e-Commerce solutions that don`t cut out the middle man

JBA, the leading, worldwide supplier of enterprise management software to the highly competitive, mid-market sector, today announced that it had developed an e-commerce strategy, specifically for the mid-market, that is a full-range solution to create total integration with the supply chain.

The majority of e-commerce software providers focus their efforts on the larger, Tier 1 companies thinking incorrectly that the middle sector is not interested in, nor is geared for, incorporating e-commerce solutions into their daily business practises. However, at JBA`s customer/user conference, Encounter `99, an event solely targeted to the mid-market, close to 50% of the attendees expressed an interest in e-commerce. Primarily, these companies need to be more conservative in their efforts and have an interest in reducing costs in their procurement process. Because of JBA`s e-commerce solution, these mid-market companies are now realising that they can achieve these goals, while still incorporating an e-commerce strategy that is tailored for them.

Overcoming the isolation of the ERP system through Internet technology, JBA has created a suite of products that link onto its flagship, System 21, answering the needs of its mid-market customers:

e.purchase - designed primarily for purchasing indirect goods such as consumables e.supply - to enable customers to interrogate the vendor`s ERP system e.shopper - a consumer ERP e-commerce application

JBA`s global e-commerce product director, Terry Wilcox, explains, "JBA has always been committed to the mid-market. Developing a solution for this sector was a natural business decision. Most of the other ERP vendors are partnering with smaller companies that developed specific components of commerce like catalogues, something like `post-it e- commerce`. By not employing a full solution, you weaken your overall ERP offering."

The JBA offering proposes that via the Internet, the customer will be able to view data stored in the supplier`s ERP system to determine details such as specification, price, delivery date and other variables. Beyond that, a company in the supply chain can empower its customers to be able to place orders straight into its ERP system, with the system automatically catering for those orders. Its suppliers can then also view the organization`s ERP system and replenish stock used to satisfy the new orders received earlier.

Terry Wilcox continued, "The way organisations interact is about to change forever. A customer wishing to purchase from a supplier has always had a passive, slow and relatively one-way flow of information - be it by letter, phone, fax, EDI or even basic `order-only` e-commerce. JBA has just made the interaction faster, comprehensive, more efficient and friendlier."

For further information, please contact Yolanda Komen at tel. (011) 804 5062; fax (011) 804 5072; e-mail ykomen@jba.co.za