THE COINS-etc METHODOLOGY

Each e-trading programme is assigned to a nominated COINS-etc Delivery Manager who possesses the necessary skills to be able to manage the programme irrespective of size, scale and complexity. The Delivery Manager follows a structured project methodology that is discussed and agreed with you the customer in a formal COINS-etc project Kick Off Meeting.

The COINS-etc Delivery Manager will work with you to identify suitable suppliers from your supplier community and structure the phased implementation of the e-trading programme. By phasing the rollout of electronic trading, COINS-etc will deliver the benefits of e-trading against agreed project milestones.

Using the COINS-etc Methodology, the COINS-etc Client Services Team will then work with you and your nominated suppliers to articulate and present the e-trading message, facilitate face to face meetings with your chosen suppliers and answer any technical or business questions.

By participating in a ‘COINS-etc Kick Off Meeting’ not only are the implementation phases and milestone dates agreed to, but the COINS-etc Delivery Manager will also discuss with you any user training that will be required. The delivery manager will be only too happy to structure the training to any specific requirements that you might have, such as organising seminars, site visits and discussing best practise approaches with regard to e-trading.

Realising the success of your e-trading programme is dependent on the active participation of your supplier community. The COINS-etc team will provide technical and marketing documentation including document standards and schemas, business benefits etc. The supplier will also be invited to attend one of our free weekly training courses which are designed to teach the supplier about document formats and communication protocols (COMMS). If necessary we will also visit your nominated suppliers to present your e-trading aims, the joint business benefits and project milestones.

Using the COINS-etc web portal – COINS Traffic Manager View, the customer can review the status of the e-trading programme. This on-line tool provides both the Delivery Manager and the customer with an up to date and accurate picture of the project status as soon as the supplier is first contacted by the Customer.

COINS-etc is dedicated to integrating and mapping your suppliers' systems and formats. The COINS-etc team provides the necessary technical and business expertise to quickly and efficiently manage this phase of the project. Irrespective of the supplier's own technical capabilities, the COINS-etc team can assist the supplier in document checking, data validation, communications set-up and compliance to Message Usage Guides. The end requirement is that the supplier produces a suitable test file. Each test file is then checked and reviewed within 48 hours of receipt. A report is provided back to the supplier and e-trading project team on the format of the file and its suitability for mapping onto the customer's own back office system.

Using well-defined test scripts and plans, the COINS Delivery Manager can work with you to completely test the end-to end process and quickly move into a Live Running Mode. The testing phase can be completed either by your own resource, or if required by a member of the COINS-etc team.

The move to go-live is not simply a flick of the switch to live processing of electronic data. Internal back office processes need to be aligned, staff will require training and the change to electronic trading needs to be managed in a professional manner. The Delivery Manager will aid you in this move from the very first ‘COINS-etc Kick Off Meeting’.

Finally, the automation of your supply chain in the move towards electronic trading does not have to be a complex and resource intensive project. By developing the COINS-etc Project Methodology our team can deliver a simple and efficient programme of work – one that is designed to realise your business objectives against agreed milestones.

The COINS-etc Client Services team will work with you to ensure an easy and rapid implementation of the service to you and your supplier community.