eCOM’s Technical Solutions Director, Mr. Bryce Macdonald was invited by IBM to speak  at the Supply Value Chain Forum last June 21, 2013. The event was hosted by the Sing Tao Magazine Group and took place in the Grand Ballroom of the Conrad Hong Kong hotel. Participants were treated to the IBM Smarter Value Chain Approach that helps the entire supply chain parties starting from manufacturers, logistics, distributors and retail explore and implement the best collaborative way in streamlining the business model and achieve new sources of strategic, operational, and financial value. The approach also provides a unique platform to gather industry practitioners to share and exchange viewpoints on how to tackle their business challenges. 

       Mr. Macdonald spoke alongside IBM’s Retail Senior Solution Specialist, Mr. William Ng, on the topic of “Enabling Supply Chain Visibility”, highlighting the importance of utilizing Business-to-Business Integration (B2Bi) and Manage File Transfer (MFT) solutions as the foundation in creating a true Information Logistics Platform that supports Information Logistics and Business Process Harmonization. 

       Information Logistics is critical to ensure that the data related to the supply chain is exchanged between the Service Providers in parallel with the physical goods movements to fully support Supply Chain Visibility and Optimization. Alternately, Business Process Harmonization allows Service Providers to maintain their individuality and market differentiators, but conform to common business practices to simplify B2B interactions and quickly integrate with key business partners. 

       Case studies from TTI and Auchan were also presented to exemplify how critical and beneficial Information Logistics is to an organization. Both organizations utilize IBM B2B Sterling Integrator (B2Bi) and are further enhanced by eCOM’s B2B Framework, a multi-industry best-practices component built within IBM B2Bi.

       eCOM offers B2Bi and MFT solutions through IBM’s powerful B2B Integration suite: IBM B2B Sterling Integrator, IBM Sterling File Gateway, IBM Sterling Control Center, and IBM Connect:Direct. It also offers Supply Chain optimization solutions through IBM ILOG Supply Chain Optimization and IBM Sterling Order Management System (OMS).

 

Smarter Value Chain Forum Reception Area

 

eCOM’s Mr. Macdonald discusses importance of Business-to-Business Integration (B2Bi)

 

IBM’s Mr. Ng speaks about enabling supply chain visibility