Department store chain Debenhams has embarked on an ambitious
project to implement a private B2B portal for all its suppliers so
stores can react more quickly to product demand.
The B2B portal, which will be based on Microsoft .net, will
initially cover Debenhams' international suppliers, but it is
expected to include all the retailer's external partners in due
course.
The company, which has 100 UK stores, will use the B2B platform,
from software supplier Eqos, for ordering and logistics, said
Debenhams' IS director Martin Wyke.
"We chose to start with the critical business process of ordering
and receiving goods as there are enormous benefits to be gained
from having complete visibility of our global supply chain," he
said. "Through knowing exactly what is happening, we will be able
to react much faster to product demand."
The portal will replace four disparate systems and several manual
processes, providing an easy-to-use interface for Debenhams' 700
suppliers, including those providing third-party logistics
services, Wyke said.
It will cover delivery and tracking of purchase orders by
Debenhams, the issuing of advanced shipping notices by suppliers
and further notices from third parties, such as freight forwarders
and carriers, allowing the progress of goods to be managed
proactively, Wyke said.
Debenhams is also planning to build further .net-based applications
to cover other supplier relationship management areas, such as
product development, collaborative planning and supplier
performance management.