New momentum in electronic purchasing
Ordering office supplies quickly and without paperwork - no problem for SWU departments. The purchasing department has updated the system and now offers an improved version. This means that electrical installation items such as light switches can now also be ordered. 160,000 articles in this product group are currently listed online, divided into two catalogs from different suppliers that can be called up on the screen. However, it is not only the selection of goods on the "electronic marketplace" that has increased. "Usability has been further simplified thanks to the new, clearly structured interface," says Group Manager Jürgen Gessler
"Order approved". Giving the "workflow" further legs
No more filling out purchase requisitions. Study product catalogs on the screen and order at the click of a mouse. Confirm receipt of goods with a single click, as the goods are delivered directly to the office or workshop. No more signing and checking invoices, as confirmation of receipt of goods automatically triggers a credit to the supplier's account: Purchasing on the electronic platform saves time and, above all, process costs.
Before the introduction of e-procurement, the ordering process for catalog goods in particular often exceeded the unit price of the item by a factor of tens — for example, for ballpoint pens or screwdrivers.
DATAGROUP has replaced the initial application called "Utility Place" at SWU. Jürgen Gessler sees improvements in the approval process for orders in particular. "The customer receives the green light from his boss even faster".
By clicking on the "Order" button, the system automatically sends an e-mail to the responsible manager if the specified order limit is exceeded. A link in this e-mail takes the manager to the ordered item. If the "Approved" checkbox is then activated, the orderer immediately receives the corresponding feedback - and the order is sent electronically to the suppliers.
Full connection to SAP
The next advantage is that the system is fully integrated into the existing SAP system. This allows the ordering party to see at any time how much of their budget is still available for this type of order.
The inclusion of different product ranges in the electronic procurement system generally brings more transparency to the orders placed across SWU. In the past, Jürgen Gessler has observed "purchasing tourism" for items such as light switches, cable ties, cable ducts, light bulbs and the like: The specialist departments went from store to store, only to procure the right item afterwards anyway using the classic requisition system. "The solution has made this superfluous," says the Group Manager.
A product from Ulm
DATAGROUP's range of services includes a comprehensive suite of solutions and a team of employees who specialize in the development and implementation of e-business solutions. Benefit from this comprehensive expertise and talk to us today. There is a basic version. Individual "add-ons" provide users with a customized solution - just like SWU.
Franz Seibl, the system administrator responsible for e-procurement at SWU, draws a positive interim balance: "The solution has been extremely stable since its introduction. Acceptance among users is very good". German companies have only been using functional e-procurement systems for around 15 years. SWU was one of the first energy suppliers to introduce such a system.
"The solution has been extremely stable since its introduction. Acceptance among users is very good"
About SWU
SWU Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm GmbH offers a wide range of products and comprehensive services in the areas of energy, grids, drinking water, telecommunications and mobility in the city and surrounding area. The SWU Group sees itself as a modern service provider. Sustainability, secure supply, customer service and reliability are at the top of the scale of values. In addition to the holding company, the SWU Group consists of five operationally independent companies: SWU Energie, Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm Netze, SWU Verkehr, SWUmobil and SWU TeleNet.
