Albany, NY – September 23, 2009 – When MSC Industrial Direct (MSC) launched its 2009 supply-chain electronic transaction processing initiative to move all fulfillment partners to electronic document format, it selected CommerceHub to provide electronic integration services. The CommerceHub Supply–On-Demand integration platform has enabled the MSC initiative to exceed 2nd Quarter compliance targets by integrating and enrolling suppliers to electronic transaction processing at a rate of better than one vendor per day.
“The flexibility and reliability of the CommerceHub platform has made it easy for our suppliers to integrate electronically with our distribution network,” said Charles Bonomo, CIO at MSC Industrial Direct. “We have found the one connection process to be seamless for our fulfillment partners, large or small.”
The CommerceHub Supply-on-Demand integration platform provides a highly structured, rules-based process for suppliers to receive purchase orders from MSC and for them to return order acknowledgements, shipment notices and invoices. CommerceHub offers MSC suppliers two methods to connect with their network: a ‘One Connection’ integration with their IT network, or a web-based browser interface. Suppliers find the web-based browser interface a quick connection to receive purchase orders and provide real-time visibility of order status, eliminating time-consuming purchase order tracking and reconciliation.
“All we needed was internet access and a standard printer,” said supplier Bill Dufraine, President of The duMONT Co., LLC. “With the web interface we make real-time updates and provide complete visibility of the purchase order fulfillment process. It reduces the incoming phone calls we used to get from MSC to follow up on the status of orders.”
Approximately 3,000 suppliers fulfill purchase orders for over 590,000 industrial products that MSC provides to their customers via the MSC Big Book and online at www.mscdirect.com. The MSC electronic transaction processing initiative requires all new suppliers to process purchase orders electronically and MSC is actively transitioning existing suppliers to the new electronic format. The CommerceHub technology integrates industrial suppliers with MSC regardless of legacy technology formats.
“Once integrated electronically, suppliers quickly realize increased efficiency and velocity in supply chain transactions,” said Steve Hamlin, CommerceHub CEO. “Our ‘One Connection’ integration platform levels the playing field for all suppliers in a distribution network.”
About CommerceHub
CommerceHub is the industry’s leading provider of fulfillment and integration solutions for retailers and wholesale distribution companies. With nearly a decade of experience working with Top 25 retailers, distribution supply chains and a wide array of major brand name suppliers, CommerceHub manages more than $6.5 billion in goods annually on behalf of such industry leaders as Costco, QVC, Staples, Best Buy, drugstore.com, Ty’s Toy Box, Kmart, Sears, Walgreens, Dell, Toshiba, Sanyo, Minolta, Gateway and Little Tikes.
For information on the CommerceHub Supply-on-Demand platform, Universal Connection Hub, and Drop Ship Master, visit our website at www.commercehub.com.
About MSC Industrial Direct
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. is one of the premier distributors of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) supplies to industrial customers throughout the United States. MSC distributes approximately 590,000 industrial products from approximately 3,000 suppliers to approximately 364,000 customers. In-stock availability is approximately 99%, with next day standard delivery to the contiguous United States on qualifying orders up until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. MSC reaches its customers through a combination of approximately 27 million direct-mail catalogs and CD-ROMs, 97 branch sales offices, 912 sales people, the Internet and associations with some of the world's most prominent B2B e-commerce portals. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.mscdirect.com.