How to automate orders from non-EDI capable customers

Key insights:

• The hybrid challenge: Many suppliers automate orders with large retailers but still rely on manual email/phone processes for smaller, non-EDI capable customers like boutique shops and restaurants.
• A unified workflow: Crossfire’s Customer Portal provides a branded web interface that allows non-EDI customers to place orders digitally, which then flow automatically into the supplier's internal systems.
• Customer visibility: The portal gives smaller retailers a level of control and shipment visibility they didn't previously have, serving as an attractive interim solution until they can implement their own EDI.
• Scalability: Suppliers can scale their business effortlessly by onboarding diverse customers onto a single, automated ordering hub with tailored pricing and product variants for each user.

While many modern suppliers and distributors have implemented integration solutions that have simplified their ordering process for their EDI-enabled customers, it has often meant that they are still relying on manual processes, such as email and phone, when dealing with customers without EDI capabilities. 

Crossfire's Customer Portal is the solution for suppliers who face this often difficult scenario. 

Picture this: You are in charge of supply chain management for a large wine producer. You have a wide range of customers. Some of your customers are supermarket chains and international distribution companies. These companies have already established integration capabilities which allow them to fulfil their orders with you via automation. But, in addition to these customers, you also have a large number of customers (e.g. boutique wine shops and restaurant retailers) that do not have integration infrastructure. You still receive these customers' orders via email or over the phone. 

This means that you have two distinct ordering processes, one of which involves time-consuming and potentially error-filled manual data processing. 

What you need is a branded web interface that ensures all of the orders you receive from your non-EDI customers are automatically redirected to your internal systems—providing efficiency and simplification on your customers’ end and automation on yours. 

What is Crossfire’s Customer Portal?

Crossfire’s Customer Portal is a flexible and comprehensive way to streamline your incoming orders, regardless of how diverse your customer base is. The portal is a central hub that enables you to utilise automation when receiving orders from your retail partners, without having to rely on the modernisation of their own internal technology.

The Portal is an easy-to-use branded web-based EDI interface where your customers without EDI capabilities can place and manage their orders. This gives them control of the ordering process and provides a layer of visibility across shipment information that they didn’t previously have. It also simplifies the ordering process on their end and provides an attractive interim solution until they are able to implement their own internal EDI integration solution. 

On your end, the portal basically ensures that orders from customers who are not EDI-enabled are processed using the same automation tools that have been implemented to manage the orders from your integrated trading partners. 

All orders received through the portal automatically flow directly into your internal ordering and inventory systems, reducing the need for manual processing and giving you better forecasting clarity with all of your trading partners. 

This has no direct impact on your retailers who are already utilising EDI integrations. They continue to place orders through their own internal systems, which automatically forward the order to your internal systems for processing. 

Features

Crossfire’s Customer Portal provides a number of benefits, including: 

• The portal ensures that ALL of your customers’ orders are seamlessly processed via automation, eliminating the need for manual handling and reducing processing time. 
• A branded order management gateway for your customers who previously engaged with you via phone or email.  
• Customers can access shipping information and upload invoices to prevent back and forward emailing.
• Easy to use interface to set up your suppliers within the system. 
• Individual product and pricing options that can be tailored to each individual customer, allowing you to maintain preferred pricing and product arrangements.
• Easy onboarding process to ensure that your business can scale effortlessly. 
• Transparent pricing that scales with your business 

Simplify the ordering process

Crossfire’s Customer Portal is easy to implement and doesn’t require significant changes from your customers in order to adopt. 

Find out how the Portal can help you remove friction and complication from the ordering process, reduce costs and provide a seamless interface for your customers, irrespective of their technical resources. Get in touch to see a demo today.