NEP Cloud – Paving the way in Peppol
NEP Cloud is the largest Consortium in the English NHS, clearly demonstrating where true collaboration takes place and its members take advantage of all the integral technologies available to them.
When we moved to our ‘NEP Cloud’ NHS solution, it was clear that many advantages could be obtained through maximising the use of the available technologies, in particular the key NHS initiatives, including digitalisation, Peppol and GS1.
Our Peppol Initiative
We had already made significant in-roads in terms of integrating and trading with Peppol and GS1 initiative. By working with our members to deliver the required GS1 Global Location Numbers (GLNs) and engaging with suppliers, we worked hard to achieve in excess of 400 suppliers trading via Peppol, utilising the 4 cornered approach. This resulted in making efficiencies and added value for our members, utilising seamless electronic processing across the Purchase to Pay solution and improving supplier relations.
However, it is no surprise that when it comes to change within any areas, it is often difficult and we undoubtedly encountered a resistance, and truthfully, we were not initially seeing the engagement or uptake we needed to sustain the supplier interest.
“Operationally Peppol means that purchase orders are transmitted electronically across the Peppol network and supplier invoices are transmitted back in the same way. This removes all the manual intervention and processing element, providing a seamless transmission saving considerable resource and cost in the full purchase to pay process.”
Julie Reed, Deputy Director of Finance
Next Steps
NEP had a very clear vision and strategy, we engaged with our partner Pagero to help us formulate a very ambitious but achievable on-boarding project, combined with mandating all our members to trade electronically. We believed this would not only have a huge benefit on the engagement with our suppliers but also make a real difference to how our clients trade within the NHS.
Having presented a business case to the NEP Board, and having full support of our Host Trust, Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust, it was agreed to take the bold step of mandating the use of Peppol across the NEP Cloud Solution.
We can say that all of our organisations have fully embraced this initiative and we are already seeing an increase in the use of trading this way; with nearing 500 suppliers live and an astounding 1600 suppliers in the process of connecting with us to trade. The interest is more than we anticipated in such a short space of time, which is incredibly encouraging.
“We realise that we need to grasp the opportunities with NEP Cloud to maximise the benefits the solution brings, the further expansion of Peppol across our suppliers has proven a major success with the Trust.”
Michael Davison, Finance Project Lead
This is a true example of where objectives outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan are being put into practice, being demonstrated and becoming integral to a more efficient Purchase to Pay process here at NEP.
It is also a testament of the how NEP with its members and Partners have, through technology and effective collaboration, are making it possible to be the success it is.
“NEP have been, and remain, the pioneers of the NHS digitalisation strategy in relation to Peppol, GS1 Standards and catalogue provision, meaning they provide their membership with the most advanced and future-proofed solutions available within the healthcare supply chain.”
Benjit Nilsson, CEO of Pagero
It should be remembered that this initiative and the work our Consortium is undertaking, is not only benefiting its own members, but is also paving the way for the wider NHS, which is exactly how it should be.
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