Category Archives: Technology

It’s 24/7 for Robbie and the Coupa Factory, Part III

In Part I we announced that Coupa has been coding up a storm since we last checked in on them last summer (in Robbie and the Coupa Factory), completing Release 9 with major enhancements in expense management, invoice management, and catalog management; the android app; and the first version of their new sourcing module as well as some major improvements to their cart that will show up in release 10 later this quarter. In Part II, we discussed the major improvements in Release 9 around expense management, invoicing, and catalog management. Today we will discuss the new e-Sourcing module and how it makes Coupa one of the first providers to offer an integrated end-to-end e-Sourcing and e-Procurement solution.

The new Sourcing Module is e-Sourcing 1.0. RFPs, RFQs, RFIs, basic reverse e-Auctions, and basic e-Sourcing project management form the foundations of the new suite, which, to be honest, is not much more than you’d find in any e-Sourcing suite on the market, including the free WhyAbe solution available from SourceOne, but that’s not the point. The point is that the inclusion of this module in the Coupa platform makes Coupa, as far as SI can tell, the first Supply Management provider based in North America with an integrated end-to-end Sourcing and Procurement platform. SI has been saying for years that It’s Sourcing AND Procurement and that the only way to truly revolutionize Supply Management is to have one integrated end-to-end platform, and with Coupa’s current offering, with the exception of Decision Optimization (which is only critical for high(er)-dollar (complex) spend in an average organization just starting their e-Sourcing journey), the platform has the foundations of the remaining four stages of e-Sourcing and nine stages of e-Procurement. Some applications, like Spend Analysis, Contract Management, and Tax Reclamation have a ways to go (as tax codes outside North America can get quite complex), but the point is that there is a foundation that allows the entire process to be e-Managed. End-to-end projects can be created that follow the process from cradle (the initial RFI) to grave (when the final order is shipped, received, invoiced, reconciled, paid, and added to the Spend Under Management database for analysis).

Moreover, the entire process can be made available to every user of the platform. While complex sourcing events need to be driven by senior buyers, there is no reason that simple events for simple commodities or services needed by only one department can’t be driven by a senior person in that department, under the supervision of the appropriate Manager or Director. Why should Supply Management oversee every single sourcing event for temporary labour for a system implementation? If there are approved suppliers, approved budgets, and known requirements, there is no reason that a domain expert can’t drive the project with the help of Supply Management, if required. And if the spend for these one-time projects exceeds a threshold, which will be easily detected if budgets are exceeded or reports show significant spend in a given category, then the category can be the next Supply Management sourcing opportunity.

The sourcing module is as easy to use as the rest of the platform, and sourcing events can be created just as quickly as requisitions can be created. RFXs can have as little or as much content as is required; one or more questionnaires can be attached to get information about finances, supplier capabilities, insurance, Corporate Social Responsibility, etc.; an e-Auction can be triggered from an RFX (and initial bids imported); an award can be pushed into the contract management system and the catalog populated; requisitions can be created against the budget associated with the contract and the catalog items; purchase orders can be created on requisition approval; good receipts can be accepted and tracked against requisitions; invoices can be automatically correlated with the purchase orders; and payment approvals can be automatically submitted to your e-Payment system. It’s end-to-end automation of the tactical process, freeing you up for the strategic work.

It’s a great step in the right direction. While Coupa‘s e-Sourcing suite is still at least two versions behind what is being offered by the large e-Sourcing suppliers, it’s the perfect solution for a mid-size organization that doesn’t have a sourcing solution or a current Coupa customer that doesn’t have a widely used sourcing platform due to cost or personnel restrictions. It’s a step in the right direction, and one that is sure to keep the big sourcing providers on their toes, as the big sourcing providers will have to keep innovating to keep two steps ahead of this fast-moving SaaS company.

It’s 24/7 for Robbie and the Coupa Factory, Part II

In Part I we announced that Coupa has been coding up a storm since we last checked in on them last summer (in Robbie and the Coupa Factory), completing Release 9 with major enhancements in expense management, invoice management, and catalog management; the android app; and the first version of their new sourcing module as well as some major improvements to their cart that will show up in release 10 later this quarter. Today, we will discuss the major improvements in Release 9 around expense management, invoicing, and catalog management.

The major changes in Expense Management focus around rapid entry and ease-of-use. Designed to work with their Mobile Expense Reporting app for iOS and Android, the goal is to make it as easy as possible for a user to:

capture their expenses with easy line item entry,
submit their expenses into the system with one button submit,
get a scanned copy of their receipt into the system by a single click with the smart phone camera, and
get an approval, rejection, or hold for further information by an approver who can also approve, reject, or hold on the go.

