Supplypoint: Electronic Procurement Using Virtual Supply Chains - an Overview

Background In the area of Electronic Contracting and Virtual Company Formation within Supply-Chains there has been little research or development work. During this paper we will outline the European Union sponsored project SUPPLYPOINT (ESPRIT 27007) which addresses the issues of panEuropean electronic trade links for business-to-business and business-to-public body electronic commerce. This will be achieved by using virtual supply chains and covering a life cycle from contract identification to completion, including virtual supply chain management and electronic payments. It will provide a one-stop shopping service for companies to purchase goods and services from small / medium sized enterprises (SMEs) co-operating in virtual and dynamic supply chains. The project started on July 1 1998 and is co-funded by the European Commission to support the multi-national consortium conducting the research and development over a two year peroid.