Insights

In their market overview Market Overview, ePurchasing And Contract Life-Cycle Management In 2011 to 2012, Forrester describes four forces that are keeping supplier networks dynamic and competitive. They talk a great deal of sense but they forgot the fifth force - the one that's going to make 2012 the year for supplier networks.

Again, we’re delighted to welcome Simon Shorthose, MD Readsoft UK,  as a guest contributor Many organisations are currently operating on Oracle Applications Release 12 or are planning to do so in the near future.  With Release 12, Oracle boasts over 2300 new features over Oracle 11i, with over 300 in Oracle Financials. The application has been geared towards enhanced support for shared services, increased operational efficiency and flexibility, faster and simpler period end processing and timely and simplified reporting. For the finance function, the requirement to eliminate inefficiencies in purchase to pay (P2P) and order to cash (O2C) processes in a central concern. They need better process visibility and compliance; better cycle time; and want to see continual cost reduction.

I wrote recently about Tradeshift’s new instant payment model. I was enthusiastic. I still am. But I had some misgivings – quite serious misgivings actually. The thing about taking a disruptive approach in any market place is that you have to be very sure of yourself. Not in an arrogant or conceited way. Sure of yourself in the sense that you are sure that you’re going in the right direction – sure that you have the right team and most important of all, sure you have the backing to survive what could be a difficult journey. Tradeshift are taking on more than the e-invoicing players. They’re taking on the banks too. They’re developing a new model that could change things and their competition aren’t going to take it lying down. My concern was that without some serious financial backing, Tradeshift are likely to go the way of many before them – pioneer, then disappear. But then I read this in the Wall Street Journal.