In addition, the expense module makes it easy for an approver to:

see expenses by day as the system can automatically itemize multi-day expenses like hotel bills and compute the average cost per day,
see expenses against budgets and benchmarks to see if a user is spending more or less than the company budget and/or industry average, and
stop fraud in its tracks as the expense report audit feature automatically detects missing receipts and/or line items, expenses over category maximums, expense similarity across expense reports, and audit score history.

Catalog Management has also been improved as well, with a big focus on usability and flexibility, with the most significant improvements in the free-form request capability. The reality is that no matter how many vendor catalogs you integrate with, you’re never going to be able to buy everything out of a catalog. Temporary labour, event catering, moving services, etc. just aren’t in your Staples or CDW punch-out. However, you still need to get all external spend flowing through the e-Procurement solution if you ever hope to get that Spend Under Management, widen the funnel, and increase the contribution you make Straight to the Bottom Line.

If the service, or product, you need is not in the catalog, it’s easy to create a requisition and route it to the appropriate manager for approval. All a user needs to do is define the product or service required (using a free-form description if necessary) and any additional information that is known, such as price (range), need by date, (preferred) payment terms, (preferred) supplier(s), etc. and the request is routed to the appropriate approver in the appropriate department, and, if necessary, up the approval chain. In addition, if a match is made on the free form text, the product or service recommendations are automatically displayed. Also, Coupa has built in the ability to do dynamic real-time comparisons on multiple items brought up during a search. A user just has to select / de-select the products or services of interest and they are compared, in a grid-like manner, on all attributes defined for the product or service of interest.

This takes us to invoicing, which is where the most significant improvements to the existing platform occurred. Coupa has also realized that e-Procurement doesn’t deliver savings unless the end-to-end Procurement cycle is automated. In Procurement, a significant amount of the time is spent entering, reconciling, and approving invoices. Savings come from automating the entry, reconciliation, and approval of invoices that match purchase orders which have been appropriately approved. So, in addition to the XML and EDI submission options, the Coupa Supplier Network, and the ability to send scanned invoices through 3^rd party OCR networks, Coupa has created a new tab-based quick entry invoice module that can be used by supplier AR clerks and buyer AP clerks to quickly create an invoice using the tab-based entry system that finance people are accustomed to. Plus, the system supports full invoice matching and exception handling at the line item level. If something doesn’t match, an exception is generated and an alert is displayed to the appropriate approver who can review the alert, and depending on the nature of the exception, either approve (if it was an approved cost increase), send it back for more information (if a new item appears), or reject it (if the quantities, etc. don’t match). As per our recent piece on Points to Ponder when People are Pushing Off Procurement Platforms, it has to be automated, it has to be usable, and it has to work. And it does.

Come back Monday for our next post where we’ll cover the new Sourcing Module, which is the most significant new addition to the Coupa platform in a number of years.

It Took 40 Years, but BPOs (Bank Payment Obligations) are now Truly SWIFT!

SWIFT, formerly known as the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications, and a global provider of secure financial messaging services, turned 40 on May 3 of this year, and that’s noteworthy on it’s own as this tells us that we’ve only been thinking about electronic financial transactions on a global scale for 40 years, but that’s not the most important piece of news to come out of SWIFT, which processes 90% of traditional global trade transactions, this year.

The most significant piece of news to come out of SWIFT this year, and this decade, is the fact two weeks later on May 17, two months ago, the electronic Bank Payment Obligation (BPO) for an open account transaction became an official financial instrument under the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) Uniform Rules for Bank payment Obligation (URBPO). The URBPO, which is an element in the electronic matching of open account trade data, and which utilizes the ISO 20022 messaging standards, provides an irrevocable payment guarantee in an automated environment and enables banks to offer flexible risk mitigation and financing services across the supply chain to their corporate customers.

As defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration in their Trade Finance Guide, an open account transaction, which is the preferred transaction type by most North American and European multi-nationals, is a sale where the goods are shipped and delivered before payment is due. This option, which is often the most advantageous to the importing buyer, is often the most disadvantageous to the exporting supplier, as they will have difficulty getting financing from their bank to finance the production and shipment of the goods until they are paid by the buyer without proof that they will be paid. That’s why many suppliers will insist on a Letter of Creditworthiness from the buyer’s bank, which will often need to be provided direct to the supplier’s bank. This paperwork takes time, especially since it has to flow through banks, slows down trade, and aggravates buyers who need to move fast to keep up with constantly changing customer demand. That’s why they insist on open accounts, even though the supplier’s bank may not accept them because the buyer, or the buyer’s bank, isn’t known (well enough) to the supplier’s bank, which is fair.

