SciQuest Updates Spend Automation Suite with Strategic Sourcing Capabilities

Last week, North Carolina-based SciQuest (Nasdaq: SQI), which offers automated spend management solutions for procurement practitioners, announced that it has updated its spend automation suite with a number of strategic sourcing capabilities to make it an end-to-end platform. According to SciQuest officials, the new release integrates Spend Radar, which provides practitioners with spend analysis and reporting on any point of the procurement process. Advanced Sourcing Optimizer and Sourcing Director both received new capabilities, which SciQuest believes will enhancing sourcing decision making. The new release also features an enhanced Total Contract Manager, with the ability to pull in standard contract clauses and language via Microsoft Word.

Newly-introduced Supplier 360 is said to provide enhanced visibility into supplier activities and utilization metrics, while a new Supplier Performance Management module can allow practitioners to aggregate scorecard information into a dashboard to facilitate supplier performance analysis and management. Other features include enhanced smart forms for its eProcurement tool, improved user interface and user experience with Enterprise Reagent Manager, and the ability to conduct sourcing, contracting, and supplier management activities via the SciQuest Mobile App.

DocuSign Partners with OpenText, Office 365 to Bring DTM to the Masses

Recently, DocuSign, the San Francisco-based provider of cloud-based digital transaction management and electronic signature solutions, announced a partnership with OpenText, an Enterprise Information Management (EIM) solution provider, to offer digital transaction management (DTM) and electronic signature capabilities to OpenText’s clients. Per the agreement, DocuSign will integrate its DTM and eSignature applications onto OpenText’s Enterprise Content Management, Contract Center, and PowerDocs applications. The result ought to be the automation and digitization of more of OpenText’s customers’ business processes for a faster, more efficient business operation.

Similarly, DocuSign announced that it is now partnering with Microsoft Office 365 to bring DTM and eSignature to Microsoft’s users. The integration will enable buiness users to leverage DocuSign’s DTM and eSignature applications in concert with Microsoft products and provide them with the capabilities to conduct business on the cloud via any mobile device that is connected, allowing them to keep pace with the hyper-kinetic speed of business today.

ESM Solutions Announces New Sourcing and Supplier Management Applications

ESM Solutions, the Pennsylvania-based company that provides SaaS-based sourcing and P2P solutions, recently announced several updates to its procure-to-pay solution that, according to company officials, ought to “streamline their processes, control their spend, minimize risk and increase compliance.” The enhancements include a supplier portal that links many strategic sourcing sub processes, notably sourcing, contract management, and supplier management, with other internal systems, like ERP and reporting. It is also intended to increase collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. Another enhancement is a new and improved user interface that should enhance sourcing and supplier relationship management functions. Furthermore, a new landing page that provides real-time data on the based on the applications that the enterprise is running at the time.

Wipro Partners with Apttus to Deliver Upstream and Downstream Capabilities to Clients

Last month, The Economic Times announced that Wipro, the Bangalore, India-based provider of IT, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, has partnered with Apttus, the California-based provider of quote-to-cash, contract, and supplier management solutions, to bring upstream and downstream procurement capabilities to its clients. As partners, Apttus will integrate its quote-to-cash capabilities with Wipro’s configure price quote and contract management capabilities to synergize offerings for their clients. According to company officials, the partnership/integration ought to “improve customer responsiveness, boost revenues while reducing operational costs and risks.”

At CPO Rising 2016, we’ll spend a lot of time discussing upstream (strategic sourcing) processes and solutions, like contract and supplier management. As we wind down the clock in 2015, be sure to take advantage of early bird pricing and get your tickets now for what is shaping up to be the procurement event of the year!

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Tagged in: Ardent Team, Contract Lifecycle Management, eProcurement, Innovation, P2P, Solution Providers, Source-to-Settle, Sourcing, Supplier Performance Management, Supplier Relationship Management, Tech Round-Up, Technology