EXPERT RESPONSE
If you have multiple customers and suppliers already on EDI and don't have any issues and don't have any need for connecting to non-EDI customers then you might not really want to start ICH yet.
The internet is also supposed to be cheaper and easier to implement than using EDI and has better standards to connect to non-SAP systems as well.
You could also look up for SNC (Supply Network Collaboration) in SAP literature which is what SAP refers to the collaborative functionality in SCM now.
ICH is useful if you want to include a wide range of suppliers in your network; your suppliers can communicate with mySAP SCM using a web
browser, e-mail and mobile devices.
You can also use alerts to enhance responsiveness. The solution lets you provide critical inventory information to suppliers using customizable automated alerts. These alerts can be based on quantities, percentages, or trends using criteria such as: 10% above the agreed upon minimum or a 20% increase in the rate of consumption (with support provided in mySAP SCM).
For a variety of communication channels, these alerts can be delivered using everything from central systems and Web portals to pagers and cell phones.
You can also deliver targeted information to supply chain partners. With the solution's Web-based enterprise portal technology, you can give supply network partners consolidated views of inventory plans and transactions. And you can tailor those views to fit the specific roles of suppliers, helping you ensure that they provide relevant, useful information that can drive action.
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