This is a situation that, theoretically, could be easily corrected with an electronic replacement for a letter of credit, that could move at the speed of light down a fiber cable, as the buyer’s bank, which can see the buyer’s ability to pay, can immediately send the supplier’s bank an electronic Bank Payment Obligation that the bank will pay when the goods are shipped and adequate proof has been provided. The supplier’s bank could then advance the supplier as it has a trustworthy bank obligation, and not just a copy of a purchase order (PO), from the buyer’s bank that it can rely on. And now that we have the ICC URBPO, this is finally a reality. And if you’re a multi-national, it’s a reality that’s at your fingertips!

All that is required to create a BPO is a purchase order and an acceptance by the supplier. All that is required to complete the BPO is a commercial invoice and acceptance by the buyer. No other documents are required.

The process is as follows, provided the buyer has an open account with a bank on the SWIFT network that is, or soon will be, URBPO enabled:

the buyer sends their PO to their bank and requests a BPO be sent to the supplier’s bank
the buyer’s bank delivers the BPO through the TSU (Trade Services Utility) operated by SWIFT to the supplier’s bank
the supplier’s bank delivers the PO to the supplier
the supplier accepts the PO and sends confirmation to their bank
the supplier’s bank delivers the confirmation to the buyer’s bank

and, voila, a valid BPO, which is irrevocable once all conditions are met, has been created. Once the terms of the PO have been completed in full,

the supplier informs their bank and provides the commercial invoice
the supplier’s bank informs the buyer’s bank that the terms have been completed
the buyer’s bank asks for confirmation from the buyer
the buyer confirms completion

and the supplier is paid! It’s that easy.

Since only banks have access to the TSU, it’s likely that you’ll probably still have to use e-paper to communicate with your bank if you’re a small or mid-size operation, but if you’re a large multi-national, you can work with an approved vendor (of which there are at least 6 and more in the process of being certified) to integrate your finance system into the bank’s SWIFT system and if you have an open account with the right permissions, automatically create BPOs within your transaction limit (and seamlessly submit requests for approval and conveyance with the click of a mouse), just as easy as you can do ACH payments and wires today with advanced business banking solutions from the major banks.

Of course, it goes without saying that you have to be a client of either the 6 banks that are currently live, the 10 banks that have implemented the capability and that are in the process of implementing their big clients, or the 50 banks that are adding the capability, but if you’re not, and you’re a major player in international trade, maybe you should be! e-Invoicing was e-Procurement 1.0. e-Payment was e-Procurement 2.0. But e-BPO/TSU is e-Procurement 3.0, and if you want to get to the next level, you have to get there.

Nipendo: Bringing O2P and P2P to the Mainstream

Nipendo, which recently secured $8 Million in funding, a provider of order-to-payment automation software, recently released a new version of its order-to-payment (O2P) platform that includes automated rules-based end-to-end invoice reconciliation. Billing itself as the Supplier Cloud^* solution, Nipendo has done an excellent job of making seamless supplier connectivity a reality for its customers.

By integrating with a number of platforms, providing a supplier portal, and by offering a print package that suppliers can download and install as a print driver on their PCs to print invoices to the Nipendo solution, Nipendo makes it easy for suppliers to e-invoice buyers without having to do any sort of complex integration with yet another platform. This is a powerful feature.

But what is really great about the Nipendo platform is the fact that they took three years to build a good understanding of customer fears as well as customer needs and built a solution that not only does what it says it does, but also addresses the main customer fear points, as outlined in our last post on points to ponder when people are pushing off procurement platforms.

Reality #5: It does save money.
A proper implementation of the Nipendo platform automates the full O2P/P2P (Procure-to-Pay) lifecycle, including invoice matching, verification, and payment subject to user-defined rules, allowing O2P/P2P to be managed on an exceptions-only basis. Once supplier onboarding is complete, all tedious tactical no-value-add manual processing or review time is required unless there is an exception, which allows 80%+ of the invoices and payments to just flow. This eliminates 80% of valueless tactical manpower effort, which can be redeployed to more strategic work, as well as all of the associated costs of sending, receiving, processing, and filing paper.

Reality #4: It does integrate.
Nipendo integrates with all of the major ERP vendors — including SAP (Business One), Oracle, Microsoft Dynamix, Quickbooks Enterprise, and Sage; integrates with a number of third party supply management platforms — including IBM Cognos, Synertrade, BuyerQuest, Global Factoring, and TIS; has it’s own Print to Cloud solution (which, thank your deity, does not actually print to the cloud but allows a supplier to submit their invoice to the Nipendo platform in a common data format); and has a number of third party technology partners that can build you an integration point if you don’t have one. Nipendo realizes that in order to truly deliver O2P/P2P savings, you had to automate the entire process, which means automating it for ALL parties, which means you have to integrate with all parties and the platforms they use, and they have spent years building a multitude of integration points.

