CNF Selects IBM And Ketera to Transform Global Procurement.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 2003 Global Supply Chain Management Leader Will Use On-Demand Service To Manage Spend IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) and Ketera Technologies today announced that CNF CNF Configuration (File Name Extension) CNF Conference CNF Conjunctive Normal Form CNF Could Not Find CNF Chin National Front (Burma) CNF Canadian Nature Federation CNF Cornell NanoScale Facility Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : CNF), a leading global supply chain services company, has selected the companies to provide on-demand procurement services. Ketera, a spend management leader founded by American Express American Express (NYSE: AXP), sometimes known as "AmEx" or "Amex", is a diversified global financial services company, headquartered in New York City. The company is best known for its credit card, charge card and traveler's cheque businesses. , will provide the technology and IBM will host and deliver the procurement service on demand. On-demand procurement services enable organizations to move their purchasing processes Purchasing Purchasing is the formal process of buying goods and services. The Purchasing Process can vary from one organization to another but there are some key elements that are common throughout The process usually starts with a 'Demand' or requirements to Internet-based systems, automating the buying cycle from requisition A written demand; a formal request or requirement. The formal demand by one government upon another, or by the governor of one state upon the governor of another state, of the surrender of a fugitive from justice. The taking or seizure of property by government. through payment stages. With IBM e-business hosting services, CNF expects to be up and running on the Ketera procurement solution in just 45 days. CNF Inc., a market leader in the supply chain management industry, is a $4.8 billion global enterprise with fast-growing, dynamic businesses and a long-established history of supply chain expertise. CNF will begin working with the companies immediately, using Ketera Spend Analysis software to identify areas where it can better reduce and control costs, as well as identify priorities for supplier enablement Supplier Enablement is the process of electronically connecting suppliers (or other trading partners) to a company's supply chain. Supplier enablement is achieved when suppliers of goods and services are connected to a company's back-office systems to exchange critical business . Key aspects of today's agreement include: -- Transitioning purchasing across the organization to the on-demand service. -- Offering procurement as a shared service to CNF companies Con-Way Transportation Services and Menlo Worldwide. More than 1,000 users will be using the service after just 90 days. -- Enabling core suppliers of maintenance, repair and operation (MRO) materials, office supplies, materials handling products and print services. Ten suppliers will be enabled in the first 90 days. -- Moving to an automated payment and reconciliation process through use of the American Express Corporate Purchasing Card(R) solution. -- Use of Ketera Spend Analysis to provide an up-front understanding of CNF's corporate spending and to identify opportunities for controlling and reducing costs. "We recognized an opportunity to enhance our purchasing process with state-of-the-art technology," said Mitch Plaat, director, contract services at CNF. "On demand procurement made the most sense to CNF. The flexible, affordable service allows us to achieve savings rapidly without the up-front investment and ongoing resource commitment associated with the implementation of enterprise software." "Being able to access procurement and supplier enablement services on-demand allows smart e-businesses like CNF to reduce costs and focus on their core competencies A core competency is something that a firm can do well and that meets the following three conditions specified by Hamel and Prahalad (1990):
"Delivering business process solutions as an on-demand service, over the Internet is the way of the future," said Ruby Sahiwal, chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. , Ketera Technologies. "Just as payroll processing and IT management have become on-demand services, so too will spend management and procurement. A growing number of established and insightful companies such as CNF are recognizing this and establishing the latest trend in business management." CNF has been an industry pacesetter in meeting the needs of customers - from middle market to giant multinationals seeking to improve the management of increasingly complex supply chains and logistics services in order to lower costs, reduce inventories, and increase speed, flexibility and efficiency. CNF's principal component companies -- Con-Way Transportation Services and Menlo Worldwide Menlo Worldwide is a global supply chain company based in San Mateo, California which operates in approximately 14 countries worldwide. Its core business offerings include 3rd-party logistics and 4th-party supply chain management. , operate in regional trucking, air freight air freight n → flete m por avión air freight n → fret aérien air freight air n → Luftfracht f , ocean freight, customs brokerage, global logistics management Logistics Management is that part of Supply Chain Management that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective, forward, and reverse flow and storage of goods, services, and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet and trailer manufacturing. About Ketera Technologies Ketera Technologies provides spend management solutions as an on-demand service, providing companies with the technology and services needed to control and reduce corporate spending at a low cost of ownership. Ketera Spend Management includes applications for spend analysis, sourcing, procurement, payment & reconciliation and supplier enablement. The Ketera difference is our delivery model which includes the 'heavy lifting' services required for successful spend management, including supplier catalog catalog, descriptive list, on cards or in a book, of the contents of a library. Assurbanipal's library at Nineveh was cataloged on shelves of slate. The first known subject catalog was compiled by Callimachus at the Alexandrian Library in the 3d cent. B.C. management; supplier transaction enablement; hardware infrastructure, project resources, system administration and solution upgrades. Ketera Technologies is an IBM business partner, providing technology for certain IBM e-business on Demand offerings. For more information about Ketera Technologies and the Ketera Spend Management suite of services, please visit www.ketera.com. About IBM IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business on demand. For more information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com. |
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