3. Negotiation- significant element, strategies: Cost based price model (open books to supplier, based on time and materials) Market based price model (based on published, auction, index prices: commodities) Competitive bidding (most common, no longterm relationship, request for rfq). 4. Contracting- share risks, benefits, incentives. Centralized purchasing, E procurement (online catalogs/exchanges, online auctions).} Logistics MGT- obtain efficient operations through integration of all material acquisition, movement, and storage activities. Frequent for outsourcing, allow competitive advantage from reduce costs and improve customer service. 1.Shipping systems: truck(flexible, moves majority manufactured goods) rail( large loads, containers) Airfreight( fast/flexible light loads, expensive) water( used for bulky low value cargo, oldest way of transportation) Pipelines( transport oil, gas,

Through e-Procurement system we can improve redundancies in the business process and operations, gain in productivity by upgrading procurement processes. Cost savings by reducing processing time, rationalization of a large number of BAL suppliers and maintaining relationship with Key Suppliers.

To cite this document: Remko van Hoek, (2001),"E-supply chains - virtually non-existing", Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, Vol. 6 Iss: 1 pp. 21 - 28 Permanent link to this document: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13598540110694653 Downloaded on: 23-05-2012 References: This document contains references to 11 other documents Citations: This document has been cited by 16 other documents To copy this document: permissions@emeraldinsight.com This document has been downloaded 4014 times.

It is quite challenging to discuss about procurement management without stating the importance of its strategies. There are four main basic procurement strategies that serve different functions within a procurement management. To begin with, a “Partnership” strategy focuses mainly on constructing mutual commitment in long term relationship with suppliers. While a “Secure Supply” strategy aims to secure short and long term supply while reducing risk from suppliers. In addition, a “Category Management and E-Procurement solutions” serves as a tool to reduce logistic complexity, improve operational efficiency, and attempts to reduce the number of suppliers. Lastly, a “Competive Bidding” strategy emphasizes on obtaining the “Best Deal” for short term transactions with suppliers.(van weele) Each of these four strategies involves a unique purchasing methodology, which implies that the complexity is embedded in an individual strategic implication. Therefore, it requires different tools to accomplish the specific strategical characteristics. A business entity may need to support and execute procurement decisions with other strategic apparatus with analytical methods, including market analysis, uncertainty analysis, price forecasting, supplier relationship and along with others.(Harvard)

E-procurement has had an increasingly important role in business-to-business(B2B) commerce. Web-enabled B2B e-commerce enhances inter-organizational coordination resulting in transaction cost savings and competitive sourcing opportunities for the buyer organization. E-business has radically altered the ways in which firms interact with their suppliers(Phillips 2003). Continued improvements in Internet technology connectivity provide an opportunity to make procurement for goods and services more transparent and efficient. Six forms of e-procurement applications

MED-X, a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Houston, Texas with 54 plants and more than 40,000 employees world-wide, has undertaken a $2 million Ariba e-procurement project implementation. MED-X was spending $3 billion annually on indirect goods and services. It is estimated that implementation of the Ariba e-procurement system will save the company $200 million annually and also reduce spending, streamline the procurement process and expedite user adoption. An additional benefit of the project is going to be nationwide

The process efficiency of purchasing order release was also restricted by BAL’s existing IT system. Though BAL had capability to electronically cut purchase orders to larger suppliers via web-based online tools developed by these suppliers, BAL’s current legacy system was not supporting its interfaces connected to suppliers’ web browsers and thus resulted extra manual work to feed ERP system.

The continued advances in procurement and information technologies, have presented BAL an opportunity to build on initiatives put in place since 1999. The P-Card initiative has produced cost savings through the shortening of procurement process for non traceable generic goods, but new e-based initiatives must be sought to further stream line the bidding and contracting process.

2. Develops solutions based on a deep understanding of the supplier’s economics and business dynamics

E-commerce Explain what is meant by the term ‘E-commerce’. It is the conducting of business communication and transactions over networks and through computers. As most restrictively defined, electronic commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services, and the transfer of funds, through digital communications. However EC also includes all inter-company and intra-company functions (such as marketing, finance, manufacturing, selling, and negotiation) that enable commerce and use electronic mail, EDI, file transfer, fax, video conferencing, workflow, or interaction with a remote computer. Electronic commerce also includes buying and selling over the Web, electronic funds transfer, smart cards, digital cash (e.g.

Electronic commerce technology and practice has been sought after since the development of the World Wide Web, and many business institutes and corporations have turned to electronic commerce technologies with hopes to develop the efficiency and effectiveness of their business models through e-commerce. A very prominent form of e-commerce is e-procurement which is mainly for B2B transactions occurring between businesses.

Many organizations industriously look for the opportunity to gain the competitive advantages in their industries. One of the opportunities that frequently used by the organization is the implementation of e-commerce. Thus, the e-commerce and the online sale transaction become popular in each industry. E-commerce provides many benefits, such as the saving of shopping time, the cost savings, convenience, and free from geographical constraints.

All projects involve the need to determine whether the project work will be done in-house, external to the organization (outsourced), or a combination of the two. This is called “make-or-buy analysis” and is an essential part of project planning, as well as a tool/technique integral to procurement planning

Competition is fierce in today’s world and a business must work smarter versus harder. Many big name chain stores have achieved success but none like that of Wal-Mart. The following is a review of the Wal-Mart customer and his or her expectations of its procurement process. An additional review of how these expectations affect Wal-Mart’s strategies, policies, and procedures at both the domestic and global level is also included.

The current procurement framework perceives the significance of ‘transparency, competitiveness, fairness and the need to promote a sense of integrity in the system to secure best value for money’ . E-bidding was initially launched in the States of Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh by Directorate General of Supplies and Disposal. After the success of e-bidding in the above States, e-bidding was launched even at the Central Government Level. In fact, a national program for opening e-bids was launched under National e-governance Plan for rate contracts. The above program was launched to promote electric technology in tendering. In addition to the above, the Central Vigilance Committee laid down e-procurement guidelines in 2009, in which a single platform for all procurement agencies was recommended.