Buyerplan Supplier Interaction is a web-based system, which allows the ‘instant’ exchange of information that is vital to the product development process between Buyers, Merchandisers and Suppliers worldwide. All information is entered once and exchanged, avoiding the re-keying into multiple documents that, according to AMR Research, exacerbates errors and greatly extends lead times.

Supplier Interaction allows information to be ‘published’ from the central Range Buyer system to Suppliers who then action the information sent, entering the data required and ‘submitting’ for approval. Once published and approved, key data is visible to all, leading to a significant reduction in e-mail, phone calls, spreadsheets and faxes.

Data is secure because the Supplier can only see published information and submissions must be approved before Range Buyer is updated. Approved forms automatically update critical path dates, again avoiding duplicated effort and ensuring accuracy of data. Communication between and within departments and locations can be significantly enhanced, as can control, decision-making and profitability.