A recent article published at MSDynamicsWorld.com details how Bisso Marine has implemented a new web-based requisitions solution with Microsoft Dynamics SL that has streamlined and improved their procurement processes.
Bisso Marine provides offshore construction, pipeline, decommissioning, marine salvage, and diving services. The company is based in Houston, and has been in operation for 125 years. they have an extensive list of clients that includes major oil and gas companies, pipeline transmission companies, and infrastructure and construction companies.
Naturally, it is the nature of their business that requisitions for supplies might be coming from someone working offshore on a drilling rig, or on a construction barge, or on a boat at sea. And until recently, users had to fill out Excel spreadsheets that they would send to corporate headquarters. Buyers in the office manually entered purchase orders and looked up pricing. All invoices then had to go to operations for approval before payment, which meant longer pay times, fewer early-payment discounts, and the potential for lost invoices.
Now anyone with an internet connection can access the requisition process, wherever they are, and the approval process is streamlined and efficient. Approvers are notified when a request is pending, and once approved, the request can be automatically set up as a purchase order in Microsoft Dynamics SL.
Time spent pricing and ordering goods has decreased, as has the time it takes to process payments, and that means stronger vendor relationships and significant savings from early payment discounts. The new system has also greatly decreased the risk of fraudulent invoices.