ZF Application report
User Access Manager developed by open4business creates more and intensive transparency of business processes with the customer.
ZF Friedrichshafen AG is the world leading manufacturer of driveline and chassis technology. With annual sales of 12 billion Euros and more than 50 thousand employees, ZF is one of the the biggest automotive suppliers in the world. Automotive suppliers are today not only suppliers but also partners of their worldwide customers. Product innovations are planned and developed together with their customers and will be sold directly into the equivalent world market regions.
Considering this strategic alignment, in the last few years ZF developed an integrated innovation management process. This process analyses and evaluates systematically market aspects, customers, products, technology and production possibilities.
Considering this strategic alignment, in the last few years ZF developed an integrated innovation management process. This process analyses and evaluates systematically market aspects, customers, products, technology and production possibilities.
The increasing global responsibility for product innovations, engineering and logistics make it essential that customers and external partners work even closer together The cooperation ranges from single projects up to to large projects of strategic value.
Due to the strategic approach it was decided in 2002 that ” for the entire ZF Group a central process of user administration should be implemented ”, says John Sobeck responsible for eBusiness of the ZF-Group. And furthermore:“through this process we will achieve a high transparency for all activities of ZF employees, who have access to external portals of our customers”. Another and also a important aspect are the “legal and organisational terms of conditions, which have not been examined in the past to our total satisfaction. Now this process has been defined centrally and if required, it will also be negotiated again with our customers for the whole ZF Group ”
Today more than 5000 ZF employees from very specific departments such as quality control, logistics, sales, purchasing and research, have registered themselves on the central platform of the User Access Manager, and have access to approximately eighty customer portals worldwide.
“ The advantages for the users are obvious” , says Mrs Sandra Schmidt, manageress for the OEM-portals.
“Employees, who were occupied in the past with the registration ,the administration and legal matters are now coordinated by a central service. This has a substantial synergy effect”.
The User Access Manager is also used internationally. The ZF employers use the User Access Manager not only in Germany, but also in the USA, South America and South Africa. The positive reaction of the customer shows that the User Access Manager can be strongly recommended to other suppliers for the use of their administration of internet portals.
Due to the strategic approach it was decided in 2002 that ” for the entire ZF Group a central process of user administration should be implemented ”, says John Sobeck responsible for eBusiness of the ZF-Group. And furthermore:“through this process we will achieve a high transparency for all activities of ZF employees, who have access to external portals of our customers”. Another and also a important aspect are the “legal and organisational terms of conditions, which have not been examined in the past to our total satisfaction. Now this process has been defined centrally and if required, it will also be negotiated again with our customers for the whole ZF Group ”
Today more than 5000 ZF employees from very specific departments such as quality control, logistics, sales, purchasing and research, have registered themselves on the central platform of the User Access Manager, and have access to approximately eighty customer portals worldwide.
“ The advantages for the users are obvious” , says Mrs Sandra Schmidt, manageress for the OEM-portals.
“Employees, who were occupied in the past with the registration ,the administration and legal matters are now coordinated by a central service. This has a substantial synergy effect”.
The User Access Manager is also used internationally. The ZF employers use the User Access Manager not only in Germany, but also in the USA, South America and South Africa. The positive reaction of the customer shows that the User Access Manager can be strongly recommended to other suppliers for the use of their administration of internet portals.