Business Situation
Procurement processes are characteristically dependent on manual steps to ensure product ordered is delivered per the customer’s requirements for quantity, delivery timing and so forth. TAI P&E relied heavily on phone calls and faxes to manage workflow, from obtaining requests for quotes from customers to verifying a freight forwarder’s receipt of an order for shipment to a plant. An Oracle-based system is used to complete the financial aspects of transactions. Additionally, complex U.S. export law compounded the amount of documentation and record-keeping requirements. It was also critical that the site was delivered in a very short time and in a way which incorporates a migration path to the .NET environment as TAI P&E adopts that platform in the future.

Solution
Avanade and TAI P&E worked together very closely to develop a solution comprising an extranet that would put the transactional backbone of procurement online, and an internal knowledge management system that would centralize critical documentation and resources and ensure employees in both U.S. locations continual access to the most up-to-date information.

Results
Process improvement

• Full utilization of current tools and technology

• Automated authorization

• Better management of customers and vendors

• Enhanced data analysis, visibility

• Higher user morale