Freeway Commerce's Spectrum Enterprise solution tops Morrisons' shopping list for new EDI system

Morrisons, the UK's fourth largest supermarket chain, has selected Freeway Commerce's Spectrum Enterprise electronic trading solution to streamline its supply chain processes. Morrisons uses EDI via an IBM VAN to send orders and receive invoices electronically from over 430 suppliers. It also sends documentation electronically to the Inland Revenue, including employee P60 forms. Morrisons selected Freeway Commerce for Spectrum Enterprise's scalability and flexibility, the company's grocery industry knowledge and experience in rolling out EDI to suppliers.

Following the takeover of Safeway, Morrisons reviewed its EDI systems with a view to rationalising and future-proofing its systems. It wanted an EDI system that could handle current VAN-based technology that also provided a stepping stone to new, lower cost Internet based technologies. One of the reasons Morrisons chose Freeway's Spectrum Enterprise solution was that it was based on the Microsoft.Net framework. Spectrum Enterprise provides Morrisons with more flexibility, providing a platform that supports existing VAN-based trading relationships with options for using Internet technology for new relationships.

Spectrum Enterprise has been linked into Morrisons' mainframe back office systems to send and receive information in near real-time and provides management statistics when required. It can process high volumes of electronic messages at great speed and handle virtually unlimited numbers of trading partners.

Freeway Commerce's software currently handles communications using an EDI value added network (VAN), however it also supports FTP and AS2 communications options and has inherent webforms and XML capabilities. An internationally agreed methodology, AS2 ensures the transaction of secure and auditable business messages over the internet. AS2 specifies the means to connect, deliver, validate and reply (receipt) data in a secure and reliable way to allow a community to be created without incurring additional VAN traffic costs.

For more information please contact Freeway's sales desk on the telephone number at the top right of the page, or email us here