Reality #3: It will work for you – it has a customizable workflow.
You can define the exact O2P/P2P process that you use, and precisely how complex each step is. For example, where purchase orders are concerned, you can define each status and step, the approval(s) level(s) required, whether you want to be notified of viewings/approvals, actions the vendor can take, information required by the vendor for each action (comments, reasons for rejections or requests for corrections or clarifications, etc.), required attachments (such as insurance certificates, certifications, etc.), the validations executed against invoices, the variations allowed, rules for automated approval, etc. The system can be setup to match your current organizational workflow precisely.

Reality #2: Suppliers can use it. They can choose among a number of low effort solutions!
In addition to the ERP integrations, third party platform integrations, the Print to Cloud utility, and options for custom integration from a third party, the supplier also has the option to use a good old-fashioned web portal. The supplier can use the platform.

Reality #1: The solution is designed for efficiency. Not job elimination.

It’s true that if the primary reason for O2P/P2P automation is that you just want to outsource the function (using BPO – business process outsourcing) and make sure that the third party organization is actually capable of delivering cost savings (by way of reduced manpower), then jobs will be eliminated. But if the driver for paperless O2P/P2P automation is that your Procurement and Supply Management personnel are spending too much time on costly tactical activities and not value-add strategic activities, the solution will end up providing a much greater contribution to the organizational bottom line as your Procurement and Supply Management personnel will be able to focus on getting more spend under management (and through the system), which will identify cost reductions in addition to process savings.

With the recent release of their automated end-to-end invoice reconciliation functionality, Nipendo enables true end-to-end O2P/P2P process automation in an exception driven fashion. This is where O2P/P2P needs to be. Manual review of invoices adds no value, and manual payments when everything matches approved purchase orders adds no value either. Value is in the identification of issues; the creation of corrective action plans; the implementation of efficiency, service, and product improvements; and in the identification of areas for cost avoidance. Pushing paper accomplishes nothing.

^* Presumably because, even though Nipendo knows it’s not true, too many people still think that the cloud is a fluffy magic box (which it is not).

Vendor Day Reprise!

Editor’s Note: This post was last updated on June 6, 2016.

It’s been a few years since SI last ran a vendor day post. Given that it will soon be budget request time, SI has decided to update its vendor post index so that you will have time to do some research on potential solutions to your problems from vendors who can potentially supply those solutions. This will allow you to make budget requests with strong supporting arguments. The hope is that it will allow you to quickly and easily find independent, (mostly) objective, third-party analysis of your favorite vendors. Enjoy!

Master Vendor Index:

AECsoft (SciQuest)

Austin Tetra (Equifax)

b-pack

B2B Connex

Basware

BIQ (Opera Solutions)

CombineNet (SciQuest)

Compiere

Co-exprise (DirectWorks)

CVM Solutions(Kroll)

Enporion (GEP)

i2 (JDA)

Ketera (Rearden Commerce)

MarketMaker4 (Xchanging)

MCA Solutions (Servigistics)

Nextance (Versata)

Rearden Commerce (Deem)

Resilinc

RiverLogic

Rapt (Microsoft)

Rollstream (GXS)

Servigistics (PTC)

The Receivables Exchange

ThomasNet

Trade Extensions

TradeCard (GT Nexus)

Transcepta

TrueDemand (Acosta)

UGS (Siemens PLM)

Upside Software (SciQuest)

Vendor Post Index:

