Summer 2008

Sterling Commerce claims to be the first software supplier to offer a financial solution allowing multi-national organisations to automate electronic invoicing processes worldwide, while maintaining conformity with individual tax regulations in the various different countries in question.

The system is called Sterling e-Invoice Gateway, and the company says it eliminates the need to support separate solutions for isolated geographies. It also reduces risk and exposure by complying with ever-changing electronic invoicing tax regulations, Sterling says; and itimproves operational efficiencies and contains costs by automating both buyer and seller electronic invoice processes in compliance with country-specific tax regulations.

According to Chris Johnson, the vice president for global product management in Sterling's B2B collaboration solutions division: 'Compliance with e-invoicing legislation has become a complex challenge that is beginning to cost global organisations significant time and money.' He argues that a solution such as Sterling's can help users keep up with legislative requirements and save on fines and lost VAT.

*Buy British' response to call centre survey

 

British consumers public would rather pay more and buy British than get cheaper goods and services produced offshore, according to a survey conducted by ICM.

Despite the credit crunch, the survey suggests, only one in four consumers is happy for goods and services to be handled outside the UK, even if it makes them cheaper for consumers.

Consumers were particularly adamant that call centres should be kept in the UK. Fifty-nine per cent of respondents gave a top 'discontented' rating of ten out of ten to the idea of call centres being offshored, and 79 per cent gave this a rating of between eight and ten out of ten.

Only 6 per cent were 'happy' (3 per cent 'very happy') to have call centres handled offshore.

Consumers even appear to want electronic and similar goods made at home. Only 15 per cent of respondents were 'very happy' for electronic goods to be manufactured offshore, even if it made them cheaper, and just 13 per cent were very happy for clothes to be made offshore.

Young people were more comfortable with services being offshored, with 52 per cent of the 18Ð24 age range happy to accept offshoring services if it saved them money.

Offshore call centres were exceptionally unpopular. Only 6 per cent were happy to see call centres offshored, even if it saved costs.