Supply chain

How wonderful it would be not to worry about chasing customer invoices, but still get paid in full and on time. This is perfectly possible by simply __________, an invoice

with an online customer accounts system and __________ when it´s going to be paid.

Such supply chain management systems are traditionally the __________ of multinationals with big IT budgets,

but rising expectations on the part of customers are __________ smaller businesses to buy into both the concept and the system.

This is __________ evident in manufacturing, financial services, telecommunications and the media.

Ken Yamato, chairman of logistics Inc., says this is a difficult culture change for many small businesses. When, for example, the multinational Unilever __________ its information

and supply chains to get a better __________ of what was going on with its orders,

one small supplier felt it was __________ too much.

But Yamato believes it is just as important for smaller companies to invest in IT systems to manage the supply chain as it is for larger ones, and that many __________ losing customers

if they do not have the capability to monitor orders and stock __________ and manage production and purchasing. The online customer accounts system offers a competitive edge, he says.

Mark Kinsler of business software company ITX says, “Companies have to supply just in time and have more collaborative relationships with their customers.” For him, the interactive nature of an online system brings __________ benefits,

especially not that companies use more third-party suppliers. “Companies get a better idea of what is happening and can __________ that different links in the supply chain

__________ certain tasks.

This would __________ self billing and,

when customer has __________ the product, automatically producing the invoice for the third-party supplier.”