98% of suppliers digitized in 3 months? It can be done – if you dare to do it differently

Many retailers have digitalization of their supply chain high on the agenda. Yet they struggle with implementation. Suppliers are slow to catch on, integrations get stuck on customization, and internal IT teams get overloaded. Result: digitization gets stuck at 40-50%, or gets stranded in a jungle of portals, exceptions and manual processes. And meanwhile, the supply chain remains vulnerable.

At SPS Commerce, we take a different approach – with results. Our approach ensures that 98% of suppliers are fully digital with retailers within 3 months. No casual onboarding. No “do-it-yourself” integrations. But a proven, outsourced approach where we take everything off your hands.

How does it work?

We always start with the network. SPS Commerce has the largest retail network in the world. Chances are that many of a retailer’s suppliers are already digitally active through our platform. That means: no new customization, just simply connect.

This is followed by active onboarding. Our team – no generic support desk, but supply chain experts – contacts each supplier. We guide them personally, in their language, and coordinate the right digital form of collaboration: EDI, web portal or API. No one-size-fits-all, but a solution that does work. And yes, even the ‘difficult’ suppliers are included.

After 3 months, the job is done. The retailer has a fully digitized supplier base, standard message flows and real-time insight into performance. From that moment on, the retailer can manage delivery reliability, deviations and improvement processes – with data that is correct.

Our philosophy is simple: digitization only works if you make it scalable and supplier-friendly. The power is not in technology alone, but in actually managing adoption. That is exactly where the difference lies.

Retailers who take this approach see their supply chain change from reactive to predictable. They save operational costs, avoid errors and can scale with confidence. And more importantly, they build sustainable partnerships with their suppliers – digital and future-proof.

It’s time to see supply chain digitization not as an IT project, but as a strategic growth tool. And that starts with the right approach. One that really works – for everyone in the chain.

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Arjan Sloot

Country Manager Benelux, UK, Ireland, and Nordics at SPS Commerce

Arjan Sloot is a visionary leader in supply chain digitization and e-invoicing, bringing over three decades of experience in driving growth, innovation, and strategic partnerships throughout the Benelux region. With a career rooted in transforming complex supply chain challenges into streamlined, data-driven solutions, Arjan is passionate about helping businesses unlock efficiency and agility through technology. His work is guided by a strong belief that seamless data integration and digital collaboration are essential to building resilient, customer-focused retail ecosystems.

Latest posts by Arjan Sloot (see all)

• 98% of suppliers digitized in 3 months? It can be done – if you dare to do it differently - June 19, 2025
• Retail is not facing an inventory problem, but an information deficit - June 12, 2025