Tradeshift launches new cloud-based supply chain payment system
Tradeshift has launched Engage in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region. This brings a simple cloud-based solution to the region to fully digitize supply chain invoicing and payment systems, addressing the cash flow and liquidity challenge businesses are facing in the current COVID-19 economic environment.
Companies in the MEA region have been slow to digitize core business infrastructure, an issue that exposed suppliers still relying on paper-based invoicing systems to significant challenges maintaining business operations. Coupled with the recent trend of buyers delaying payments to as much as 180 days to protect working capital.
Tradeshift’s Engage allows buyers to bring to their suppliers a value proposition that offers immediate and tangible benefits without any of the heavy lifting associated with traditional onboarding initiatives. The system enables the buyer and supplier to track invoices in real time, with an option for a flexible payment system that allows the supplier to receive payment direct from Tradeshift, preserving working capital for both the buyer and supplier. Delivered to sellers as a cloud and mobile responsive solution, which takes just a few minutes to activate, Engage offers sellers data-driven insights based on their relationship with the buyer by providing real-time visibility into transactions and the ability to finance payables on-the-go.
“Businesses want to digitalise at speed. But the traditional approach to supplier onboarding remains slow and cumbersome. What we can do is make it quick and easy for buyers and sellers to establish a digital connection, get money flowing again and stay close to one another during a turbulent period,” said Dan Quinn, General Manager, Tradeshift Middle East & Africa Region.
The Tradeshift Engage app provides sellers with a full set of e-invoicing, ordering and fulfilment tools, such as digital Invoice and credit note creation, responding to POs and PO changes, sending shipping notices and being informed of receipt status. Sellers can easily engage and collaborate with multiple buyers through a single interface that enables real-time issue resolution. An intuitive dashboard also allows sellers to maintain an overview of everything in-flight.
The system draws on existing data from the buyer’s ERP or system of record to complete a supplier profile that includes a full and accurate history of transactions. Early adopters of Tradeshift Engage have seen unparalleled levels of uptake by their seller communities. One major international buyer was able to connect with 5000 suppliers in just four weeks while reducing seller support calls to zero.
