Brussels, Massy, Sint-Truiden – 18 March 2021 – CKS Benelux and Ivalua, a leading provider of global Spend Management Cloud solutions today announced that Punch Powertrain has successfully deployed Ivalua’s platform to support the digital transformation of the strategic sourcing process. The platform was configured and suppliers onboarded in less than 2 months to deliver rapid value in the sourcing of direct materials. The Belgium-based automotive supplier, specialising in sustainable and affordable propulsion system solutions, deployed Ivalua’s platform in September 2020 for the sourcing of components for the DT2 program, within the company’s Joint Venture operations: Punch Powertrain PSA e-transmissions.
The Strategic Sourcing modules of Ivalua allow Punch Powertrain buyers to define Purchasing needs collaboratively, consolidate the tendering documents and ease costing by suppliers (cost breakdown files, dialogue with the projects on technical feasibility). This greatly increases the company’s agility, allowing highly efficient purchasing operations. Ultimately, the buyer can efficiently compare offers and select the optimal supplier(s) according to a best value/best price logic or lower total cost of ownership. A reverse auction can be added to the process, managed by CKS as a trusted third party.
CKS Benelux, as a certified integrator and Ivalua partner in Benelux, configured the platform and helped buyers and suppliers during the e-sourcing and e-auction phases. This on-demand electronic sourcing service offering developed by CKS for over fifteen years is particularly popular within the automotive industry.
Juan-Carlos Flores Regla, CPO of Punch Powertrain: “CKS’ and Ivalua’s value proposition meets our strategic objectives: digitalise the tendering process, aim for the best purchase price and optimise the time spend of our buyers in this program – allowing them to focus on the essence. It is a true boost to efficiency and competitiveness in innovative sectors of the automotive industry to be able to rely on the expertise of experienced partners. We are very much looking forward to open a new chapter with Ivalua in 2021 by rolling out the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) module together with supplier quality performance management tracking.”
Gabriel Giret, Head of Alliances EMEA at Ivalua: “We are developing our ecosystem of partners to provide business advice and value-added service around our preconfigured, direct-sourcing solution. We are delighted that Punch Powertrain validates this strategy and relies on the dual expertise of CKS and Ivalua”.
Pierre-Edouard Labbé, Managing partner at CKS Benelux: “The CKS Group companies are extremely proud to have delivered with a reduced lead time – as is always the case in manufacturing – their technical expertise on Ivalua together with precious experience of procurement needs within the automotive industry. The Ivalua solution empowers us to deliver value to CPOs throughout Belgium”.
About CKS
Founded in 2003, CKS is a European independent and specialised procurement consulting company, supporting its public and private clients along three business lines: strategic and operational consulting, BPO procurement services, and S2C and P2P information systems implementation. CKS and its dedicated technical integration subsidiary Lysint are Ivalua gold partners and have been involved for 15 years in Ivalua implementation projects. Combining the procurement experience of functional experts and the strong integration skills of certified integration professionals allows CKS to support its customers in all stages of the implementation project and to provide high value-added products and services, including after Go-Live. Please visit our website: www.cks-consulting.com/en
About Ivalua
Ivalua is a leading provider of cloud-based Spend Management solutions. Our complete, unified platform empowers organisations to effectively manage all categories of spend and all suppliers, increasing profitability, lowering risk and improving employee productivity. Trusted by hundreds of the world’s most admired brands and public sector leaders, and recognised as a leader by Gartner and other analysts, Ivalua maintains the industry’s leading 98%+ customer retention rate. Learn more at www.ivalua.com
About Punch Powertrain
Punch Powertrain nv is an independent global automotive supplier of innovative and energy efficient drivetrains. The company builds on more than 45 years of excellence in the development and production of world-class transmission technologies, offering continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), dual clutch transmissions (DCTs), as well as hybrid and electric drivetrains for car makers worldwide. Punch Powertrain is headquartered in Sint-Truiden, Belgium, and has close to 2,000 employees. The company operates five R&D centers and three manufacturing facilities in Europe and China. For more information visit www.punchpowertrain.com.