Benefits: Increased Efficency and Better Communication

By automating communication using the new system, H&R Johnson's suppliers can access stock information and identify requirements in advance. They can also provide assurance for H&R Johnson that stock will arrive on time and that the necessary quantities are available for dispatch. This means that suppliers can also improve their own internal efficiency by knowing stock requirements far in advance. Because all the paperwork is completed online, both companies involved in a transaction can significantly reduce the time spent completing paper-based order forms and re-keying information.
But the new system has additional benefits that go beyond replacing similar manual processes. Coxon says: "Using electronic commerce we have built an alternative line of communication to our suppliers. Now they can see our requirements and can react by providing us with the necessary materials. Because they can participate in the order and delivery cycle and we can all monitor progress online. Nothing gets overlooked."
As a result, the tile maker does not have to hold large amounts of stock and has much better management and financial control of its business. Cost is reduced because H&R Johnson can automate many of its previously manual processes and it does not have to spend time chasing deliveries and suppliers—everything can be monitored online.
"By providing our suppliers with access to stock information using the Internet, we can streamline our ordering process and make sure that we don't run out of essential materials. The Microsoft technologies that we are using provide the stability and scalability which enable us to concentrate on our business with the peace of mind to know that our backbone technologies won't let us down," Coxon explains.
Personalization of the pages and accounts has been achieved using Active Server Pages and the system is based on the Microsoft Visual Studio® development system, and Microsoft Windows NT Server Internet Information Server and Microsoft Transaction Server technologies, with plans to extend to Microsoft Site Server Commerce Edition.