Electrotechnical
classification
Benefits for business
Overview of
ETIM benefits
This overview presents the advantages and opportunities
that result from the implementation of the ETIM classification within the electrotechnical products supply chain.
This overview is divided into “GENERAL ADVANTAGES”
and “SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES”; the benefits of
the second group result mainly from the degree of
implementation of specific software in the ICT systems
of the users.
The benefits are listed in relation to various business
processes existing on the different supply chain levels
(manufacturers, wholesalers, installers/industry
customers).
A short explanation of the Specific Opportunities is also
General ETIM
advantages
provided.
· Improved quality of operations
· More + better information for customers
· Cost reduction
· One communication standard
· Higher pace
Specific ETIM Opportunities
Manufacturers
A
B
C
D
E
F
Contract management
1. Discount adjustments
2. Gross price adjustments
Marketing
1. PMC analyses
2. 1 to 1 marketing
3. Online availability of
structured product data
Management reporting
1. Sales statistics
2. Purchase statistics
3. (Wholesale) Federations stat.
Logistics
1. Warehouse management
2. Distribution / route planning
Article database management
1. Data alignment in supply chain
2. Electronic catalogue production
3. Ongoing updates
4. Inter-company data alignment
5. Alignment to other classifications
Product information
1. Project design / assemblage
2. Product selection via
- parametric search
- advanced text search
- alternatives selection
- features/characteristics
comparison
- synonyms
3. Deep linking
4. Configuration
Purchasing
G
1. Ordering (stock) art.
Ordering non-stock art.
Ordering non-stock specialities
2. Cost reduction
3. Assortment assessment
Wholesalers
Installers/
Industry customers
Ad A 1
Because of the link between the ETIM classification and
the internal discount system, effective discount scaling
can be made per article class, instead of the timeconsuming and less structured adjustments on
individual article levels.
A
Ad A 2
Gross price adjustments can be carried out on the basis
of article classes which can be created depending on
the existing market prices.
Ad B 1
Product / market analyses are easier to carry out than
variations on brand / market analysis. Internal and/or
external benchmarking activities can also be done with
ETIM derived information.
B
Ad E 3
Catalogs that appear on a regular basis are already
outdated the moment they appear; electronic updating
guarantees the latest information.
E
Ad E 4
Larger companies with different manufacturing sites
and/or of different operating companies have found out
that data alignment has created unexpected insights in
production deployment or given opportunities for
assortment rationalisation. Such groups may also exist
as purchasing associations or large installation companies.
Ad E 5
When required the ETIM classification can be linked to
other classification - or identification standards like
UNSPSC or to schedules only applied for internal use.
Ad B 2
Data developed for 1 - to-1 marketing is provided on
class level. (For example when in a specific class no sales
have been made to the customer.)
Ad F 1
The characteristics, features and values provided through
ETIM create numerous advantages for product selection
in project design processes and realization.
Ad B 3
Product information in a structured form is available online
at anytime and can be used for many internal processes.
Ad F 2
The standards within ETIM provide so many search
possibilities that any product available can be identified
even if only very few product requirements are known.
Ad C 1
The availability of structured sales statistics enables an
overview of volume and profitability on article class level.
Ad C 2
The availability of structured purchasing statistics enables
an overview of volume and profitability on article class
level.
C
Ad C 3
Wholesale federations can provide statistical information
to their members and / or to manufacturers containing
more detailed information about the market on class
level. Such information may also be exchanged within
manufacturer federations.
Ad D 1
Provided that the ETIM characteristics are extended with
(more) logistic information like size, weight etc. this data
can be used for warehouse management (volume, storage
location, internal type of transport etc.).
D
Ad D 2
The same logistic data can be used to improve the
planning of distribution as well as to optimise route
planning.
Ad E 1
Successful electronic data exchange requires standards
in classification and communication. As far as these
standards can be agreed upon - which is a condition for
ETIM - the whole supply chain will profit from it.
E
Ad E 2
Considerable cost reductions can be achieved with
catalogs, in the production as well as in lead times (this
is exactly the job that is done from computer to computer);
also the quality of the catalog information improves
considerably (less mistakes, less commissions etc.).
Moreover, media-independent production of catalogs
is now possible, which also creates more choice in the
selection of printing agencies.
Ad F 3
Wholesalers may create direct deep links into the
manufacturer’s database which gives the manufacturers
even more possibilities to ’’market’’ their products in any
way they prefer (competitive differentiation); such a deep
link offers a customer even more possibilities to acquire
know-how about the required product.
F
Ad F 4
A more sophisticated application which will become
possible in the future is called configuration mode. A
software indicates which products need to be
complemented or can be connected to other products
in order to create a perfect product. The crucial issue for
this may be for example size or voltage. Systems like
these are already in use in those industries where
tubes with widely differing specifications need to be
selected to fit with specific pumps.
Ad G 1
ETIM databases connected to the internal ordering
systems facilitate the electronic ordering processes. Since
the ordering of non-stock articles is time consuming and
is coupled with a relatively high error rate, major
efficiency improvements can be achieved from product
selection to product installation.
G
Ad G 2
Because of the improved selection and identification of
the right product needed, less defaults will occur; therefore
a reduction of the physical return of goods and much
less administrative efforts (reduction of credit lines). Result:
cost reduction in the whole supply chain.
Ad G 3
A comparison of products on the basis of their
characteristics, values or features provides wholesalers
with a tool to streamline and improve their assortment
policy.
Tel: +49 (0) 511 - 21 26 314
Fax: +49 (0) 511 - 21 08 302
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.sonepar.de/etim
www.sonepar.com
SEC/SIS/802105/2000/200 g Maxisatin/12.02/GB
Sonepar ETIM Center
Südfeldstr. 7a
30453 Hannover