"Availability of a correctly priced catalogue at all times. . ."
Background
Able Care Ltd, with showrooms in Inverness and Aberdeen, already supply a number of Local Authorities and Health Trusts with a variety of products and services for the disabled. The range of equipment is comprehensive including stair lifts, level access showers, hoisting systems, specialist toilets public access lifts etc. Able Care also provide an installation Service where required.
Able Care initially expressed an interest in the eProcurement Scotl@nd service (ePS) having attended one of The Highland Council's ePS road shows.
During the initial adoption process it emerged that Able Care had separately been considering a major revamp to their existing web site and email services.
Able Care were able to take advantage of the partnership arrangement that exists between the Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to ensure that SMEs are best placed to take advantage of eCommerce. This meant that they could call on the resources of HIE's eBusiness Support Programme and after further consultation and input from their e-business Advisors, a e-business development plan was established.
Content and Connection Options
Initially, Able Care developed an electronic catalogue which only contained items most frequently sourced by The Highland Council. This catalogue is now being extended to provide a more extensive range of items. As catalogues generally become more extensive, they require more effort to maintain and to assist with this, Able Care is also taking part in a pilot scheme, again funded by HIE, to test and evaluate a catalogue management software suite, developed in the Highlands.
As part of their development plan, Able Care is developing a new web site with online shopping facilities and cXML connectivity and the eventual goal is for buyers to connect to Able Care through Punch Out and for orders to be placed via cXML into Able Care's Order Processing System.
Able Care previously received orders by a variety of means but now, through ePS, all orders are received by e-Mail whilst development of the cXML solution progresses.
Business Benefits
The initial major benefit will be the availability of a correctly priced catalogue at all times to all potential buyers.
As the full solution is developed it will provide more detail through the web site and buyers will actually be able to see the items that they are purchasing thus ensuring more efficient and accurate order processing. Some of the key benefits to Able Care will be the ability to easily maintain and expand their online catalogue thus ensuring the service they provide to their customers will improve.
Previously, when orders were placed several manufacturers catalogues had to be cross-referenced. Apart from being time consuming it also led to the danger of incorrectly specified items being ordered or out of date information regarding prices or specification detail.
The initial catalogue will go a long way to reducing these errors and the final web based solution should all but eliminate the genuine mistake.
Overall the order processing procedure should produce cost savings through reducing processing times at both ends of the transaction.
With the introduction their own catalogue maintenance facilities Able Care will be able to provide a much more effective and efficient service for their customers.
Suppliers Viewpoint
"eProcurement offers an opportunity for business transactions to flow more easily and efficiently. This will be reflected not only in the supply of goods but also in the payment of accounts, which in this day of continual cash flow management must be an advantage. The system is in line with modern day communications, creating a buying/selling culture that is fully accountable as well as cost effective."
David Hood, Director, Able Care Ltd.
More information
To obtain further information relating to this article on The Highland Council and Able Care's implementation of the eProcurement Scotl@nd Service please contact:
Ashley Gould, Procurement Manager
The Highland Council
David Hood, Director
Able Care Ltd
If you would like further general information on the ePS service or would like to receive future eProcurement Scotl@nd Service newsletters, please contact the eProcurement Scotl@nd service desk.