The Co-operative Group Adopts Axway B2B Solution for Improved Supplier Communication and Supply Chain Visibility

PHOENIX – The Co-operative Group, as part of an initiative to improve communications with suppliers for its 3000 food stores around the United Kingdom, is implementing Axway's business-to-business (B2B) solutions for process automation and collaboration. The Co-operative will also incorporate Axway's business activity monitoring (BAM) solution to its infrastructure for added visibility into business processes and the supply chain.

The platform will automate critical business processes and documents, including orders, advanced shipping notices, dispatch notes and invoices, leading to a more efficient integration between the convenience retailer's back-office systems and its suppliers. The first phase of the project, which manages store provision and replenishment, has been implemented.

"Axway's solutions will support the Co-operative in its ongoing commitment to controlled growth by reducing costs, enhancing relationships with suppliers and enabling us to be even more demand driven," said the Co-operative Group's Mark Hale, Director of Food Retail Information Services.

The aim of the project is to provide the Co-operative with an automated straight-through processing (STP) platform, cutting out manual involvement with process transactions. The solutions also provide proactive monitoring and exception management in the supply chain process, giving the Co-operative visibility and control.

"We're delighted to have been chosen by the Co-operative to enhance its business-to-business communication capabilities," said Axway's Craig Whitney, UK Managing Director. "Our B2B solution will provide the Co-operative with a single platform to enhance communications with all of its suppliers while simplifying business-critical supply chain processes."

For more information on Axway's B2B solutions, visit www.axway.com/solutions/collaborative_business_solutions.php

Related link: Axway Positioned in the "Leaders" Quadrant of the Magic Quadrant for Managed File Transfer

Follow Axway on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Axway

# # #

About Axway

Axway is the Business Interaction Networks company — the only provider in the market today to manage, run, secure, and monitor all of your business interactions, including email, files, messaging, services, events, and processes. Serving over 11,000 organizations in more than 100 countries, Axway facilitates the multi-enterprise transactions, processes and integration that accelerate business by eliminating the barriers between vendors, customers, departments, partners and suppliers. Axway's comprehensive offerings include business-to-business integration, managed file transfer, secure email, business activity monitoring, enterprise application integration, service-oriented architecture, business process management, track & trace and identity validation solutions. Axway provides professional and managed services, as well as cloud computing and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offerings. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Axway's global presence spans 20 countries.

About The Co-operative Group

The Co-operative Group is the largest consumer co-operative in the UK. It is the fifth largest food retailer, the third largest retail pharmacy chain and the number one provider of funeral services. It offers the largest choice of holidays on the High Street and is a significant financial services provider.

The group has its headquarters in Manchester, UK and employs 123,000 people. The Co-operative Group is a democratically run organisation with four and a half million actively trading members and over 4,500 retail outlets.

Led by its values and principles, The Co-operative Group works with members to tackle issues that are important to them — from helping the community to tackling global climate change.