Key suppliers attend PPL e-commerce strategy meeting

Account and information technology representatives for 38 key suppliers of PPL commodities attended PPL's e-commerce strategy meeting on Thursday (9/29) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Allentown, Pa.

PPL has used its e-marketplace, Enporion, to establish commodity contracts with these suppliers and enable electronic transactions. The purpose of the meeting was to communicate to these suppliers the lead role they have supporting PPL's move toward significantly increasing electronic supply chain and cash operations transactions such as purchase orders, acknowledgements, change orders and, particularly, invoices.

Jim Miller, PPL's president and chief operating officer, gave a keynote address on the company's supply chain e-commerce strategy, which is to conduct business with approved suppliers using Enporion to facilitate source-to-settlement e-transaction efficiencies.

"It makes good business sense for PPL and its suppliers to save by using more efficient ordering and payment processes enabled by e-commerce technology," Miller said.

Joe Zelechoski, director-Supply Chain, reinforced Miller's message by noting that e-commerce is now PPL policy and an industry best practice that offers competitive advantages. "It's time to maximize the benefits of e-commerce," said Zelechoski.

Enporion's commitment to support implementation of PPL's e-commerce strategy was reinforced by its chairman and chief executive officer, George Gordon.

For example, suppliers have the flexibility of either connecting their systems directly to Enporion or using its hosted service over the Internet. Enporion can also translate supplier transactions from their existing electronic format into the electronic format used by PPL. This enables suppliers to e-transact with PPL using their existing format without additional cost.

Representatives of Babcock Power and WESCO Distribution spoke about their use of Enporion to enable e-transactions for their operations. Babcock Power is the first supplier to become a full customer of Enporion. WESCO has directly integrated their systems to Enporion.

Several Enporion customers, executives from PPL's business lines, members of PPL e-commerce strategy team and Supply Chain personnel also attended.

Al Rusczyk, director-Purchasing, urged suppliers to act on the information provided at the gathering and take prompt steps to enhance the benefits of their connection to Enporion, particularly electronic invoicing with PPL. PPL also signed up suppliers for electronic funds transfer (EFT), a more efficient method to process payments.

Questions asked and surveys completed offered positive feedback from the suppliers that e-transactions are a better way to do business. The feedback also indicated such meetings are a good forum for similar purposes in the future.

If you'd like more information on the company's supply chain e-commerce strategy, contact Rick Goch, manager-Strategic Sourcing at ETN 220-6853 or rjgoch@pplweb.com.