SSG Supply Network is a new service for electronic business transactions. The concept has been developed to support the industry’s purchasing processes by linking the process industry’s suppliers electronically. SSN also provides the heavier process industry with help concerning orders, maintenance and item administration. Savings are considerable and by using SSG Supply Network the forest industry can increase the efficiency of the entire purchasing process. Several forest industry companies, including Billerud and SCA, are already preparing to join this collaboration.
SSG is engaged in standardization work and in connection with this also provides, for example, technical guidelines, delivery contracts and training services for its members, as well as a product database with over 500,000 spare parts and consumables plus an extensive web-based chemical database.
SSG has now added WM-data’s services for electronic business communication, with 24-hour customer support, to its basic services as well as a very sophisticated signal and alarm system that makes it possible to efficiently manage the electronic traffic. This is of vital importance when handling huge volumes of business information.
Open solution regardless of business system
SSG Supply Network includes access to SSG’s standardized product database and WM-data’s services for electronic business communication and message administration in the form of purchase orders, order confirmation, invoices and catalogue information. There are also supplementary services such as EDI web portals specially adapted to the needs of small businesses as well as cost-efficient hybrid solutions with printing and scanning where the purchasing company need only use a single interface.
SSG Supply Network is an open solution which makes it possible to link it to any business management system. SSG’s role is to define the rules and message standard for information handling.
Great potential savings
SSN contributes to a step-by-step reduction in capital costs along the entire value chain. The existing business management system is the starting point for the customer and this is linked to SSG Supply Network (an application of Business Transaction Service message exchange). This makes it possible to have a single interface for all partners and suppliers with message administration adapted to the industry’s demands on the appearance of orders, price catalogues and invoices.
The process industry can streamline the entire purchasing process with SSG Supply Network.
Companies can optimize logistic flows and tied-up capital and create an integrated approach to the plant’s lifecycle, from design to acquisition, operation, maintenance and sale.
At the same time, loyalty with respect to entered agreements is reinforced as is integration with the supplier. Furthermore, major time-savings can be realized through full integration of buyer and seller.
This represents major savings for the forest industry considering that a Swedish mill handles an average of roughly 35,000 invoices every year.
Cost-efficient
Since SSG Supply Network makes use of the existing infrastructure it is cost-efficient to subscribe to the network’s basic services.
Facts about SSG Supply Network
- Adapted EDI handling from your existing business management system with Business Transaction Service message exchange (5,000 connected companies).
- Technical platform: xTrade from xWare with interface from WM-data.
- Free connection for suppliers (providing the supplier complies with SSG’s standard).
Additional services:
- - Common product database with 500,000 SKC marked items. Interface adaptation for IFS, SAP and Maximo.