Liquids Transportation Logistics
Supplier Relationship Management Applications
The challenge
Digitalise analogue processes, centralise data and improve supplier relationship management
Supplier relationship management at the client company was fully analogue (e-mails, phone calls, etc), making several processes not only slow but also unreliable.
The lack of a centralised location for data storage also caused data to be fragmented, stored in people’s personal e-mails and files, and therefore led to a lack of transparency between the client company and suppliers, as suppliers had no place to view data related to them.
There was also the absence of a channel to share feedback, so the client was often unaware of issues with suppliers, as well as no place to track meetings with suppliers, so data obtained from meetings was often lost.
2
Developers
2
Applications
10
Weeks
The solution
Build web applications using OutSystems to centralise processes
Two applications - one external (SP) and one internal (SRM) - were built using the industry-leading OutSystems low-code development platform.
SRM manages supplier relationships and processes, giving the Vendor Management Team transparency and visibility on the business with each supplier, resulting in faster and better decision-making. It also centralises the storage and processing of all supplier-related information (contacts, documents, meetings, etc).
SP is an accessible tool that is available to the supplier 24/7 and is not limited by office hours, where suppliers can see data that relates to them and that is held by the company, respond to new spot rate requests and booking requests, review bookings already placed and view current status of submitted invoices.
The results
Faster, easier and more transparent process
The combination of the Supplier Relationship Management and Supplier Portal applications allows for a large increase in efficiency. This saves both the client company and its suppliers a lot of time, which directly leads to savings on the overall financial costs.
Overall, an 80% response rate for rate requests and transportation bookings is expected, as well as an 80% reduction in the number of invoice queries.
Better data quality and visibility due to digitisation of analogue processes also lead to 50% less effort required to process rate requests.
See next
Transportation Logistics
The client company is responsible for 75% of all vehicle movements in the U.K., moving more than 1 million vehicles every year.
For that reason, they wanted to streamline communications and order fulfilment for two of their most prestigious accounts by implementing custom vehicle tracking portals to be used by said dealers.
This would allow for the reduction of unstructured work, cutting down on e-mails and phone calls required to run daily operations.