One-stop vendor management service for Otto International to process thousands of shipping documents a day
Heavy packages that contained thousands of pages of documents used to be couriered from international suppliers to OI. Now that everything is online, we help the supplier to save trees and save on courier fees. The efficiency also gives us great flexibility, making it even easier for us to offer tailor-made solutions to suit customers' specific needs
Background
- Headquartered in Hong Kong, Otto international (OI) was founded in 1966 by the Otto Group, a German mail order company and currently one of the world's biggest e-commerce companies
- OI is a one-stop shop for first class global sourcing. For over 50 years, OI has been sourcing from all major production markets for Apparel, Shoes and Accessories as well as Home. Its client base spans across Europe, Asia and Africa
Challenges
- As a leading global sourcing company, OI has over 550 suppliers in China, India, Bangladesh, Turkey and other major sourcing markets in Southeast Asia, receiving thousands of shipping documents every day
- As supplier usually adopts its own format of shipping documents, OI needs to have a standardised and efficient yet simple electronic document handling platform for supplier management, order management and shipment management
Service
- Since 2006, Tradelink has been providing a customised vendor management service that allows business collaboration among OI with its suppliers, logistics providers and retailers to exchange shipping documents efficiently and effectively between stakeholders using one single online platform
- More than 3 millions of documents have so far been exchanged via the platform, including bills of lading, packing lists, invoices, certificates of origin and inspection reports etc
Benefits
- Single point of access to documents facilitates shipment processing and eliminates repetitive day-to-day tasks. For example, suppliers can easily book shipments directly with forwarders through the system based on documents already prepared and stored
- Collection of documents forms the base of OI's Vendor Payment Service whereby OI serves as a go-between international suppliers and brands. With all relevant documents available on the platform, payment to the suppliers can be made in a timely manner through OI
- Shipment data, including vessel information and expected date of arrival, is directly uploaded by forwarders into the platform. This provides customers with real-time, accurate and easy-to-access information of their orders from one single location
