Structured Text Analyzer(STA)

Procurement is often done through direct purchases (also called free text purchases or maverick spend) which avoids a formal procurement process, resulting in non-analyzable spend, outside the parameters of negotiated contracts or material masters.

PiLog’s Structured Text Generator (STG) is a software module, utilized by all end users, facilitating searches for an item across different databases and if the item is not found creating an analyzable description (STA) according to the chosen master data standard.

The PiLog Structured Text Analyzer (STA) is a comprehensive solution consisting of specialization reports and graphical chart components that assist with the identification of cyclical and non-cyclical spending trends and procurement patterns of end users, plant and business units, within an organization.

The STA is integrated with the Structured Text Generator and its historical spend data to assist the organization to drive down free text spend. It will recommend structured text items for contract orders to be included in inventory.

Features and Benefits


Features:

  • Access historical spend per user, plant or business unit
  • Spend analysis per category i.e. material groups
  • Spend analysis per dictionary or group of dictionary elements
  • Flexibility which allows inclusion of free text items in contract inventory
  • Designed for ease of use at all user levels
  • Includes easy charts and dials

Benefits

  • Reduce maverick spend
  • Reduce costs associated with procurement transactions
  • Analyze basket and basket entries/favorites at buyer level
  • Identify materials and services to be added to materials and services catalogues/masters
  • Improve contract utilization
  • Improve Material Masters utilization
  • Improve Services Masters utilization
  • Facilitate decision making for improved contracting

Integration and Standards

ERP Integration

The PiLog STA is fully integrated to any ERP with standard interface software, such as SAP, IFS, MIMS, Maximo, and Oracle. The ERP is set up to drive end users through a round trip of the PiLog STG to create the required item or service description, linked to the relevant associated spend category information after which the procurement process is completed in the ERP.

Standards

The accompanying data pack is based on international standards of the customers’ choice. These may be eOTD, USC, SMD, eClass, EAN, ISO etc.

Feature Rich Charting / Reporting

A range of chart options from simple to advanced is available to meet the needs of managerial and technical end users.

  • Bar chart
  • Pie chart
  • Line chart
  • Combination charts
  • Dials/ cockpits
  • Cross tab or pivot tables – can be created on the fly by end user
  • Utilizes the historic tables to allow the creation of time based charts and reports to identify cyclical trends

Optional Modules