Autumn 2009

Changing to a web-based upstream information management system for trading with suppliers has helped catalogue retailer JD Williams to streamline its downstream customer deliveries.

The company is now using the Kewill Trade order management software solution from Kewill, which has progressively replaced the traditional EDI (Electronic Data Exchange) system used by the company previously for handling supplier transactions.

Many products supplied by the company are handled on a 'direct despatch' basis, which makes it particularly important for JD Williams' systems to interface seamlessly with suppliers who are actually sending out product.

According to direct despatch manager David Schofield: 'We were a long-established user of EDI but the fees were quite high, something that deterred some suppliers from doing business with us.' Kewill Trade builds on JD Williams' existing IT and e-commerce investment, integrating with enterprise applications and trading partners' back-office applications. It includes order management, despatch management, delivery management, stock management and invoice management.

 

The company says the new system has saved it 24 hours on order processing, improved accuracy and reduced incorrect or late orders from 2 per cent to 0.6 per cent.

Because prices are low, Williams has been able to make the system mandatory for suppliers.