Vendor	Sourcing Innovation	Solution(s)
AECsoft (SciQuest)	* SIM-Powered e-Negotiation, Part I * SIM-Powered e-Negotiation, Part II	* e-Sourcing* SIM: Supplier Information Management* Contract Management * Spend Analysis
Airclic	* 3PLs, Make Your Deliveries Click	* Logistics* SaaS* Transportation Management
Akoya	* Ahoya! * Design Cost Out	* Cost Analytics
Algorhythm	* The Optimization Rhythm in India * Still Pounding Out the Optimization Rhythm in India (Part I) * Still Pounding Out the Optimization Rhythm in India (Part II)	* Supply Chain Optimization* Inventory/Warehouse Optimization* Distribution Network Optimization * Manufacturing/Production Planning Optimization
Apriori	* Introduction * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour * aPriori, rationi viam ad sumptus! Caput I * aPriori, rationi viam ad sumptus! Caput II	* Cost Analytics* Process Models & CAD Integration
Apptio	* Helping you with your IT Portfolio	* IT Software Management
Aptium Global	* An Emerging Spend Powerhouse	* Consulting: Direct Materials Sourcing
Aravo	* The Arrival * Supplier Information Management * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour	* SIM: Supplier Information Management
Archstone (The Hackett Group)	* Actualization	* Consulting: Supply Chain Operations* Consulting: Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
Arena	* Introduction * Taking PLM Deep Into the Supply Chain Part I * Taking PLM Deep Into the Supply Chain Part II	* PIM: Product Information Management
Ariba	* Ariba + Orbian = ?	* e-Sourcing* e-Procurement* e-Payment * Spend Visibility * Supplier Network * Supplier Management
Austin Tetra (Equifax)	* More Than Just Supplier Master Data * Is This The Year Austin Tetra Breaks Out?	* Supplier Data Management* Spend Management
b-pack	* Packing It In for A Brave New World, Part I * Packing It In for A Brave New World, Part II * Packing It In for a Brave New World, Part III * Packing It In for A Brave New World, Part IV * Taking Root in Their Brave New World, Part I * Taking Root in Their Brave New World, Part II * Taking Root in Their Brave New World, Part III	* e-Procurement* e-Sourcing* P2P
B2B Connex	* e-Document Management * Automating the End-to-End Purchasing Process * Connecting Companies the World Over, Part I * Connecting Companies the World Over, Part II	* e-Procurement* e-Document Management
Basware	* P2P for the Global “E” * P2P for the Global “E”, Part II * P2P for the Global “E”, Part III * P2P for the Global “E”, Part IV	* e-Procurement* (Supply Chain) Finance* Commerce Network
BIQ (Opera Solutions)*	Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour	Spend Analysis
BizNet	* Perform-IS	* Supplier Performance Management
BizSlate	* An ERP for the Small to Mid-Size Distributor * Releases its ERP for Mid-Sized Distributors and Retailers to the Masses * They’re Bringing Sexy Back … to ERP * How They’re Bringing Sexy Back … to ERP, Part I * How They’re Bringing Sexy Back … to ERP, Part II	* ERP* Inventory Management
Blinco Systems	* Third Wave	* GCM: Global Commerce Management
BravoSolution	* Optimizes Its Way Onto the doctor‘s Short List* Analysis and Supplier Performance Management * High Definition Sourcing – BravoSolution’s Next Generation Sourcing Paradigm * Mastering High Definition Sourcing with the Business Centre * Business Centre Category Sourcing Solution Takes e-Sourcing to a New Level * Making Spend Analysis More Useful to the Average Supply Management Professional, Part I * Making Spend Analysis More Useful to the Average Supply Management Professional, Part II * Business Center 2.0 – A Complete Category Solution for Transportation, MRO, Temporary Labour, GPO Category Management, and Retail: Part I * Bravo Business Center 2.0 – A Complete Category Solution for MRO: Part II.1 * Bravo Business Center 2.0 – A Complete Category Solution for MRO: Part II.2 * Bravo Business Center 2.0 – A Complete Category Solution for Retail: Part III	* e-Sourcing* e-Procurement
BuyTruckload	* Need a Truck? BuyTruckLoad.com!	* Freight* 3PL
Cambrian House	* Crowdsourced Software	* Software Development
Cap Gemini IBX	* Closing the Source to Pay Loop	* SaaS Source to Pay Platform
cBoxBid	* See Box, c Box Bid	* Marketplace for Boxes
Claritum	* Medicine for the Procurement Soul, Part I * Medicine for the Procurement Soul, Part II	* End-to-End Tail Spend Management
Claro	* Clarity * Crystal Customs * Crown Jewels	* Consulting: Spend Analysis* Consulting: Strategic Sourcing & Procurement* Consulting: Spend Management * Consulting: SRM (Supplier Relationship Management)
Co-exprise (DirectWorks)	* Kick Ass Direct PLM Sourcing, Part I * Kick Ass Direct PLM Sourcing, Part II * Sourcing Lifecycle Management II: A New Entrant * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour	* PLM e-Sourcing* e-Marketplace
