Over the summer, SITPRO commissioned four students from Lancaster University Management School who were undertaking an MSc in E-Business and Innovation to look at current issues in paperless trading. Their final report looks at some of the gaps between paper and paperless trading systems in the supply chain and brings together, perhaps for the first time, a number of studies undertaken on these issues in different parts of the world as well as exploring specific issues relevant to the UK through new research.
The report confirms, once again, that there is a lack of visibility within the total supply chain and the continued need to re-enter the same data elements as part of normal work routines. It also identifies a significant risk to UK competitiveness if insufficient attention is paid by both government and the private sector to investing in the development of paperless trading.
SITPRO's e-Business Advisory Group have already begun to use this report to help develop a five year vision for e-documentation and the recommendations made by the students will help SITPRO to identify the most appropriate way forward to help in the continued development of paperless trading to the benefit of the UK economy. For further information about how to become involved in this area, please contact Sue Bravery (sue.bravery@sitpro.org.uk 
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Return to SITPRO News: Issue 62, Autumn 2007