The part wholesaler ALFAH GmbH from Cologne, Germany, has successfully optimised its manual inquiry process with TecComfort Order connection as part of the EU-project auto-gration. With very little effort TecCom and ALFAH’s software house connected ALFAH’s ERP system to the TecCom platform.

Because now only 20 percent of the inquiries need to be handled manually, the company saves time, reduces the processing error rate and improves customer satisfaction. In a second step electronic order processing and receipt of supplier reverse messages will be automated.

ALFAH is a regional part trading company with twelve employees that delivers replacement parts from large manufacturers like SBS to garages. The integration of the ERP (enterprise resource planning) system was performed by TecCom together with ALFAH’s software house in only a month with working time of three to five man-days. Tilman Veltjens, managing director of ALFAH, is convinced of the benefits. “Through the connection to the TecCom platform and the integration of our ERP systems we improved our customer service and drastically reduced the time spent in manually handling inquiries.”

Before, ALFAH employees had to call suppliers by phone to ask about the availability of replacement parts. Possible alternative parts had to be requested and then discussed with the customer before ordering. This complex and time-consuming process is now a thing of the past thanks to the decision in favour of the TecCom solution TecComfort Order auto-gration. ALFAH can now check availability electronically around the clock with suppliers and respond to customer inquiries promptly.

Since most of ALFAH’s suppliers are already tied to the TecCom platform, only 20 percent of incoming inquiries must still be processed by hand. “I am convinced that the automation of inquiry processing minimises the error rate. Our answers on the available quantities and prices are much more reliable. In addition we save 60 to 70 percent of the processing time,” says Tilman Veltjens. “Because we can now answer inquiries from our customers right away, they are happier with our service and don’t even have time to ask our competitors about the parts. In addition to happier customers we are increasing our sales.”

After the complete success of the project plan, Tilman Veltjens plans to automate ALFAH’s ordering processes in the beginning of 2012 and also to process electronic reverse messages – order confirmation, despatch advice and invoice – directly in the ERP system for even more time savings and even more satisfied customers.

As a member of the EU project auto-gration, TecCom is active in helping small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the automotive branch to gain access to electronic business processes and bind them more tightly into the digital supply chain. As part of the project the so-called “auto-gration messages” in xml format were developed, with the help of TecCom standard messages and other formats. On the orderer side the messages are transmitted by the auto-gration connector, where TecCom offers an optional mapping service for the conversion of system-specific messages into the auto-gration format. As an alternative a direct web service connection is possible.

ALFAH is one of nine customers who have already introduced TecComfort Order auto-gration. By the end of the year TecCom hopes to connect 50 part orderers to the platform with this solution.

If you are also interested in TecComfort Order auto-gration or have any questions about the auto-gration project, Marco Monsees (marco.monsees@teccom.de) will be happy to help you.