OTC Pharmaceuticals Maker Turns to GXS to Reduce Manual Processes and Increase B2B Efficiency GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- GXS, a leading provider ofbusiness-to-business (B2B) e-commerce solutions, today announced thatInsight Pharmaceuticals has chosen GXS Trading Grid(R) Messaging Servicesto increase the volume of its e-commerce transactions and the number oftrading partners with which it conducts B2B e-commerce. Insight was seekingto lower the cost of conducting e-commerce with its more than 500 retailercustomers around the world and to increase the efficiency of its demandchain operations. GXS Trading Grid Messaging Services enables Insight toconduct electronic data interchange (EDI)-based transactions with itssmaller retail customers and the Applicability Statement 2 (AS2) protocolwith larger retailers and other trading partners. In business for nearly ten years, Insight Pharmaceuticals markets awide variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications including the well-knownbrands Anacin(R), Allerest(R), N'Ice(R) Lozenges and Sucrets(R) Sore Throatand Cough Lozenges. The company had been using an EDI provider whosepricing and customer service was making it impractical for Insight to growits base of e- commerce transactions and trading partners. In coming toGXS, Insight sought not only to decrease the cost of its e-commercetransactions, but also to gain a better level of service and to meetcustomer demands to support additional standards and protocols. GXSprovides Insight with EDI service at a lower cost than what the company waspreviously paying, and also provides them with greater flexibility forvarious protocols and standards. "For years, we have been struggling with EDI, trying to make it meetour needs but we have been unable to deploy it widely enough to make itcost- efficient," says Andrea Patti, customer service manager at InsightPharmaceuticals. "In coming to GXS, not only did we save money, but weadded new trading partners to our electronic network, new transaction typesand support for AS2. As a result, our e-commerce network has beentransformed into one of strategic importance and made us a better partnerfor our retailers. GXS' stellar customer service turned a very stressfulsituation into one of the best interactions I have ever had with a vendor." Leveraging GXS, Insight also was able to expand the transaction typesit exchanged with 60 of its trading partners to now include payments andadvanced ship notices. By providing Insight with the ability to conduct acomplete suite of electronic transactions, GXS has helped Insight improvethe efficiency of its supply chain and decrease time-consuming and costlymanual processes. Ultimately, the company hopes to extend its B2Be-commerce network internationally to include hundreds of customers inCanada, Europe, the Middle East and South America. Before coming to GXS, Insight Pharmaceuticals had received severalrequests from retailers to use the AS2 protocol to send and receivetransactions. The AS2 standard offers companies a direct and secure methodto communicate EDI or XML transactions over the Internet. However, AS2requires users to deploy software and ensure 24x7 server availability inorder to support the protocol in-house. After coming to GXS for its EDIneeds, Insight was pleased to learn that GXS provided an AS2 outsourcingservice that enabled them to send transactions to GXS via EDI that wouldthen be translated into AS2 for their customers. "The strength of a pharmaceutical brand's B2B program is becoming animportant differentiator in servicing the needs of large retailers.Suppliers with the flexibility to accommodate the increasingly customizedrequirements of their customers will ultimately win more shelf space andmindshare at key accounts," said Steve Keifer, vice president of Industryand Product Marketing at GXS. "Our goal with GXS Trading Grid is to enableany company regardless of its size, type or location to conduct B2Be-commerce using its preferred technology standard. InsightPharmaceuticals' rewarding experience migrating to GXS is what we strive toprovide to all our customers - a B2B platform that enables costefficiencies, but also accelerates growth through enhanced customerservice." GXS Trading Grid is a global B2B e-commerce and integration platformthat supports the creation and adoption of on-demand supply chainmanagement solutions for companies of any size. As the world's largestelectronic business community, the GXS Trading Grid is used by more than35,000 customers to exchange goods and services, gain visibility intoglobal logistics operations and to synchronize product data. Trading Gridhelps customers automate global trading communities by shielding complexityfrom rapidly changing standards, eliminating manual and duplicativeprocesses and enabling the highest levels of B2B integration andcollaboration. About Insight Pharmaceuticals Headquartered in Langhorne, PA, Insight Pharmaceuticals was founded toacquire niche consumer OTC drug products from larger companies, focusing ontheir biggest brands. The company's philosophy is to earn customer(retailer) loyalty and build consumer affinity by offering effectivemedications which target specific health needs, providing them with maximumrelief of their symptoms. Insight has recently begun a campaign tore-establish these brands in the marketplace through focused consumer andtrade marketing support. Insight Pharmaceuticals' brands include Sucrets(R)Sore Throat and Cough Lozenges, N'Ice(R) Lozenges, Allerest andNostrilla(R) Nasal Spray. About GXS GXS is a leading global provider of B2B e-commerce solutions thatsimplify and enhance business process integration and collaboration amongtrading partners. Organizations worldwide, including 75 percent of theFortune 500, leverage the on-demand services on GXS Trading Grid(R) toextend supply chain networks, optimize product launches, automate warehousereceiving, manage electronic payments and gain supply chain visibility. GXSManaged Services, GXS' B2B outsourcing solution, empowers customers withthe expertise, technical infrastructure and program support to conduct B2Be-commerce with trading partners globally. Based in Gaithersburg, Md., GXS has an extensive global network and haslocal offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions. GXS can befound on the Web at
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), clickappropriate link.Steve Keifer
Insight Pharmaceuticals Selects GXS Trading Grid(R) To Tighten Integration With Retailers
March 05, 2008, 10:31 p.m. EST 5 Min Read
