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The
Novotel Apollo Singapore is moving forward with the marvels of the 21st century, implementing e-procurement in
efforts to improve efficiency as well as offering guests broadband wireless internet
(WiFi).
Novotel Apollo Singapore is also the first Accor hotel in
South-East Asia to implement e-procurement, engaging Foodbex Global, a broadline food and beverage
distributor, for its services. Other organisations that have implemented e-procurement include the Singapore Zoological Gardens, Singapore Airport Terminal
Services Ltd (SATS) and Carrefour.
Orders
are placed electronically and payment to the various suppliers will be streamlined to Foodbex, ensuring
efficient management of orders and delivery. Detailed monthly consumption reports
are produced, allowing for better management of purchasing expenses. The chefs will also have first hand experience in ordering their
supplies, without having to fill up a myriad of paperwork and compromising on quality.
Mr. Ng Hong Leng, Financial Controller, Mr. Allan Tham, Purchasing Manager, Mr. Lewis Tay, Executive Chef and
Mr. Zulkifli Othman, Director of Food & Beverage for Novotel Apollo spearheaded the e-procurement project, which
took up a year to process.
The e-procurement will be done in two phases; the direct kitchen purchases which started 1 August 2004. The
second phase, involving the other hotel purchases will start three months later.
On the average, Novotel Apollo spends about S$150,000 a month on food alone. This covers banqueting functions,
The SQUARE Restaurant, Kintamani Indonesian Restaurant as well as the staff cafeteria. E-procurement
is expected to cut the food expenditure costs by about 3%.
The wireless Internet
service will be available in the hotels' public areas as well as the function rooms from September.
Mr Philippe Bissig, General Manager of Novotel Apollo Singapore said,
"E-procurement will help minimise errors and free up more staff time for better quality
purchases." |