Combinenet	* Communique I: Beginnings * Communique II: Comparisons * Communique III: Differences * Communique IV: BoB’s Unique Talents * Communique V: Expressive Bidding * Communique VII: BoB’s Power Source * Communique VIII: Energy!	* Decision Optimization
Compiere (Consona)	* Think Different!	* ERP
Coupa	* Procurement Independence * Cabana Cafe Open For Business * Charges Ahead * More than Coupacetic * It’s … It’s … It’s Coupasonic! * The Sunflower Starts to Blossom * Coupa + Amazon EC2 = Energized Procurement! * Fill Your Gas Tank With e-Procurement * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour * QuickDraw Procurement with QuickStart * Has Coupa Settled on a Coupe? Part I * Has Coupa Settled on a Coupe? Part II * Has Coupa Settled on a Coupe? Part III * Maybe Coupa Should Build a Coupe * Robbie and the Coupa Factory * It’s 24/7 for Robbie and the Coupa Factory, Part I * It’s 24/7 for Robbie and the Coupa Factory, Part II * It’s 24/7 for Robbie and the Coupa Factory, Part III	* e-Procurement
CVM Solutions (Kroll)	* Not Just About Supplier Diversity Anymore!	* Spend Analysis* SRM: Supplier Relationship Management
D&B	* Not Just for Performance Anymore	* Market Intelligence* Supplier Data Management* Risk Management
Decideware	* Agency Performance Management Experts * An End-to-End Agency Lifecycle Management Solution Part I * An End-to-End Agency Lifecycle Management Solution Part II * An End-to-End Agency Lifecycle Management Solution Part III * Taking Agency Expense Management to the Next Level	* Supplier Performance Management* Scope of Work / Project Management
Denali	* Delivers!	* Consulting: Strategic Sourcing & Procurement* Staffing & Recruiting* Market Intelligence
Determine	* Determined to conquer b-pack’s Brave New World, Part I * Determined to conquer b-pack’s Brave New World, Part II	* SaaS Source-to-Pay
DropShip Commerce	* Bringing Drop-Shipping and e-Commerce Enablement to the Distributor and Retailer Masses	* e-Commerce* Distribution* Retail
E2Open	* Open Up Your Supply Chain with E2Open	* Supply Management* Supply Chain Visibility* Demand Management * Analytics
EC Sourcing	* Easy and Affordable Sourcing * Sometimes Old-School Works Just Fine: An EC Sourcing RFP Case Study	* e-Sourcing Platform* Corrective Action Management* Strategic Sourcing Consulting in CPG, Retail, and related verticals
EcoVadis	* An Exploration * Ecovating the Globe * Powered E-TASC: A Great Solution for ICT Supply Chain Sustainability	* SaaS Sustainability Solution
Enporion	* Don’t Overlook at the Emporium	* Catalog Management* e-Procurement* e-RFX & e-Auction * Contract Management * Supplier Management
FieldGlass	* Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour * Determined To Take Off In the Tens * Adapting to Every Contingency, Part I * Adapting to Every Contingency, Part II * Adapting to Every Contingency, Part III	* Contingent Labor Solution
FreightOS	* Helping to Bring Freight Into the Modern Era * Flippin’ Freight Quotes	* Logistics* e-Quoting
FusionOps	* Supply Chain Intelligence in the Cloud	* Supply Chain Intelligence
Global Data Mining	* Don’t Underestimate Trade Compliance * It’s Time To Get Your Trade Data In Order * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour	* GCM: Global Commerce Management
GoTradeLive	* A LinkedIn eBay on Steroids for Small Business Procurement to Groupon To.	* online Marketplace
Head2Head	* For the Supply Chain Nail	* Staffing & Recruiting
HICX	* Shiny New Pair of Shoes, Part I * Shiny New Pair of Shoes, Part II * Shiny New Pair of Shoes, Part III * HI-C to the X for SXM	* SRM* MDM
Hiperos	* Is It Time To Get Hip? * Stay Hip With the Program * It’s So Hip To Be Square with 3^rd Party Management! Part I * It’s So Hip To Be Square with 3^rd Party Management! Part II	* Extended Enterprise Management* 3^rd Party Management
i2 (JDA)	* New and Improved * i2 – Still Truckin’	* Spend Visibility
Iasta	* Noteworthy * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour * Smart Source-Style! Part I. * Smart Source-Style! Part II.	* Spend Analysis* e-Sourcing* Decision Optimization * Contract Management
Import Genius	* Are you an Import Genius?	* US Import & Export Data
Informance	* Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence * MPM in Disguise	* Manufacturing Performance Management
Integration Point	* Another Way to Get Your Trade Data in Order * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour * Trade Compliance to a New Level	* Trade Data Management* Compliance Solutions
Intengo	* Doing the e-Sourcing Tango in Turkey * Mastering the e-Procurement Tango in Turkey	* e-Sourcing* e-Procurement
