Esize announces new Cloud e-Sourcing platform

Esize, a provider of Cloud Spend Management solutions, has announced the launch of its new online e-Sourcing platform. The official release is planned for Q2 of 2012. The practical experience amassed by customers is an important starting point in the development of this product. That is why the Esize Product Management team is working closely together with various customers’ purchasing experts on this project. The goal is to market an e-Sourcing platform that is able to combine the latest technologies with the challenges of daily purchasing practices, such as the increasing pressure to comply with laws and regulations as well as the growing need for transparency and usability.

Transparent supplier selection
Esize has announced the expansion of its Cloud Spend Management suite with an entirely new module for the digital support of simple to complex e-sourcing processes. The official launch is planned for the second quarter of 2012. E-sourcing is an effective and proven method for processing market consultations, requests for proposal and online auctions in a transparent, measurable and controllable manner. It helps buyers structure and simplify each step of the procurement process: from requesting and processing information and offers obtained from providers to comparing and selecting the right supplier. The advantage for suppliers is that they can easily exchange (offer) information digitally with several purchasing organisations by logging in to one online portal.   

Improved usability
An important precondition when it comes to development is that the platform must be highly intuitive in its use. Eric van Hinte, Esize Product Manager: “In practice, it appears that setting up and implementing automated purchasing projects for buyers is generally not a daily activity. Due to this, buyers often miss the routine. From this perspective, we want to develop a platform that is aimed more at incidental use and is above all easy to use without requiring training.” The new module’s attention to user-friendliness is manifested, among other things, in the online (context-specific) help function and the user interface. In addition, the application clearly tells the user which steps must be taken to implement e-sourcing and pro-actively advises the application with the final selection. The software thus easily and efficiently guides the user through the entire process.             

Purchasing practices
Customer experiences are an important starting point for the development of the platform. This is why Esize is working closely together with several purchasing experts employed by various customers in this project. The Agile development method is being employed during the development process and regular consultation is taking place with these and other interested parties.

Flexible payment method
The new e-Sourcing platform with which the existing portfolio is being expanded will be used as a part of the complete software suite, but it can also be used separately. Paul van Rietschoten, Esize Commercial Director: “Due to the incidental character of e-Sourcing activities, we are introducing a pay-per-use price model. Of course, it is possible to conclude a subscription for a longer period of time, but many of our customers prefer one accounting model per purchasing project. And we are making this happen.” Suppliers can log in to the platform as well. This helps them become noticed by Esize customers and gives them access to their own communication environment. Esize has also set up a subscription model for suppliers.

Interest from the market
The announcement of the new e-Sourcing platform has already garnered a lot of interest on the market. “Esize’s innovative reputation is creating the requisite expectations. Naturally, we are open to the requests of interested parties to update them on our progress or provide them a preview of the product. We therefore encourage anyone who is interested to contact us,” says Van Rietschoten.

Software as a Service
As a supplier of Cloud Spend Management solutions, Esize is helping organisations in the most varied of industries automate all the steps of their purchasing and invoicing processes, hence making them more efficient and transparent. The software offers an online platform on which many purchasing organisations and suppliers efficiently communicate with each other. One of Esize’s strengths is the modular design of its software. Customers can improve their entire procurement process step by step or optimise just one specific part of the process. The various software modules offer a complete solution for supporting the entire procurement process (source to pay), based on the Software as a Service (SaaS) model. Esize takes care of all the maintenance and administration of the application, which offers advantages in the areas of costs, maintenance and administration.