We are frequently asked questions about what we do, from generic questions about eSourcing to specific questions about A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions. Please use this reference as a source for answers to those common questions. If you have a question that we haven't addressed, please email us atkps_communications@atkearney.com and we'll get the answer for you!

What is eSourcing?

Why is eSourcing beneficial?

What is the difference between transactional procurement and eSourcing?

What is A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions' experience in strategic sourcing?

Why A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions?

Has the eBreviate technology been proven?

Can the eBreviate eSourcing technology be licensed? Can it be integrated into varying platforms?

Is the technology scalable?

Is it possible to use the technology anytime we want? Anywhere?

Is A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions global in scope?

What are UGS’ PLM solutions?

What is Teamcenter?

What is Product Lifecycle Sourcing?

Who do I contact to find out more information on your solutions?

Who do I contact if I am having a technical problem using your technology?


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What is eSourcing? (top)
Strategic eSourcing is a systematic approach that defines a company's supply base and the most appropriate relationships with its suppliers by using Internet technology to help determine what they are buying, who they are buying it from, and at what commercial terms. This defined process and online tools enable buyers and suppliers to connect and contract quickly and efficiently in order to improve the company's strategic competitive position. eSourcing significantly reduces the strategic sourcing cycle time, rids purchasing organizations of paper-based, labor-intensive processes, and complements Internet-based catalog or transactional procurement solutions.

Why is eSourcing beneficial? (top)
eSourcing has very tangible benefits for purchasing organizations, but actually provides value to both buyers AND suppliers. Buyers benefit from eSourcing for these reasons:

• Faster sourcing process and faster results - cycle time reductions of up to 70%
• Elimination of multiple face-to-face meetings, travel time, and geographical barriers
• More transparent, uniform and predictable pricing
• Improved enforcement of corporate purchasing policies - ability to better control maverick buying
• Increased process transparency
• Better supplier measurement

But suppliers benefit from eSourcing as well:

• More efficient and objective sourcing process - more level playing field
• Easier to respond - negotiations and travel are eliminated
• Lower selling/customer acquisition costs
• Improved convenience for buyers, leading to more transactions
• Improved market intelligence

What is the difference between transactional procurement and eSourcing? (top)
Transactional procurement is not a part of eSourcing. Rather, it is the tactical, day-to-day organizational transactions, from purchase order to delivery. Yet, the savings realized in eSourcing activities are far greater than in transactional procurement activities. According to CAPS Research, eSourcing yields savings of five to fifteen times more than automating transactional procurement, so its value is very tangible. The true benefit of automating transactional procurement is the time saved from repetitive administrative tasks thereby freeing time to focus on strategic eSourcing!

What is A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions' experience in strategic sourcing? (top)
A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions draws on the significant experience of its eSourcing Managers who are procurement professionals that understand first-hand the strategic sourcing challenges that customers face. We also draw upon the expertise of the strategic sourcing practice of A.T. Kearney who has helped clients save over $12 billion annually on the purchase of $100 billion in external goods and services since 1995.

Why A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions? (top)
A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions offerings provide organizations with a powerful combination of leading-edge technology, sourcing consulting and market-driven content.

Leading-Edge Technology – the eBreviate suite of eSourcing technologies supports every step of the strategic sourcing process and is completely web-enabled with buyer-friendly configurations as well as full-service/do-it-yourself and ASP/licensed options. Our eBreviate technology was the first to market with "total cost functionality," which enables customers to measure all important criteria in making buying decisions, including quality, delivery time, customer service, and price.

Sourcing Consulting – A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions is 100% customer focused providing unparalleled sourcing solutions through our experienced eSourcing managers who are procurement professionals by trade. Customers using the eBreviate technology are also supported by our 24/5 Help Desk.

Market-Driven Content – A.T. Kearney's unique problem-solving capabilities have made it possible to conduct successful Internet Negotiations with even the most complex purchasing requirements. We have leveraged that experience with that of our staff and A.T. Kearney, a leader in strategic sourcing consulting, to create a best-in-class knowledge management library that includes category intellectual capital, RFP and auction templates, and diagnostic tools.

Learn more about our offerings in the Our Solutions section of our website.

Has the eBreviate technology been proven? (top)
Yes. In eight years, the eBreviate technology has been used to successfully execute over 16,000 Internet Negotiations involving 1,161 distinct categories and more than 124,000 individual subcategories, negotiating over $207 billion in transaction volume. Our 273 Global 3000 customers and net markets have realized an average of over 18% in savings. Visit the Our Results section to learn more.

Can the eBreviate eSourcing technology be licensed? Can it be integrated into varying platforms? (top)
Yes. The eBreviate eSourcing solutions are infinitely flexible and can integrate with existing corporate systems, including ERP, MRP and CRM applications, through defined APIs and data feeds. If desired, we can license the technology to allow companies to install the technology behind their firewalls to fully embed eSourcing into their procurement practices and processes.

Is the technology scalable? (top)
Yes. eBreviate's scalable architecture is designed to support an unlimited number of concurrent auctions.

Is it possible to use the technology anytime we want? Anywhere? (top)
Yes. We're ready when you're ready. We can support your auction anytime, anywhere. And, since the technology is available online in an ASP model, with training you could be “up and running” in a few days.

Is A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions global in scope? (top)
Yes. In the United States, we have offices in Chicago, Santa Clara, New York, and Plano, TX; in Europe, we have offices in Paris, London, Frankfurt and Brussels. We are part of A.T. Kearney, a global management consulting firm.

What are UGS’ PLM solutions? (top)
UGS' product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions represent a unified approach to extended enterprise collaboration that enables all participants in your product lifecycle to work in concert as you bring products to market and support your customer base. Product lifecycle management enables you to marshal the skills, expertise, knowledge, and experience of your entire extended enterprise and apply them to every major stage in your product lifecycle to achieve competitive excellence.

What is Teamcenter®? (top)
Teamcenter® is UGS' PLM digital enterprise backbone, with solutions targeted at product lifecycle domain issues and industry-focused business challenges where quick implementation and a rapid return on investment are essential. The industry and business process domain solutions benefit from the integration of the Teamcenter® proven portfolio technologies, including the market's leading open collaboration platform. With focused solutions throughout the product lifecycle, Teamcenter®'s PLM digital enterprise backbone brings together the collective knowledge and insight of the enterprise so clients can make smarter product-related decisions that lead to better, and more cost-effective, products.

What is Product Lifecycle Sourcing? (top)
A new eSourcing solution that was developed jointly by UGS and A.T. Kearney that will provide purchasing professionals input to design data earlier in the product development process. The Product Lifecycle Sourcing solution will integrate A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions’ eBreviate eSourcing suite of technologies into UGS PLM Solutions' flagship product lifecycle management solution, Teamcenter®. This will create a link between the engineering and procurement functions that will provide companies with cost savings. Specifically, the negotiation process between engineering, procurement and suppliers will be enhanced by this solution because the intellectual assets in the design process will be visible to the entire enterprise and cross-organizational workflows will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of global teams.

Who do I contact to find out more information on your solutions? (top)
If you are interested in learning more about our solutions, please call us at (888) 327 3842 or email atkps_sales@atkearney.com. Visit our Contact Us page.

Who do I contact if I am having a technical problem using your technology? (top)
If you are experiencing difficulty logging into one of our eSourcing events, please call the eBreviate Help Desk, which operates for 24 hours per day, 5 days per week, Monday through Friday. Global toll free and direct dial numbers are available as follows:

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