Supplier- Buyer - Reseller, electronic enablement

Electronic enablement of suppliers is fundamental to the future of e-commerce and electronic cross-border trade. The critical question among merchandisers and to be more specific in our field of work, Sales and Advertising, is how to get suppliers electronically enabled so they can plug into the applications that will help drive down costs in the supply chain.

There are three key elements required for companies to successfully enable Suppliers, Buyers and Resellers:

• the first is to understand the unique nature of cross-border direct trade;
• the second is to offer a sound technological solution; and

The international trade environment

International trade today is increasingly complex, and most buyers and suppliers in this geographically-dispersed, fragmented sector are looking for ways to trade more efficiently and profitably. Many trading partners realize that there are significant gains to be made by both parties if they are able to share catalog data electronically; design, negotiate, buy, sell and communicate in a secure electronic environment; and integrate with ERP systems and 3rd party logistics providers.

The urgency and opportunity become apparent when one considers that paper-based trade processes cost companies US$400 billion annually, representing 7% of the total global trade value of $6.5 trillion, according to the International Monetary Fund. Buyers and suppliers who adopt electronic processes are able to cut into this waste and add to their bottom lines.

This password-protected, web-enabled cataloging and archive software gives suppliers complete control of their company and product information in a secure, online environment. A Private Supplier Catalog gives suppliers an online platform from which to

• Maintain their catalog content themselves
• Deliver new products to the global buying community on public marketplaces
• Collaborate with known buyers in private environments

Supplier education

One of the key challenges that companies face is educating suppliers about why to become electronically enabled and how to digitize their data.
Generally, getting suppliers to accept new business processes and tools is not easy. The years of relationships and trust between Edoges and its supplier and seller community have helped companies overcome the fears and uncertainties of adopting new technology and business practices. Edoges via Ad-Estate helped supplier's move online, beginning with some of the most basic requirements such as buying computers, installing the necessary software, and teaching them how to use e-mail.

Today, Edoges offers suppliers two options for them to become electronically enabled. One is for companies to digitize all product and company information themselves using the step-by-step, do-it-yourself tools in the Private Supplier Catalog.

For suppliers who do not wish to deal with data input, our company offers Data Service for content digitization and catalog creation. The scope of this service ranges from pick-up of product information and digital photography to full translation service and marketing.

The technological solution

The next step to supplier -seller enablement is to have a sound technological infrastructure, specifically built to the needs to local but also for cross-border trade. Edoges long-held view is that electronic commerce is the only way forward, and it has built supplier -seller enablement tools based on the strong foundation of real-world experience.

Edoges is very careful to leverage the right technology at the appropriate time. This, combined with its ability to educate its customers, has been a critical factor in its successful move into order management software, Internet development and supplier enablement.

Backed by a clear understanding of cross-border trade and more than a decade of order management software development, Edoges introduced Private Supplier Catalogs. This software gives suppliers the ability to be truly electronically enabled by giving them the ability to create, manage and update their electronic catalogs themselves.