Intesource	* A Strong Sourcing Solution for Mid-Market Supply Management	* e-Sourcing
IQ Navigator	* IQ-Based Navigation of Contingent Labour Sourcing * Navigating You Through Statement of Work Creation	* Contingent Labour Management* Statement-of-Work
iValua	* End-to-End Sourcing and Procurement, Part I * End-to-End Sourcing and Procurement, Part II * Proving Their Mettle with Source to Settle, Part I * Proving Their Mettle with Source to Settle, Part II * Proving Their Mettle with Source to Settle, Part III * Proving Their Mettle with Source to Settle, Part IV	* e-Sourcing* e-Procurement
JackalopeJobs	* 3 Questions for JobSeekers in the Supply Chain Space	* Social Job Search* Semantic Job Search
Keelvar	* Strange Name. Uncommon Results. * Are They Right for You. * An Optimization Backed Sourcing Platform * The Little Engine that Could	* optimization-backed SaaS strategic sourcing platform* … with auctions* … with RFX
Ketera (Rearden Commerce)	* A Conversation * Catching Up With * There’s More than Connect * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour * For an Alternative to the Ariba Supplier Network, Don’t Overlook Ketera	* Spend Analysis* Contract Management* Supplier Network * e-Procurement * Catalog Management
Kinaxis	* Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour * A New Paradigm for Real-Time Supply Chain Management, Part I * A New Paradigm for Real-Time Supply Chain Management, Part II * A New Paradigm for Real-Time Supply Chain Management, Part III	* Service Management* Supply Chain Management* Demand Management * Inventory Management * Supply Chain Design * Supply Chain Optimization
Kwipped	* Simplifying Rentals for Your Business Needs	* business rentals
Lavante	* Connect – Streamlined Supplier Self Management * The Newest Contestent in the SIM Arena * Recovery – A Risk Free Way to Seque into SIM	* Recovery Management* Supplier Information Management
LeanLinking	* The Newest Contender in the SRM Arena	* SRM
LogicSource	* OneMarket – A Solution for Sourcing Projects	* Sourcing Project Management
MarketDojo	* Walk Your Own Way * Plan Your Own Path	* SaaS Strategic Sourcing Platform
MarketMaker4 (Servigistics)	* The Mid-Market’s Market Making Mezzanine * A Great Foundation for Successful Sourcing in the Mid-Market	* e-Auctions* e-Sourcing* Market Intelligence * Category Consulting
MCA Solutions (Servigistics)	* A Strategic Service Parts Management Platform * Bringing the Aftermarket Forward, Part I * Bringing the Aftermarket Forward, Part II	* Strategic Service Parts Management* Aftermarket Management
MFG.com	* A Community in the Making * MFGX.com – Exploding onto the Scene * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour	* e-RFX* Supplier Discovery
Nextance (Versata)	* Next Generation Contract Management	* Contract Management
NineSigma	* The Open Innovation Mission	* Open Innovation
Nipendo	* Bringing O2P and P2P to the Mainstream * Streamlined Invoice Management for Even the Largest Organization	* e-Invoice Automation and Management* SaaS e-Procurement
Oracle	* No Advanced Sourcing	* e-Sourcing* e-Procurement
Orbian	* Ariba + Orbian = ?	* SCF: Supply Chain Finance* e-Payment
Per Angusta	* Purchasing CRM	* Sourcing and Procurement CRM
Power Advocate	* Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour	* Strategic Sourcing* Category & Market Intelligence* Spend Analysis … for the Energy Industry
Prime Revenue	* Priming Your Financial Supply Chain for Success, Part I * Priming Your Financial Supply Chain for Success, Part II	* Supply Chain Finance* Working Capital Optimization
Protiviti	* Manage Risk, Reap Reward	* Consulting: Risk Management
Provade	* Outsourcing, Part I * Outsourcing, Part II	* Outsourced Procurement* Workforce Management
Rapt (Microsoft)	* Sometimes It’s Okay To Get Rapt Up In Revenue * Rapt Up In Revenue	* Price Optimization
Rearden Commerce	* Unique Solution For Travel Procurement	* Personal Travel Assistant* e-Marketplace: Travel* Expense Management
Resilinc	* Do You Know What’s At Risk? Resilinc Does! * Will Resilinc Resonate With Your Supply Chain?	* Supply Chain Visibility* Supply Chain Monitoring* Supply Chain Resiliency
RiverLogic	* Bringing Optimization to the Enterprise	* integrated business planning* S&OP Solutions * optimization-backed prescriptive analytics
Rollstream (GXS)	* Roll Out to Your Community * Steamroll Your Compliance Problems into Submission * Rolling Up Resolutions with RollStream	* ECM: Enterprise Community Management
Rosslyn Analytics	* Taking Analytics-Based Insights to the Masses * A Spend Visibility Platform the Masses will Rally Around	* Spend Analytics* Spend Visibility
SAP	* Sapphire Sensation	* SCM: Supply Chain Management
