Plano, TX January 11, 2002 A.T. Kearney's eBreviate e-sourcing unit has released a software tool that integrates online auction and request for proposal (RFP) functionality, which the solution provider says can reduce the setup time for e-auctions by 33 percent.
An "export to auction" function in eBreviate's RFP v2.1 moves supplier responses to RFPs directly into the provider's Auction v4.1 application, which employs an Import Wizard to facilitate data transfer and complete the auction setup.
Explaining the logic behind integrating the two tools, Carrie Ericson, eBreviate's vice president of global operations, said, "Our research reveals that the average customer cost savings from using RFP and auction tools together is generally 30 percent greater than the savings available from using either the RFP or auction tools separately."
RFP v2.1 also includes a new library management function to allow users to store template surveys for reuse. In addition, customers with access to eBreviate's Supply Market Solutions tool can view and copy RFPs archived in the library.
The new Auction v4.1 includes enhanced copy functionality to enable an auction to be copied and edited without affecting the original setup, thus allowing the creation and reuse of auction templates. eBreviate says that Auction v4.1 also features enhanced cross-category capabilities for more sophisticated total-cost weighting and evaluation.
eBreviate is part of A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions, which includes the non-consulting businesses of A.T. Kearney related to procurement and strategic supply management.
