Wax Digital adds polish to HMV's e-procurement

Entertainment retailer HMV is deploying Wax Digital's web3 e-sourcing platform in a bid to cut costs and boost efficiency.

The software-as-a-service (SaaS) system will replace an Ariba sourcing solution, and according to Paul Barker, procurement manager at HMV, will enable the retailer to negotiate with suppliers more efficiently.

HMV will initially use web3 to source print and stationery products before rolling it out across other divisions.

"We chose Wax Digital for its intuitive platform and local sourcing expertise. It has helped us to procure more efficiently," said Barker.

Wax Digital director Daniel Ball said the e-solution saves time and effort as it allows HMV buyers to pull together large complex tender documents quickly using a host of standard templates and clauses for each stage of the procurement process.

"Once the tender documents are put together, you can apply automated scoring and grading to supplier responses, meaning different answers are weighted to a score determined by the buyer," said Ball.

"There can be multiple choices, tick boxes and open-ended questions. If a supplier says no to a question that the buyer needs as a prerequisite, the supplier can be automatically excluded."

The platform also allows for e-auctions, which HMV intends to make standard practice following sourcing. The suppliers selected by the questionnaire would then make a further bid. "This benefits the buyer greatly," said Ball.

As the system does not need to integrate with back-office systems, implementation took just a few days, HMV said. Staff training took a further two to three days.