[March 26, 2013] |
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New Version of SciQuest Business Automation Suite Features Consumer-like User Experience to Turn Spending Into Savings
CARY, N.C. --(Business Wire)--
SciQuest
(NASDAQ: SQI), the leading provider of cloud-based business automation
solutions, today announced the next major version of its spend
management product suite. Available today, the release features a new
user interface that includes consumer-like features and experiences
similar to sites like Amazon, Facebook (News - Alert) and LinkedIn. Combined with other
significant new features such as a Digital Mailroom for accounts
payable, tighter contract management integration, a new Workflow
Inspector and shared shopping cart, SciQuest is making it even easier
for customers to cut costs, automate processes and gain transparency to
turn spending into savings.
The latest product enhancements are the result of direct customer
feedback, which reinforces SciQuest's commitment to deliver innovative
products that meet organizations' needs to more effectively manage spend
through automation The new product was previewed to customers at
NextLevel, SciQuest's annual user conference held last month. Customers
provided extremely positive feedback about the new user interface in
particular, commenting on the ease of navigation and intuitiveness of
the experience.
"We are committed to continuous enhancements to enrich the user
experience across our suite of cloud-based applications," said Mark
Digman, SciQuest Vice President, Product Marketing and Strategy. "This
release represents a tremendous leap forward, by enabling users to shop
within their organization much like how they purchase goods on-line as
consumers. Along with other key features of this release, we have
streamlined key processes within AP, procurement, purchasing and
contract management to empower our customers to contribute to the bottom
line."
New SciQuest User Interface
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Simple, Intuitive Site Navigation -Clean slide-out side menus
replace tab-driven navigation menus and enable users to quickly find
where they want to go. In addition to a newly reorganized menu
structure, new search options are available that help users find what
they need and determine their next task.
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In-application notifications - Notifications and action items
will be communicated in an interactive, easily accessed fashion within
the application. These communcations are visible from all pages in
the application, similar to applications like Facebook and LinkedIn (News - Alert).
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Detailed Cart Preview - Instead of the cart summary available
in previous versions, a cart preview allows users to see what items
they have added to their cart without navigating away from the primary
shopping screens.
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User Profile Improvements - The new version of the SciQuest
product suite incorporates new task-driven screens for managing
user profiles, which will guide users through the various options.
100% Invoice Capture Through Digital Mailroom
In the area of Accounts Payable, the new version features a Digital
Mailroom that offers organizations the ability to route paper, fax and
email invoices directly to SciQuest for scan and capture. Once final
visual verification is completed to ensure accuracy, the invoices are
available to the organization for matching and approval in the SciQuest
Accounts Payable Director. This significantly improves productivity
within accounts payable departments.
Enhanced Module Integration and Workflow
The latest release includes important new features that demonstrate how
SciQuest is more tightly integrating its contract lifecycle management
(CLM) solution acquired from Upside last year. Organizations will be
able to integrate the CLM product with the spend management module to
track spend against contracts and set up item lists and price sets.
The new version of the SciQuest suite also includes features that make
it easier for customers to tap the power of workflow built in to the
solution. A new Workflow Inspector tool empowers organizations to view
data on a document that caused a specific behavior in a workflow step.
In addition, the SciQuest solution includes new Advanced Dynamic
Workflow options for administrators to set up their own workflow rules.
Enhanced Shopping Options
SciQuest continues to advance its powerful shopping capabilities with a
new shared cart feature. This allows organizations with lab workgroups
or small departments to combine shopping and purchasing into shared
carts for group orders. All group members will be able to simultaneously
shop and monitor cart contents, avoiding duplication, while alleviating
workload on lab managers and administrative personnel that are currently
processing multiple individual orders. With group shopping, shared carts
can also be used to achieve discounts with those suppliers that provide
bulk order discounting.
"The transformed procurement organization should be proactive in seeking
and identifying savings opportunities, and should be a strategic partner
for the organization in innovation, make-versus-buy decisions, risk
management, outsourcing, demand management, etc.," said Magnus Bergfors,
Gartner (News - Alert) Research Director in the report, "How to Use Software and
Service Providers for Successful Procurement Transformation, November 2,
2012. "In order for the organization to function this way, it must have
access to suitable tools and systems such as spend analysis, e-sourcing,
contract life cycle management (CLM), procure to pay (P2P) systems and
supply base management."
Availability
The latest version of SciQuest is available immediately. For more
information, or to request a demo, please visit http://www.sciquest.com/business-automation-suite-saas/.
About SciQuest
With a reputation for deep domain knowledge, a solid customer-driven
portfolio, and industry-leading customer satisfaction, SciQuest
(NASDAQ: SQI) is the largest public provider of cloud-based business
automation solutions that turn spending into a source of savings.
SciQuest solutions enable greater visibility and compliance
organization-wide to help you gain control, optimize efficiencies, and
reduce spend. These cloud-based solutions are easier to implement and
proven to deliver measurable, sustainable value with SciQuest's
high-touch support, analysis and automation.
To join the conversation, please visit our blog, The
Open Kitchen - or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @SciQuest.

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