Software AG Case Studies Colruyt Improves Supplier Communications, Order-to-Cash Process

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	Colruyt Improves Supplier Communications, Order-to-Cash Process Software AG

Colruyt Improves Supplier Communications, Order-to-Cash Process

Software AG

Technology Category	Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Applicable Industries	Retail
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation Procurement
Use Cases	Inventory Management Supply Chain Visibility
Services	System Integration
Challenge	The Colruyt Group, a major player in Belgium's retail network, was struggling with inefficient communications and order management due to the use of manual processes and homegrown solutions. The company, which operates a vast network of retailers, distributors, and suppliers, found that these methods no longer met its need for efficient communications and order management. The existing process used manual processes for orders, invoicing, and change orders, resulting in inaccurate orders and drawn-out order-to-cash timeframes. Read More
About Customer	Etablissementen Franz Colruyt N.V., usually known simply as Colruyt, is a Belgian family company that is one of the major players in the country’s retail network. Founded in 1925 by Franz Colruyt, the group today operates a large number of retail brands, most significantly its discount supermarket chain. The company has more than 20,000 employees with headquarters in Halle and operations in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. Read More
Solution	Colruyt sought to improve communications between suppliers and stores and eliminate manual, paper-intensive processes by implementing Software AG's webMethods Integration Platform for efficient and accurate Electronic Data Integration (EDI). The IT group set a goal to achieve three-way matching—an automatic mapping between orders to suppliers, delivery notes, and invoices to all internal and external customers and suppliers. By adopting a phased approach, Colruyt was able to quickly leverage the Software AG webMethods platform to optimize its processes to be more accurate and efficient while increasing the capacity to process orders. The ultimate goal is to go paperless and further improve communications with suppliers. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration

Applicable Industries

Retail

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Procurement

Use Cases

Inventory Management

Supply Chain Visibility

Services

System Integration

Challenge

The Colruyt Group, a major player in Belgium's retail network, was struggling with inefficient communications and order management due to the use of manual processes and homegrown solutions. The company, which operates a vast network of retailers, distributors, and suppliers, found that these methods no longer met its need for efficient communications and order management. The existing process used manual processes for orders, invoicing, and change orders, resulting in inaccurate orders and drawn-out order-to-cash timeframes.

About Customer

Etablissementen Franz Colruyt N.V., usually known simply as Colruyt, is a Belgian family company that is one of the major players in the country’s retail network. Founded in 1925 by Franz Colruyt, the group today operates a large number of retail brands, most significantly its discount supermarket chain. The company has more than 20,000 employees with headquarters in Halle and operations in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.

Solution

Colruyt sought to improve communications between suppliers and stores and eliminate manual, paper-intensive processes by implementing Software AG's webMethods Integration Platform for efficient and accurate Electronic Data Integration (EDI). The IT group set a goal to achieve three-way matching—an automatic mapping between orders to suppliers, delivery notes, and invoices to all internal and external customers and suppliers. By adopting a phased approach, Colruyt was able to quickly leverage the Software AG webMethods platform to optimize its processes to be more accurate and efficient while increasing the capacity to process orders. The ultimate goal is to go paperless and further improve communications with suppliers.

Impact #1	Improved all processes for invoicing
Impact #2	Processing more than 1 million messages per day with no interruptions
Impact #3	More efficient three-way matching processes

Impact #1

Improved all processes for invoicing

Impact #2

Processing more than 1 million messages per day with no interruptions

Impact #3

More efficient three-way matching processes

Benefit #1	Faster order-to-cash
Benefit #2	Increased capacity to process orders

Benefit #1

Faster order-to-cash

Benefit #2

Increased capacity to process orders

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Overview

Colruyt Improves Supplier Communications, Order-to-Cash Process

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit