�their presentation is provided or available."��� -��� Thomas Mann, 1896
How
to use Collaborative Commerce
to Manage the Extended Enterprise.
Contributed by Deloitte Consulting
�
BUSINESS
WITHOUT BORDERS
- THE� EXTENDED ENTERPRISE
When
a company and its key value chain work together to meet customer needs, they
are operating in an Extended Enterprise model�and virtually all large
organizations today are already doing just that. Yet most fail to realize the
full potential of the Extended Enterprise due to the self-imposed walls that
isolate them from their trade partners. Companies that are better able to
manage the process dynamics of this complex ecosystem can derive significant
advantage. Collaborative commerce breaks the walls down, transforming
cross-enterprise business processes and information flows, and gives companies
the methods and tools to work effectively across enterprise boundaries.
OK,
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS AN EXTENDED ENTERPRISE?
MANAGING THE EXTENDED ENTERPRISE
Efficient
business processes, integrated systems, customer management solutions and
outsourcing of non-core functions are table stakes for companies competing in
the global economy. The next wave of improvement has moved beyond the four
walls of any single company�to what we call collaborative commerce in the
Extended Enterprise.
As
companies become less vertically integrated, their operating capabilities and
competitive advantage are increasingly defined by a complex ecosystem of trade
partners. Collaborative commerce enables a company and its most important
trade partners to operate as a finely tuned value chain�driving revenue and
producing strategic advantages that non collaborative competitors simply
can�t match.
Some
of the benefits:
-
Improved responsiveness, reliability and service position a company as a preferred supplier - and drive revenue growth.
-
Reduced cycle times enable new operating models such as build-to-order.
-
Streamlined operations can improve a company�s costs structure.
-
Better use of capital drives up key metrics such as return-on-assets, and can lower working capital investment
COLLABORATIVE
COMMERCE:
TELL
US WHERE IT HURTS
Companies
should focus their collaborative commerce efforts on the most pressing pain
points - the areas that can be resolved to provide real competitive advantage.
But
building a collaborative commerce solution from scratch is difficult. Many
diverse elements need to be integrated, including cross-enterprise business
processes and business rules, application software, and middleware
infrastructure for messaging and linking trade partners. Companies can waste a
lot of time and money trying to get it right.
Deloitte
Consulting�s accelerator modules simplify the task of getting started by
pre-integrating the most complex elements of a collaborative commerce
solution. Each module focuses on a specific business process or function, such
as order management, forecasting, inventory visibility or production
scheduling. These pre-built �starter modules� provide a platform that can
be tailored to fit a company�s unique needs and business processes.
Additionally,
we�ve pre-built major elements of the technical infrastructure required to
enable these business processes - we call that accelerator our Real-Time
Platform.
HOW
WE HELP
Our
clients recognize that extending their value chain outside their enterprise
can cut operating costs
and improve their supply chain capabilities. And that technology isn�t the
whole story.
Deloitte
Consulting�s collaborative commerce solutions address the process,
technology and trade partner enrollment aspects of the extended enterprise.
We
work with our clients to adapt proven process models to their businesses - to
create the blueprint for the extended enterprise.
Real
collaboration requires technology that provides extended supply chain
visibility across your enterprise, your partners, suppliers, and customers. It
also demands trade partners that share your commitment and understand the
details as well as the big picture.
How
do you do this rapidly? Well, great things don�t usually come out of a box,
and real companies are uniquely complex. But there are many elements of
collaborative commerce that apply in many environments, and our accelerators
allow us to help our clients implement tailored solutions sooner rather than
later.
PROCESS
ACCELERATORS
-
Business Goal Definition
-
Trade Partner On-boarding
-
Process Print
-
Program Management Map
-
Infrastructure Components
-
Goal/Payoff
Development of the business case and prioritization of company needs Enrollment and on-boarding of appropriate trade partners
Collaborative commerce process design
Work plan and program management structure
Technical architecture and software
Includes
-
Value assessment toolset
-
Prioritization tools
-
Alignment and integration toolset
-
Return On Investment tool
-
Trade partner value definition
-
Trade partner enrollment
-
Trade partner readiness assessment
-
Trade partner on-boarding
-
Organizational change planning tools
-
Process and business model best practices
-
Organizational structure and roles
-
Methodology�
-
Roadmap and approach
-
Pre-integrated solution platform (PSP)
-
Collaborative applications and infrastructure platform
IT
DON�T MEAN A THING IF
IT AIN�T GOT THAT�� TECHNICAL STUFF
The
technical environment that enables the business process consists of three
distinct layers that allow companies multiple pathways for getting started.
Where
you start depends on which issues are most limiting your competitive
capability and preventing you from achieving improved ecosystem performance.
The
functional
layer
consists of individual, predeveloped accelerator modules, each focused on a
specific cross-enterprise business process.
Accelerator
modules contain integrated process logic, rules, heuristics and work flow to
govern these
processes. Each has base functionality and is built on proven technologies to
get you up and running quickly. The modular approach makes it easy to tailor a
solution to your specific needs, and to add or extend functionality as your
needs evolve.
The
infrastructure layer
consists of a reusable technology platform that serves as the technical
�bus� for the functional modules and for the enterprise application layer
- simplifying connection to your trade partners. The infrastructure layer
links internal and external applications and provides messaging, security and
user access for cross-enterprise collaboration.
Accelerator
modules �plug in� for rapid integration with legacy systems, enterprise
applications and trade partners. The infrastructure layer is a reusable
platform that is implemented only once. It is based on open standards and is
industry-independent, giving companies flexibility to choose when and where to
collaborate.
The
enterprise
application layer
consists of various templates for efficiently integrating information and work
flow across multiple internal systems. This layer improves internal
information flow and data management, especially among major systems. It�s
not a requirement for individual collaboration efforts, but it can make sense
for certain collaborative processes, or when a company�s internal
information is highly fragmented. In those situations, integrating different
applications can provide substantial benefits - and can help a company achieve
the full potential of collaboration.
TECHNICAL
ACCELERATORS
Functional/Process
Layer
-
Product Development
-
Sales Order Management
-
Forecasting Support
-
Trade Partners Portal
-
Collaboration�
-
Internal Integration
-
External Integration
-
Security
-
Product Development Management
-
Legacy
-
Enterprise Resource Planning
-
Customer Relationship Management
-
Advanced Planning Systems
-
Supply Chain Execution
Infrastructure
Layer:
-
Real-Time Platform
-
Enterprise
-
Application
-
Layer
INSIDE
THE REAL-TIME PLATFORM
As
the name implies, Real-Time allows a direct exchange of information between
you and your trade
partners. It is an accelerator platform that uses industry-leading technology
components to enable rapid implementation. The Real-Time Platform has been
designed to work with and complement many of today�s leading software
offerings, such as IBM�s WebSphere, Microsoft�s .NET/BizTalk platform,
SAP�s xApps and NetWeaver capabilities, as well as web services capabilities
and the offerings of many middleware providers. Companies deploy the Real-Time
platform just once to facilitate connectivity. Individual functional modules
are then built on top of the platform, plugging in to solve specific business
process issues encountered in managing the extended enterprise. Together, the
Real-Time platform and functional modules provide rapid access to trade
partners and internal enterprise applications�without having to build
point-to-point connections from scratch. This modular approach gives Real-Time
the flexibility to meet your immediate collaboration needs and to grow with
you as your needs evolve.
The
Real-Time platform can also help you link your internal business systems
together. For example, Real-Time could be used to integrate CRM with Advanced
Planning and Scheduling (APS) and ERP, as well as with other enterprise and
legacy systems.
The
Real-Time platform provides five major functions.
The
portal function gives company employees and trade partners Web-based access to collaborative commerce applications and shared information across enterprise boundaries.
-
Enables worldwide access from any Web browser�without requiring a high degree of technical sophistication and training�
-
Provides personalized and secure access control
-
Offers the convenience of a single log-in to access elements of multiple applications
-
Allows users to manually handle exceptions to automated business processes
The
collaboration function manages work flows across enterprise boundaries, allowing a company and its trade partners to coordinate their efforts while jointly executing shared business processes.
-
Defines, executes and monitors user work flow processes and business rules
-
Provides interactive tooling for managing and rapidly reengineering process flows based on real-time performance monitoring and evaluation
-
Improves manual workload management through on-line automated task lists for users based on roles
-
Uses business rules to automate business processes, and issues alerts when critical actions are needed�
The
internal integration function provides seamless links between internal software applications, which include collaborative commerce solutions and existing enterprise systems.
-
Provides machine-to-machine integration behind a company�s firewall
-
Features pre-configured adapters to quickly connect internal software applications
-
Uses standard interfaces and data formats
-
Provides pre-built integration services such as data transformation, exception management and auditing
The
external integration function provides application-to-application integration across enterprise boundaries, enabling seamless collaboration between trade partners.
-
Sends and receives messages using standard formats such as EDI and XML
-
Enables highly secure B2B integration across firewalls
-
Supports industry standards
The
security function provides comprehensive security and access control for shared data. It gives users access to the specific information they need to do their jobs, while blocking access to sensitive data and application functionality that is off-limits.
-
Provides personalized access and monitoring based on user profiles
-
Features role-based access control, with role definitions that can include multiple attributes such as the user�s job title, company and project
-
Supports safe zones, including firewalls, extranets, DMZs and VPCs
-
Supports corporate security standards such as SSL, HTTPS, digital certificates, reverse proxy and 128-bit encryption
-
Supports industry security standards, including compliance with U.S. Department of Defense requirements and export regulations
Contact:
Peter
Firestone
�
Inquiry Only - No Cost Or Obligation
�
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