ScoutRFP	* Ready to Leave the Procurement Dark Ages? Part I * Ready to Leave the Procurement Dark Ages? Part II	* RFX* e-Auctions* SRM * Savings Tracking
Servigistics (PTC)	* Tomorrow’s Strategic Service Management Today * Workforce Management: A Servigistics Approach * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour	* Service Management
ShortList.co	* Your Shortlist for Agency & Services Management	* Agency Management
Sorcity	* The Sorcerers	* e-RFX* e-Auction
SourceMap	* Striving to Bring Supply Chain Visibility to the Masses	* Supply Chain Visibility* Supply Chain Risk Management
SourceOne	* Scores a Grand Slam with WhyAbe * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour	* Stragic Sourcing & Procurement Consulting* SaaS Sourcing Tools
SpendHQ	* A New Year is Upon Us – Do You Have Your SpendHQ Ready to Go, Part I * A New Year is Upon Us – Do You Have Your SpendHQ Ready to Go, Part II * A New Year is Upon Us – Do You Have Your SpendHQ Ready to Go, Part III * A New Year is Upon Us – Do You Have Your SpendHQ Ready to Go, Part IV	* Spend Analysis* Category Consulting
State of Flux	* Stabilize Your State of Flux, Part I * Stabilize Your State of Flux, Part II * Stabilize Your State of Flux, Part III * Treatment for Your SRM Ailments, Part I * Treatment for Your SRM Ailments, Part II * Treatment for Your SRM Ailments, Part III * Treatment for Your SRM Ailments, Part IV * Treatment for Your SRM Ailments, Part V * Treatment for Your SRM Ailments, Part VI * Treatment for Your SRM Ailments, Part VII	* SRM platform
SupplierSoft	* Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour * Supplier Process Management	* Supplier Information Management* Compliance Management* Supplier Audit Management
SWIFT	* It Took 40 Years But Bank Payment Obligations are Now Truly SWIFT	* BPO* Supply Chain Finance
The Receivables Exchange	* Become a Financial Superstar	* Receivables Financing
ThomasNet	* Taking Sourcing to the Masses * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour	* Supplier Registry* On-line Procurement Tools
Trade Extensions	* On the Eleventh Day … (X-Mas 2008) * Trades Up Its eNegotiation Management Capabilities and UI * Demonstrates Optimization is Not Just for the Private Sector * Trades Up its UI … Again * Trades Up to a Fact Sheet User Interface * Keeps Extending the Platform * No Rest for the Wicked-ly Powerful – Part I * No Rest for the Wicked-ly Powerful – Part II * Still No Rest for the Wicked-ly Powerful	* Strategic Sourcing* e-RFX* Decision-Optimization * … enabled Auctions
TradeCard (GT NEXUS)	* TradeCard: Transaction Management for the Global Supply Chain Part I * TradeCard: Transaction Management for the Global Supply Chain Part II	* Transaction Management* Trade Management
Transcepta	* Global e-Invoicing with Dynamic Discounting	* SaaS e-Invoicing
True Demand (Acosta)	* Overcome the Seven Deadly Sales Suppressors	* Inventory Visibility
UGS (Siemens PLM)	* Understanding	* PLM: Product Life-cycle Management* e-Sourcing
Upside Software (SciQuest)	* Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour	* Contract Management
Vendormate	* Great Fit, Less Fraud!	* SRM: Supplier Relationship Management* Healthcare Solutions
Vinimaya	* The Next Wave in Product Catalogue Management (PCM) * The B2B Search Engine * Sourcing Maniacs 2008 Vendor Tour * Taking Their Procurement Marketplace Global, Part I * Taking Their Procurement Marketplace Global, Part II * Taking Their Procurement Marketplace Global, Part III * Taking Their Procurement Marketplace Global, Part IV	* Catalog Management
Wallmedien	* A New Option for North American MultiNationals to Eke Procurement Value out of their ERP * Another Brick in the Wall – With Contract Management!	* e-Procurement* Services Procurement* Contract Management * Supplier Networks
WisdomNet	* Supply Risk Management	* Consulting: Supply Chain Operations
Xtivity	* MRO Inventory Bogging You Down? Maybe You Need a Bit of Xtivity?, Part I * MRO Inventory Bogging You Down? Maybe You Need a Bit of Xtivity?, Part II	* MRO* Inventory Management

Is your favorite vendor missing? Let the doctor know and — most importantly — let the vendor know! Although the doctor is more than happy to speak with vendors and review their solutions at his earliest opportunity, like many of his blogger brethren, he doesn’t have the time to be making random calls all day trying to chase down elusive (or E-CHAOS)
vendors.

Also, if you have been covered on Sourcing Innovation before the publication date, and are not on the list (or a post is missing from the list), please let the doctor know (and send the permalink), and accept his sincere apologies, and the post will be added upon the next update.

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