The importance of creating a supply chain that can handle the requirements of an e-commerce driven society. We talk cloud computing, EDI systems and the future.

1. Battle of the Supply Chains
Battle of the Supply Chains
Effective e-commerce is at the heart of efficient supply chains – and is within reach of all, from
large customers to SME suppliers.
The future of business is different from the past: competition is between supply chains, not
between companies, Professor Martin Christopher of Cranfield University observed, nearly 10
years ago. While an earthquake may be unpredictable,
Battle of the Supply Chains most interruptions and inefficiencies in the supply chain
are foreseeable, ever-present and, with the advent of
the ‘Cloud’ in IT, easy to overcome.
Future of business is between supply
chains and not companies. The future of business is different from the past:
competition is between supply chains, not between
Paper-based processes have no companies, Professor Martin Christopher of Cranfield
place in the supply chain of the future.
University observed, nearly 10 Companies need quality
Cloud based solutions make – data, immediately available in real time, to make
ecommerce a secure and affordable effective decisions. Information from conventional,
option for companies of all sizes. paper-based reporting and management systems is
inevitably out of date by the time it arrives leading to
The Celtrino Platform is accessible by
the whole supply chain by any recog- decisions that are unavoidably reactive, rather than
nised browser on an Internet- proactive. Existing electronic systems, such as EDI
connected PC. (electronic data interface), have tended to be large-
scale and are perceived to be expensive, and so only
Eliminate all costs associated with
conventional, paper-based systems within the reach of larger organisations.
Supply chains that rely on paper-based purchasing,
order and inventory reconciliation, and all-important
billing and payments, are prone to error, are going to be subject to delay and query, and require a
lot of labour to control. The further upstream real e-commerce extends, the more efficient,
effective and competitive supply chains will be. There will be less waste, less rework, less error
and less need for laborious data input, for example, if transactions are e-based. E-Invoicing is
mandatory in seven EU member states and the European Union has set e-Invoicing as a key
deliverable by 2016. Operations that do not adopt e-commerce from end to end will fall behind.
And sending invoices by e-mail is not the automation that is needed.
The challenge is: to adopt a system that is acceptable to the leading edge of the supply chain, is
affordable to even the most modest SME supplier, and can be used without tiers of support or
specialised training. Cloud-based solutions make e-commerce an affordable option for the SME
sector.
Celtrino’s Accounts Payable, invoicing and EDI systems uses ‘Cloud’ technology to bring together
suppliers and customers eliminate paper from invoicing and purchasing. Any discrepancies are
automatically identified and queried.
Because Celtrino systems are Internet-based, they can be accessed by any recognised browser
on an Internet-connected PC – there is no need for expensive capital equipment. Training takes
very little time and can be conducted on-site. Celtrino’s systems are compatible with all leading
EDI systems so the technology is acceptable at all levels – allowing supply chains to fully embrace
e-commerce and cut costs associated with conventional, paper-based systems.
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