Healthcare Companies Declared NPC Ready
Distributor users Bunzl and Bausch & Lomb have both just become NPC ready.
NPC ready status means that product and pricing data has been loaded onto the National Product Catalogue in readiness for the various state health jurisdictions to access for purchasing purposes.
Distributor has helped Bunzl and Bausch & Lomb become NPC ready by providing business rule validation for their product information to ensure that all product data uploaded to the NPC is clear, accurate and error-free.
Becoming NPC ready should be a priority for suppliers to the health jurisdictions as they move towards an ordering model in which suppliers must have their products uploaded onto the NPC.
Pacific Commerce are experts in the requirements of the NPC and ensure that even clients new to the concept of GS1net and the National Product Catalogue completely understand what is expected of their product data to become NPC compliant.
Follow the link for more information on our GS1 Certified Solution, Distributor.
GS1 Impetus Conference 2008
Pacific Commerce recently exhibited at GS1 Australia’s biannual Impetus Conference held in Melbourne over the 24th and 25th of October.
The conference was focused on discussing barcoding and data synchronisation standards in the supply chain, with a number of familiar faces in attendance.
Pacific Commerce customers Ged Halstead of CH2 and Carmen Byrne of 3M Healthcare participated in the "Supply Chain Health Check" seminar. The two outlined their respective companies' experiences in using the National Product Catalogue and the efficiencies gained through data synchronisation and electronic trading.
Andrew Price of Mitre10 appeared as part of the Hardware GS1 Action Group (HGAG) panel discussion, “Transforming the Hardware Supply Chain”. The panel discussed the HGAG's goal of the hardware industry rolling out GS1net standards and what efficiencies and savings can be gained throughout the supply chain.
Thanks to those of you that stopped by to say hello at the conference and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
Autodesk Industry Centres
Local Autodesk websites worldwide can now be explored through industry verticals. In the South Asia Pacific region the "Industry Centres" were created by Pacific Commerce.
This upgrade allows for Autodesk users to see more of the specialist products Autodesk offer to compliment and extend their current software suite's capabilities within a particular industry.
Autodesk Industry Centres include:
- Achitecture, Engineering & Construction;
- Automotive & Transportation;
- Education;
- Utilities & Telecommunications;
- Manufacturing; and
- Media & Entertainment.
Visit the Autodesk site here to see the Industry Centres in action.
News from the Exchanges
Our Trading Exchanges are still growing steadily as our Operations Team work hard to test and implement the constant stream of new connections.
The NARTA Trading Exchange has experienced a growth in transactions of 25% over the last two months as existing traders interconnect with each other to realise greater benefits. Electrical goods manufacturer Toshiba has commenced live trading with Bing Lee, while whitegoods manufacturer DeLonghi is now live trading with both Clive Peeters and Mitchell & Brown.
Device Technologies has also begun their implementation on the Pacific Health Exchange.
If you want to reduce costs and improve you supply chain by trading electronically. Call us on (02) 9468-3333 to find out more.
NSW Joins National Drive for e-Health Procurement
NSW Health will support a national electronic catalogue for health purchasing expected to deliver substantial safety and quality benefits to the Australian health sector.
The National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) recently announced that NSW Health, with assistance from the NSW Department of Commerce, would use the National Product Catalogue (NPC) as their primary source of purchasing data to drive cost savings and process efficiencies across the sector.
As the NPC is a national program, an estimated $200 million* in savings is expected to flow on from reduced errors and increased procurement efficiencies across the national health sector as well as reducing the incidence of delayed patient treatment.
The product catalogue uniquely identifies each healthcare product, including all medicines and medical devices and equipment, and records important supply chain and clinical information about those products such as the components of products and pack sizes.
All new health-specific State Contract Control Board (SCCB) tenders will be mandated to load all contract item information onto the NPC replacing the need to load contract product data onto NSW's Smartbuy system. Health-specific SCCB contractors would only need to load data once, saving suppliers' time and increasing the accuracy of the data stored.
According to NEHTA, which established the NPC in 2006, the agreement between NSW Health and the NSW Department of Commerce is another boost for the profile of e-procurement in the health sector.
Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and Australian Capital Territory already use the National Product Catalogue.
"The need to move towards a single product repository has long been recognised as the most effective method for health related product purchasing," said Ken Nobbs, Program Manager – Medical Products, NEHTA.
"This decision gives a clear message that the NSW government is fully supportive of the NPC going forward, aligning with the support of all other governments," said Mr. Nobbs.
"From a public health perspective, e-procurement has huge safety and quality benefits," said NSW Health Manager Procurement Information, Valentino Bulaon.
"The NPC lays the foundations for this process and we are happy to endorse it as the preferred data source for purchasing," he said.
NSW Health has undertaken to relay Health-specific contract product information to the NSW Department of Commerce to facilitate, through Smartbuy, access by other NSW government agencies. Both departments have emphasised that the decision to use the NPC as the preferred source of data is integral to a strategy to progress an end-to-end service around e-procurement for healthcare.
*KPMG, October 2002 Product Numbering Standards for Electronic Health Supply Chains.
This article was provided by GS1 Australia. Data synchronisation news relating to GS1 standards and the Healthcare Industry can be found on the GS1 Australia website.
September 2008: MTAA Conference 2008
Pacific Commerce is exhibiting this month at the MTAA Medical Technology and Innovation Conference 2008 as Bronze Sponsors of the event.
The two day programme consists of a range of seminars and workshops around this year’s theme, “Innovative Pathways to a Healthy Nation”. Pacific Commerce’s Steve Robb will also be presenting as part of the “e-Procurement Update” workshop on day two.
Pacific Commerce will be promoting eCommerce solutions for the health industry at the event, including Distributor to help health suppliers become NPC ready and the Pacific Health Exchange for cutting costs through electronic trading.
