The use of web portals has become increasingly popular as a means of facilitating communication and collaboration between internal teams and external trading partners. A web portal provides a centralised platform where all parties can access and share information securely and efficiently. This blog will explore how implementing a web portal can help businesses streamline their operations, improve communication, and enhance their overall performance. We will examine specific questions related to the benefits of web portals, including improved supply chain visibility, process improvements, and increased customer satisfaction.
1. Which parts of your supply chain are you looking for process improvements from?
In other words, where in your supply chain are you experiencing bottlenecks, delays, errors, or other issues that are impacting your productivity, profitability, or customer satisfaction? By pinpointing the areas that need the most attention, you can therefore better prioritise your efforts to streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve outcomes.
2. Which information would benefit your trading partners if it were made more visible and accessible via a web portal?
There are several types of information that could benefit your trading partners if they were made more visible and accessible. For example, one key area to focus on is order status information. Providing real-time updates on the status of orders can help your trading partners better plan and manage their own operations. Other types of information that could be valuable also include inventory levels, production schedules, and shipping details. By sharing this information with your trading partners, you can help them better understand your business and therefore make more informed decisions.
3. Do you have a complicated distribution network with limited visibility between business functions and geographic regions? Could this be enhanced by using a web portal?
Managing a distribution network can be challenging, especially when you’re dealing with multiple business functions and geographic regions. When visibility is limited, it can be difficult to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies. This is why it’s important to assess whether your distribution network is overly complicated and could benefit from process improvements.
4. Are some of your electronic process’ invisible to functions within your organisation? Does this make it harder for them to operate efficiently?
Even if your business has automated certain processes, it’s important to consider whether these processes are fully visible and accessible to all relevant functions within your organisation. If some electronic processes are not fully visible, it can lead to inefficiencies and difficulties in coordinating across different functions.
5. Does your organisation field a lot of support calls when it comes to some of your finance processes? Could these be automated? Would it help if they were more transparent?
Many businesses receive numerous support calls from customers regarding finance processes that are often time-consuming and prone to errors. Automating these processes can not only save time and reduce errors but also improve transparency, making it easier for customers to access and understand their financial information. Does your organisation receive a lot of support calls regarding finance processes that could be automated or made more transparent?
6. Is it difficult to share access into your systems easily with trading partners while managing system and data restrictions?
As more businesses rely on electronic processes to manage their operations, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that these processes are visible and accessible to all relevant stakeholders. One major challenge in this regard is facilitating access for trading partners, who may need to interact with a company’s systems and data in order to collaborate effectively. At the same time, it is crucial to manage these interactions carefully to maintain security and prevent data breaches.
7. Do you run disparate back-end systems that make it harder to track and trace information and perform some business processes?
Many businesses use different back-end systems to manage various supply chain functions, but this can create challenges in tracking and tracing information, as well as performing certain business processes. These disparate systems can cause inefficiencies and make it difficult to gain an accurate view of the supply chain.
8. Is your organisation better placed to manage supplier or customer engagement electronically? For example, if all documents, their respective audit trails and history could be accessed centrally via a web portal?
It is likely that electronic management of supplier or customer engagement would be more efficient if all documents, their respective audit trails, and history could be accessed centrally. This would allow for streamlined communication, quick access to necessary information, and more efficient decision-making. Additionally, it would reduce the risk of errors and miscommunication that can arise from using disparate systems or relying on manual processes. However, it is important to carefully consider any potential data security and privacy concerns that may arise from implementing a central access system.
9. Do you struggle to locate historical information and documents?
Locating historical information and documents can be a challenge for some businesses. Do you find that your organisation struggles with this task? If so, what are the specific reasons why you have difficulty locating these documents?
You can download these questions for free to share with your business here. Alternatively, contact us to discuss how you can implement an accounts payable solution.
About B2BE
B2BE delivers electronic supply chain solutions globally, helping organisations to better manage their supply chain processes, providing greater levels of visibility, auditability and control. We’re driven by a passion for what we do, inspired by innovation, and underpinned by a wealth of knowledge. With over 20+ years of experience, the B2BE teams operate worldwide.
For more information, visit www.b2be.com.