Insight Reports

Exploiting Retailer Extranets

Click to view report's table of contents
Click to print

Exploiting Retailer Extranets

Does Retail Link Give Competitive Advantage? Retailer Extranets are likely to develop further. Suppliers able to exploit retailer extranet data are benefiting. This report benchmarks current best practice.

Suppliers able to exploit retailer extranet data are gaining competitive advantage. Extranets have always been used by logistics, planning and commercial functions. But marketeers and category specialists are also using them to keep in touch with store specific product sales, event management and availability. As a strategic tool for category planning between Asda and their category captains, Retail Link probably gives Asda and their suppliers an edge.

"Category captains... have a special responsibility within each trading category...we give them specific access to other suppliers data" (Asda)

This report benchmarks supplier best practice. It examines the functionality and development of the TIE, SID, Retail Link and SIS Extranets. How do suppliers score different retailer systems? Tesco's TIE is well structured and easy to use. Sainsbury's reporting and alert functions are praised. Although Retail Link provides the best level of detail it is more difficult to use. But suppliers who invest in understanding Retail Link will probably reap the rewards with Asda. Category captains lead the way but how can smaller suppliers also benefit?

"Alerting is a functionality, a principle thats got to be there for the future for all of us." (Supply Chain Dvlpt. Mgr, Supplier)

New data consolidation solutions are expected to roll out soon. Cost of product remains a key issue. More exception reporting and alert functions clearly represent the way forward. What is the next stage? The Global Data Synchronisation initiative is important in developing data standards and more homogenous product catalogues. Can the industry be persuaded to use these? How will this be influenced by retailer strategy? Does the GXS relationship with CSC Solutions mean that they are now taking a broader view? How can Tesco benefit from this?

"I think it would be great if they all adopted the same system, if they went to the same provider and filled in all the boxes in the right order. But is that really going to happen?" (Logistics Director, Supplier)

Retailer Extranets are likely to develop further. Suppliers need to keep abreast of these developments. People and processes must not lag behind if the extranets are to be fully exploited. Retailers and suppliers must decide who in their organisations "owns" the data. Despite progress, extranets are still under-exploited. The main problems for suppliers are managing the volume of data emanating from the extranets and the on-going difficulty of consolidating information from the different systems. For some retailers the main problem is still persuading buyers to want to use extranet systems. Our research highlights some of the potential solutions to these issues.

"Who owns the data? How well suppliers deliver on time is a supply chain responsibility.... but commercial collegues are the ones who have the key relationship. They decide what information they want to share". (B2B Manager, Major Multiple)

Research Methodology

This report is based on qualitative depth interviews at senior level with Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Safeway as well as manufacturers and technology providers in the UK. It features proprietary business-to-business interviewing and data analysis techniques. A carefully selected sample is transcribed and subjected to a systematic process of analysis. This yields consensus on current practice and provides the industry with a management tool based on real issues and actual decisions.

Published: November 2003

Price: £ 495, US$ 825, € 695

To order online now click here

Insight reports are quality guaranteed. If you are dissatisfied, please return the report within 14 days and tell us why. Your invoice will be cancelled or money refunded.

Click to view report's table of contents