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| Mission Statement |
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06 June 2005
Integrating e-business with the ‘E’in ‘Ease’
Freddy Spanhove, e-business manager, Cebeo, Belgium
The role of e-business in commercial transaction is growing by leaps and bounds. Oddly, the major obstacle to further growth is not technology but content. What’s out there?
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Building a product catalogue that is always up-to-date requires a big investment in terms of time and energy. That is why Cebeo has developed the option of retrieving information related to products rapidly and easily using every-day office applications. The technology is called e-business integration. Freddy Spanhove, e-business manager at Cebeo, takes the time to explain its many advantages.
Sonepar: Where did you get the idea of integrating the Cebeo e-shop into specific business applications software?
Freddy Spanhove: Our e-shop is a universal resource for finding information: about products, prices, inventories, etc. You can place an order without difficulty. But many businesses still see the Cebeo e-shop as an isolated application. For example, an accountant uses special accounting software, engineers use project management programs. It would be ideal if these professionals could consult our products and place orders via an IT environment that they are perfectly comfortable with.
Sonepar: What are the advantages of having a link with this software?
F. S.: The big corporations are constantly looking for ways of making it easier to do business. IT is extremely important to them because efficient data management can save both time and money. Business applications software is based on the notion that lots of data is used by lots of different people. For example, if a technician orders a particular part, that has repercussions for the purchasing manager, the shop manager and the accountant. Now, the client can see at a glance all of the data related to this order in his own system. The entire order process is more flexible. Moreover, we can also send out e-invoices on request—this functionality now has a legal framework and is being heavily promoted by policymakers.
Sonepar: Is e-business integration also feasible for smaller businesses?
F. S.: No doubt about it! The era where e-business integration was a luxury ended a long time ago. Numerous installers have gotten in the game, among them both large corporations and small businesses. What matters is that, as a professional or an entrepreneur, you can think critically about your own work methods. "What can I improve? What can be done faster and/or for less?"
Sonepar: Does this entail significant investment?
F. S.: The cost depends on a number of factors. First of all, it depends on the installer’s software configuration. We are currently working with accounting software manufacturers C-LOGIC, CAFCA and Handsoft because numerous professionals are already familiar with them. If you work with another type of software, we begin by seeing what kind of solution we can come up with. Another factor that has to be taken into account is the time needed to get the system up and running. People who work with the software I mentioned earlier only need to plan for a half-day. In other cases, some programming work may be required.
Sonepar: You’ve convinced us of the advantages of e-business integration. What steps do we need to take now?
F. S.: It’s very simple. If you are familiar with C-LOGIC, CAFCA and Handsoft, then just say the word. There is a short procedure to be completed, which you can ask us for or download yourself from the Cebeo e-shop. If you use some other type of software, we need to sit down and look at the situation together. In our experience, clients that have gone through with integration are very satisfied with how easy and rapidly it becomes functional. And integration gives their own system immediate and substantial added value for a minimum effort. Finally, don’t forget that all e-orders placed before 7 pm can be delivered the following day.
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