Managing the Omni-Channel – Hot Topic during SuiteWorld 2015.



Speaking at SuiteWorld, NetSuite’s annual client and partner conference, Branden Jenkins, General Manager for Global Retail at NetSuite, commented on disruption and change and how retailers need to adapt to the new world of omni-channel retail.

According to Jenkins "Retailers need to put systems in place that give them the omni-channel capability”. He believes that the NetSuite eco-system (combination of NetSuite product features and partner add-on features will give NetSuite users a clear lead in the omni-channel market place. NetSuite also introduced their new Point of Sale (PoS) functionality which should greatly enhance the retailers omni-channel approach.

As well getting the product visible and sold through the right channels, the NetSuite user also needs to look closely at a complete and seamless supply chain integration platform. A platform which ties in all the players in the channel from online retail to box store to shopping carts to 3PL providers to drop shippers to manufacturers and more.

The omni-channel approach by NetSuite seems to be working as they were able to announce at SuiteWorld that they have just landed international surfing and clothing company, Billabong as a major new customer. Billabong is starting with NetSuite’s eCommerce platform and says that over time it may also switch its current ERP systems as well.  According to Kadima Lonji, CTO at Billabong, the new NetSuite implementation with enhanced inventory and stock visibility has the potential to deliver Billabong cost savings of $13 million per annum.

If you would like to know more on how B2BGateway’s fully integrated EDI solutions for NetSuite can help your organization handle the disruption of the omni-channel while at the same time enhancing your business call +1 401 491 9595 (NA) / +353 61 708533 (EU) or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

What are chargebacks and how can I avoid them?

A chargeback is a fee that a customer (usually a retailer) places on a supplier for errors in not following the retailer’s business requirements. The chargeback was introduced to offset the extra cost the retailer incurs as a result of the supplier’s non-compliance.

 
Chargeback schemes began in the 1980’s as a way for retailers to recoup costs incurred due to supply chain errors. At the time, many suppliers objected to them as unfair profit centers for large, powerful retailers. Although purely punitive fines are not legal, cost recovery is—so chargebacks quickly became adopted by most retailers. It’s easy to understand how mislabeled, mis-packed, late, and wrong-quantity shipments add up to real labor costs and out of stock difficulties for retailers. Distasteful as they may be for suppliers, chargebacks make business sense for retailers in trying to recover costs and are here to stay for the foreseeable future.
 
What can lead to a chargeback being applied to my organization?

·         Early, late, or non-authorized partial delivery of goods or services.

·         Missing, incorrect, non-readable or wrongly placed shipping labels.

·         Substituting products without prior agreement.

·         Ship to incorrect location.

·         Product packaged wrongly according to retailers agreement.

·         Damages that did not occur during transit.

·         EDI 810 invoice not matching original purchase order and/or with wrong terms and details

·         EDI 856 ASN (Advance Ship Notice) does not arrive on time or does not match items in carton.

 
How can my organization eliminate chargebacks or at least reduce greatly the potential of receiving them from my customers?

·         Comply fully with customers EDI requirements.

·         Make sure labels are correct and can be read or scanned easily.

·         Do not substitute products without prior approval.

·         Ship to the correct location.

·         Pack items correctly according to retailer’s requirements.

·         Try to make sure goods arrive in perfect order.

·         Deliver the correct products, quantities and cartons

·         Send accurate and complete EDI 810 invoices.

·         Make sure EDI 856 ASN (Advance Ship Notice) arrives on time and details are correct.

 
To comply fully with your customers EDI requirements and business rules, I would recommend that you enlist the help of a good 3^rd party EDI provider. 3^RD Party EDI providers immediately know retailers requirements, what is expected and how they must be delivered. If you would like to know more about outsourcing your EDI needs to B2BGateway and how we can help you eliminate or greatly reduce potential chargebacks please call +1 (401) 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

Top 5 Reasons Retailers Outsource Their EDI Testing & Validation Needs to B2BGateway.

Outsourced EDI Testing & Validation is where a Retailer or Trading Partner outsources their EDI testing and compliance requirements to B2BGateway. B2BGateway helps the Retailer to onboard new suppliers by providing a custom built testing and validation portal for all Suppliers. Suppliers will be able to quickly and easily complete testing and validation for each EDI document against the document specifications and business rules supplied by the Retailer in a timely and efficient manner.

Here are the top 5 reasons Retailers outsource this requirement to B2BGateway:

1.    Saves Time: B2BGateway.Net will communicate, of the Retailers with all their Suppliers to assure that all the EDI documents meet the standards of the Retailers mapping specifications.

2. Easy: B2BGateway.Net has a simple, easy to follow web-based testing system in which both the Retailer and the Supplier can check on the status of the testing at anytime, day or night 24/7.
3. Customizable: The B2BGateway.Net testing and validation service is completely customizable and scalable to meet the Retailers current EDI testing and validation needs as well as all future needs.
4. Experience: With over 15 years EDI experience, B2BGateway.Net has seen almost every variation and deviation to the EDI standard and is a GS1 accredited solution provider.
5. Existing Testing Partners? No worries, B2BGateway.Net can work in conjunction with your existing partner to offer the Retailers trading partners greater choice.

For further information of B2BGateway’s outsourced EDI Testing and Validation solutions please call +1 (401) 491 9595 ext 5 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

TASC EDI Testing Portal for Retailers

B2BGateway.Net has expanded its offering in the Cloud with a new EDI Testing Portal (TASC) designed specifically for Retailers. The TASC (Testing And Supplier Compliance) portal offers On-Demand 24/7 EDI Testing & Validation Services for Large Format Retailers. As more and more firms become EDI compliant the pressure on trading partners to implement successful EDI testing, mapping and validation procedures can put a huge strain on any firms resources.

With B2BGateway.Net’s new TASC portal, however, firms can now access on-demand 24/7 EDI Testing and Validation services thus freeing up personnel to focus on their production environment. Advantages of TASC include:

• Cost, time and labor savings.
• Consistency and ease of use.
• The portal is fully customizable to meet the individual needs and documents of any particular client.
• 24/7 on demand testing with immediate feedback on results.
• Own label branding if required.

A brief video demo of the TASC portal for Retailers can be viewed here http://bit.ly/NVyISH  For further information please email our sales team at Sales@B2BGateway.Net or visit www.B2BGateway.Net