The Conference is being held on the 24th and 25th of September at Star City, Sydney.
For more details visit MTAA Events.
September 2008: Shop Online With Elizabeth Bay Cellars
Recently we developed an online store for Elizabeth Bay Cellars, an import wine specialist in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Pacific Commerce designed the entire site from the artwork to the online ordering system.
Information on the website is kept up to date by regular updates from the bottle shop’s MYOB accounting system. The online shop offers customers a secure way to obtain those rare and exclusive wines that aren’t available at most other outlets.
Elizabeth Bay Cellars plans to expand their online product range with an extensive range of beer in the near future. In the meantime you can browse the extensive range of spirits, imported and temperature-controlled wines already available from www.ebaycellars.com.au.
September 2008: Odds and Ends
Here is a quick summing up of what else is happening around Pacific Commerce this month:
Design software specialists Autodesk have just named Pacific Commerce their Best Supplier in Australia for 2007; a procurement prize awarded to us for the significant amount of online marketing we undertake on Autodesk’s behalf.
Pharmaceutical and medical delivery company, Hospira has decided to use Distributor for validating and uploading its product and pricing data to the National Product Catalogue.
Global medical technology company Becton Dickinson is the latest company to join the Pacific Health Exchange (PHE). BD will initially use the PHE to trade directly with ACT Health.
Pacific Commerce recently updated the Peter Trends Bridal website with their new season’s range of bridal wear. You can see the new range at www.petertrends.com.au.
The Timber and Hardware Exchange (T&HE) has also been growing, with 4 more suppliers recently commencing live trading with Mitre10, and an additional five suppliers signing up to begin the implementation process.
June 2008: Autodesk Global Launch
Pacific Commerce client Autodesk recently launched its 2009 product range by updating over 30 websites worldwide. Pacific Commerce was responsible for the creation of 9 Autodesk websites in the South Asia Pacific and Hong Kong region.
Autodesk is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are made reality.
The South Asia Pacific launch took place on March 25th, with Hong Kong following on April 8th. Pacific Commerce is also working with Autodesk on a number of associated marketing campaigns to help spread the word about the 2009 product lines.
Congratulations to the Web team for their tireless efforts to complete this substantial project on time.
June 2008: Exchange Updates
Pacific Commerce Trading Exchanges have been enjoying a significant ramp up in membership lately as many Australian companies are joining up to enjoy the benefits of electronic trade.
The Timber & Hardware Exchange would like to welcome Primus, ITI Treated Pine Queensland, E.D. Oates, John Cook & Sons, Le Messurier Timber Co, Johnson Diversey and Electaserv to live trading.
Electrical retailer Clive Peeters is the latest company to join the NARTA Trading Exchange for electrical goods wholesalers, retailers and manufacturers.
The Pacific Commerce Exchange (PCX) has also been enjoying an increase in trading, with consumer goods distributor Tempo and industrial instrumentation manufacturer Hantech QLD both recently commencing live trade.
Pacific Commerce Trading Exchanges are growing all the time. If you have more trading partners that you would like to trade with online, contact us today.
June 2008: Healthcare Suppliers Select Distributor
Contact lens and eye care pharmaceutical company Bausch & Lomb and cardiology equipment manufacturer St Jude Medical have selected GS1net validation & upload tool Distributor from Pacific Commerce.
Bausch & Lomb and St Jude Medical will both be using Distributor to load their product & pricing data onto the health industry’s National Product Catalogue.
February 2008: Online Project Gallery
A gallery of online projects by Pacific Commerce has just been added to our website. Included in the gallery are examples of Electronic Direct Mail (eDM) and web design projects we have created for clients such as Autodesk, Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API), CSL, Elizabeth Bay Cellars and Peter Trends Bridal.
The gallery demonstrates some of the different ways that eDM and web design can be used for communicating with your clients effectively. Pacific Commerce is able to produce these online marketing campaigns tailored to your specific needs so your messages are delivered clearly and professionally.
February 2008: Online Ordering System for CSL Biotherapies
Pacific Commerce has been commissioned to develop an online ordering system for CSL Biotherapies. CSL Biotherapies specialise in the local manufacture and marketing of influenza vaccine and anti-venoms for domestic and international markets.
The online ordering system will allow CSL Biotherapies customers to order vaccines and pharmaceutical products directly through a secure component of the CSL Biotherapies website. The ordering system will also enable CSL to track trading documents and maintain client details by interfacing directly with CSL’s enterprise resource planning system. The new ordering system is expected to provide CSL Biotherapies and their customers with improved efficiencies.
February 2008: New Connections on our Trading Exchanges
Customers already trading through one of the Pacific Commerce trading exchanges are enjoying increased savings by connecting to a steadily growing number of their trading partners. New connections this month include; API with ModelCo and Colour Spot Nursery has begun trading with hardware distributor Danks.
ModelCo is a Sydney based beauty products company which has grown rapidly over the last 6 years and is now exporting its products to boutiques and department stores in over 20 countries. ModelCo will be using the PCX to trade electronically with Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API), parent company of the Priceline retail chain.
Colour Spot Nursery, a western Sydney veteran of 36 years in plant growing and wholesale, has been implemented for online trade by Pacific Commerce with hardware and garden products distributor, Danks.
If there are any of your suppliers who you believe should be trading with you online, or if you would like to be connected to an existing Pacific Commerce customer, contact our sales team on (02) 9468 3333 or send us an email.
February 2008: Exchanger 2.3
Are you using the latest version of the Exchanger software? If not, an update to the Trading Exchange software, Exchanger 2.3, is now available for download.
To update to Exchanger 2.3, log in to your Trading Exchange and download the software from the Resources section of the website.
PHE
| T&HE
| NARTA
| PCX
