Abbey Lead Internet Revolution

A new and revolutionary customer ordering system and product information service which uses the internet has been launched by Abbey Corrugated.

This unique, low cost, Internet EDI System, (electronic data interchange), which replaces Abbeys existing EDI arrangement, harnesses the power of the internet to make the whole process of ordering fast and accurate, coupled with instant access to status information on order progress, all for the cost of a local phone call.

Abbey forecast that within 18 months, over 40 per cent of its output will be purchased by customers over the net.

"Our new internet based system offers some exciting opportunities to our customers, said Bob McLellan Abbeys managing director. "It will dramatically decrease the volume of fax traffic and telephone usage and at the same time increase the amount of information available to our customers. For most of our customers there will be no set-up costs, and it costs no more that a local telephone call to use.

"It can be used on a standard PC with minimal user training if you can access the net you can most likely use this system its as simple as that!

"This system has been developed by Abbey because we are convinced that E-Commerce is the way forward. Internet EDI is going to change completely the way in which we do business."

Apart from making ordering easier and much faster, the system will also provide lead time information on both standard and special products and enable the customer to track progress on orders at any time.

In addition to reducing order time-lag, order errors are expected to reduce dramatically with improved data integrity. The system also employs a Firewall filter security system that protects against unauthorised access.

"It will allow us to respond faster and more accurately to our customers needs and status information will be available literally at the touch of a button. It also means that our sales teams will now become much more proactive service teams finding new ways in which we can help our customers."

Customer trials undertaken with a number of Abbey customers have proved 100 per cent successful and the company reports that customer reaction after the trials has been "extremely enthusiastic".

"Fast track ordering is a big attraction of this new system, but even more beneficial is the way in which it integrates with our internal systems." Peter Bush, Cap Cases Limited, Newmarket.

"Weve used the system and we are thoroughly impressed. Its so easy to use anyone can operate it. We definitely see this as the future its excellent!" David Murfitt, Sales Manager ACH Corrugated Cases Ltd, Soham, Cambridgeshire.

"Before we had finished the trials, we had already made the decision to switch our material ordering procedures to the internet EDI system. Atlas see this as the way forward for our business." Adrian Gamble, Atlas Packaging, Barnstable.