Latest supplier collaboration platform from Ariba

Discount Management enables buyers and suppliers to optimise activities throughout the entire procure-to-pay process

Ariba, the leading spend management solutions provider, has announced the release of Ariba Supplier Network 44, the latest version of its industry-leading on-demand business collaboration platform.

Building on the robust capabilities of previous versions, the release features advanced discount management and RFX functionality that enables buyers and suppliers to enhance their business by better managing trading relationships and working capital.

As part of the upgraded Ariba Supplier Network, Ariba Discount Management enables buyers and suppliers to optimise activities throughout the entire procure-to-pay process and realise maximum value from their supply chain.

Businesses can also take advantage of a variety of supply chain financing tools that promote cost savings, including purchasing cards, early payment discounts, dynamic discounting and third-party supplier financing.

Ariba Discount Management allows customers to:.

* Optimise working capital and boost returns on short-term investments through self-funded early payment discounts.

* Improve working capital through term extensions with minimal impact on supply base.

* Increase days payable outstanding through third-party supply chain financing.

* Minimise supply chain risk through more predictable payments.

Benefits for suppliers include:.

* Maximising working capital through early payments.

* Minimise ambiguity in forecasting through more predictable payments.

* Shorten order-to-cash cycle.

Through enhanced public RFX functionality embedded in the latest release of Ariba Supplier Network, buyers and suppliers can also effectively streamline the time consuming process of identifying trading partners and business opportunities and drive process improvements that generate bottom-line results.

Robust technology delivered via the network for use with Ariba Buyer or Ariba Sourcing, the new functionality alllows buyers to publish RFX documents to a public site enabling registered and unregistered suppliers to respond to them in real time.

More than 150,000 suppliers registered on Ariba Supplier Network are automatically notified of events that fit their profile, and unregistered suppliers can quickly and easily search postings by commodity type, geographic location and buyer.

In addition to Ariba Discount Management and Public RFX capabilities, the latest version of Ariba Supplier Network contains a number of other enhancements designed to strengthen collaboration between buyers and suppliers and extend the value of spend management throughout the supply chain, including:.

* Greater integration with ERP systems - Buyers can link multiple ERP systems to a single Ariba Supplier Network account to streamline transaction management.

* Expanded Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment (EIPP) capabilities - Buyers and suppliers can digitally sign invoices and automatically archive them on a weekly or monthly basis.

* Invoice Quick Enablement - Buyers can quickly on-board suppliers who invoice them but do not typically receive a purchase order by automatically enabling them as soon as an invoice is received.

"More than simply managing transactions and costs, successful spend management is about responding quickly to changes in business and market conditions to maximise opportunities for growth," said Mike Arenth, VP, EMEA, Ariba.

"Spend management involves a community of users that extends beyond buyers and suppliers to include financial organisations and a variety of service providers," Arenth said.

"With the new features we've built into Ariba Supplier Network, we are enabling all of them to participate in the spend management process and realise the benefits that it delivers".

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