SDI Streamlines Supplier Data Collection Across Its Digital Supply Chain Network

Challenge

SDI, a market leader in Digital Supply Chain Solutions, needed a file transfer capability for an Omni-Channel Supplier Catalog Management service spanning more than 6,000 suppliers, piloted around the collection, validation, and publication of product descriptions. SFTP was rejected by suppliers unwilling to maintain their own clients; a SharePoint pilot ran into spam-filtered notifications, registration friction for non-Microsoft users, and supplier firewalls blocking links; and email couldn't handle the file sizes involved. A custom web service would have cost $100,000 in development and support over three years.

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Solution

SDI implemented eSHARE, using its existing SharePoint environment for file storage with no custom development required. Suppliers authenticate with their existing OpenID-compatible credentials — no new accounts needed — through a simple, SDI-branded web portal running on a subdomain of SDI's own site.

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Results

• SDI implemented the solution in a matter of days, saving more than $75,000 versus building a custom service
• Operating on SDI's own subdomain eliminated the link-blocking issues suppliers had hit with SharePoint
• SDI is already expanding eSHARE's role to include data validation and automated ingestion into its omni-channel procurement platform

"eSHARE simplified and improved the quality of our data collection process. Its modern and simple UX allowed us to quickly implement and secure our partnerships with our suppliers and continue to innovate our Digital Supply Chain Solutions." — SVP, Digital Supply Chain, SDI