For electronic order processing and order management systems, TecAlliance is one of the leading providers in the international automotive aftermarket with its modular solutions such as Order or e-Invoicing. The data management specialist has now combined its individual order processing solutions into a comprehensive one. Bryan Marschall and Manfred Lechner, both Practice Leaders for Solution Management at TecAlliance, explain how parts manufacturers, dealers and workshops can benefit.
Why does TecAlliance now offer a comprehensive solution for the order-to-invoice process?
The new Order Manager makes it easier than ever to manage all order processes in the independent spare parts market. Our aim was to represent the all purchasing processes in one solution. Without leaving the Order Manager platform, the user can handle all aspects of order processing – including returns – effectively, easily and quickly via a portal.
What exactly does Order Manager include?
Through a central online portal, Order Manager provides access to all the TecAlliance process modules for the order-to-invoice process: these include order processing (Order), electronic invoicing (e-Invoicing), warranty and returns processing (Returns) as well as access to product and pricing information (Collaborative Managed Data).
Who benefits from the new solution?
Order Manager meets the needs of our target groups: parts manufacturers, parts traders and workshops. The most important benefits of the integrated solution for everyone are the cost savings and process simplification through automation and digitisation.
What are the advantages for the individual target groups?
With Order Manager, parts manufacturers can visualise their order-to-invoice processes digitally and use integrated and standardised communication channels to save time and money. Parts traders can see all the relevant product information, such as price or availability, at a glance. Transparent status information guarantees reliable order processing and permits rapid responses to their customers. Workshops can use Order Manager to fully manage their order processing, from purchasing to selling spare parts.
How exactly do I use Order Manager?
We offer different types of access: an online portal via the web or integration into an in-house ERP system; there is also a mobile app for fast and flexible product identification.
The online portal is very frequently used. The intuitive interface means that even new customers can place orders in just three steps. The individual business relation can be managed effortlessly with intuitive administration. An optimised journal gives an efficient overview of all previous orders and information on the status of order processing.
The online portal is complemented by the mobile app. Products it scans are automatically placed in the Order Manager shopping cart. At any time, products can be identified quickly and, above all, easily. The query or order is then placed via the Order Manager portal.
The main advantage of the portal is its scalability. This makes it straightforward to switch between different organisations, allows different shopping carts to be processed at once, and moves products into another shopping cart at the push of a button. This happens while remaining connected to the other modules and resources in the solution. Information from the TecDoc Catalogue and CMD (product information, prices and availability) can be accessed for use by e-Invoicing or for returns processing using the Returns module.
Which levels of integration does Order Manager offer for ERP systems?
Customers can choose among different levels of integration with their own ERP systems. The "Entry" level does not involve any technical ERP integration. The user carries out all the processes manually in the online portal, but he can actively enter his information in the ERP system. The "Classic" level is a largely asynchronous variant with partial integration into the ERP system; this means that certain information can be synchronised into the ERP system with a slight time delay. For example, if an invoice is drawn up in the in-house ERP system, it can be later sent promptly through e-Invoicing. The user can also make the entire product stock available and initiate the order against it; here an additional step is needed to transfer the order back to the ERP system.
The "Comfort" level involves full integration into the existing IT landscape through specially developed interfaces. This means, for example, that each order is entered immediately into the ERP, where it is processed automatically. The same applies to responses such as availability, invoice or delivery notification. Fully automating the order-to-invoice process in this way, including ERP integration, is technically more complex and time-consuming for the customer and supplier.
If I can't afford to implement the solution in-house or don't have any experience, who can I contact?
vertrieb@tecalliance.net for the first discussion with no commitment.