THE COMMERCIAL PAYMENT CARD FORUM
(encompassing the Purchasing Card Forum) Gain the inside edge from the very best industry experience and practice
The very significant cost reductions available from automating procurement, not only strategic but also Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO), have been recognised for some time. But, with the exception of a few major corporations and some early adopters, the anticipated rush to e-procurement has simply not occurred as organisations come to terms with the immaturity of the technology and the true scale of the implementation issues.
However, the Purchasing Card has been recognised as the natural first step for most organisations because it delivers a major portion of the benefits in a very straightforward way and at low cost. Purchasing Cards also provides the key, first level, management information essential for proper analysis.
The Purchasing Card not only offers purchasers cost savings and management benefits, it also offers benefits to suppliers, not least in terms of the speed and simplicity of settlement which brings definite cash flow advantages.
Purchasing Cards are also of value in the public sector. In the UK the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is leading the way, demonstrating how to generate significant cost savings, as well as coordinating and supporting a range of Purchasing Card initiatives across central and local government.
As the Purchasing Card market has grown, developed and matured over the last few years, so too has the Commercial Payment Card Forum (formerly the Purchasing Card Forum) extended and enhanced the range of topics it covers. We now see a whole variety of types of implementations, from pure ‘walking plastic’ to embedded cards, being used across a range of scenarios, from pure procurement to travel and expenses. Furthermore, the Purchasing Card can no longer be considered in isolation but must be considered in its full context in the purchase to pay cycle, including of course as a key element of e-procurement. Why a Forum?
Bringing card-based payment into purchasing creates the potential for very significant cost savings, but there is little in the way of information or guidance as to how or what to do. In addition, there is a real need and demand for independent information with a means of sharing experience and best practice in a neutral environment.
An independent forum provides that environment and the necessary support infrastructure. A forum also offers a rich source of information and learning for individuals and organisations, with a mixture of highly practical, user-based experience, together with leading industry insight, strategy, news and comment.
The focus is on practicality in order to enable businesses to make better decisions and be better able to undertake high quality implementations, resulting in increased cost savings that go straight to the bottom line. Contact Us
For further information on the Commercial Payment Card Forum, please contact Richard Poynder on +44 (0)1440 712 610 or at richard@smartex.com. |
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