Resources company Iscor has signed a strategic partnership agreement with ProcureTrade, the new company jointly owned by the AST Group and McCarthy-On-Line, to create a corporate wide e-procurement hub for the purchasing of a wide range of goods and services for the Iscor Group.
"The partnership with ProcureTrade will enable Iscor to reduce the costs of procurement, as well as to unlock value associated with the group`s buying power," explains Dennis McCarthy, MD of ProcureTrade.
Infobank Africa, the wholly owned subsidiary of Infobank International, Europe`s leading B2B software solutions provider, will provide its InTrade e-hub software to power the trading communities. The software offers, in conjunction with enterprise level buyer and supplier capability, a multinational functionality of over 50 languages and currencies and multiple tax regime capability, from a single installation.
"The fact that the company has a local presence and a product that is capable of integration into multiple systems, makes it even more attractive for ProcureTrade`s partners such as Iscor," notes McCarthy.
"E-procurement offers a wide range of benefits such as streamlining of procurement processes, speeding up response times and empowering buyers within corporate guidelines", continues McCarthy.
"This partnership is a significant step for ProcureTrade to be a leading business supplier in South Africa," according to Brand Pretorius, Chairman of McCarthy-On-line. "It is also a vote of confidence from Iscor in ProcureTrade`s ability to deliver."
An important requirement was that the ProcureTrade solution be flexible enough to enable a variety of procurement practices and policies such as commodity management and SMME development.
ProcureTrade will provide an e-business managed service in a hosted environment. This will enable any partner to concentrate on their core activities and the management of relationships across their supply chain.
ProcureTrade has the capability and infrastructure to handle large corporate purchasing requirements and offer a turnkey solution to provide business to business (B2B) e-commerce capabilities.
"Iscor`s decisive step will provide a catalyst for the development of B2B electronic commerce in Southern African," concludes McCarthy.
Share
ProcureTrade
ProcureTrade is a JV between two major listed companies, McCarthy-On-Line, a division of McCarthy Retail, and the AST Group to create South Africa`s first business-to-business hosted trading procurement solution.
AST
AST provides comprehensive and integrated ICT-based solutions to an increasing range of global corporate clients. AST`s best-of-breed software, excellent service delivery capabilities and our solution focus make us your ideal strategic partner.
AST focuses on industries such as mining, financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications and government. We have specialists in management and IT Consulting, IT Communications, Enterprise Systems Management, IT services, ERP Solutions, Outsourcing, Technology Rentals and Training. For more information on AST please visit http://www.ast.co.za.
McCarthy On-Line
McCarthy On-Line is part of the R7,9-billion McCarthy Retail group. One of the country`s five largest retailers, the group comprises 91 franchised motor dealerships, McCarthy Financial Services, Burchmore`s, Yamaha Distributors, Budget Rent-a-Car, McCarthy On-Line and Bonus Building Supplies (76 stores). Associate companies include the Retail Apparel Group (320 clothing stores), Arthur Kaplan Jewellers (40 stores) and Relyant Retail Limited (600 furniture stores).