Novotel Apollo Singapore to implement e-procurement

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."