Digital certificates as a key to efficiency and customer convenience
MCB, supplier of metals and metal solutions, is fully committed to digitalization to serve customers faster and smarter. A good example is the use of the measurement message via the Smart Connected Supplier Network (SCSN). Material documents, such as certificates, are automatically linked to the correct order lines in the customer’s ERP system. Manually searching through emails is a thing of the past.
From email attachments to smart integrations
Previously, MCB sent certificates manually by email, often when the material was loaded. For large orders, this resulted in dozens of attachments. Anne, EDI and Digital Product Specialist at MCB, explains: “Customers received multiple certificates per order, often in four languages. That led to a mountain of attachments with identical filenames. Confusing and time-consuming.”
The desire to simplify this process led to the implementation of the measurement message via SCSN. This digital message contains material certificates such as PDFs with information on chemical composition, mechanical properties, batch numbers, and quality data. Through SCSN, these certificates are automatically linked to the correct order line and sent directly to the customer’s ERP system.
More convenience and service for the customer
The solution is now operational and the measurement message is sent to around 50 customers. “Customers no longer have to search their inbox. In their ERP system, they click on the correct order line – and the certificate is already there. This saves a lot of time,” says Anne.
The measurement message contains all essential data, including:
- Order number
- Order line
- Batch numbers from both MCB and the original supplier
- The certificate as an embedded PDF
Customers with a certificate subscription receive the message automatically. Those without a subscription can request a certificate per order line, also via SCSN. “If customers request a certificate afterwards, our sales staff no longer have to manually search through all sent emails. That’s now fully automated thanks to SCSN.”
Although the biggest benefit lies with the customer, MCB sees this as a deliberate investment in service and partnership. “For us, the process was largely completed after the order message,” Anne explains. “But to help customers digitalize and prevent errors, we implemented the measurement message.” The IT department and integration specialists invested significant time in testing and covering various scenarios, such as deliveries with multiple batch numbers.
Benefits at a glance
For customers:
- Direct insight into certificates at line level
- No manual searching or email traffic
- Better traceability and quality control
- Time savings and fewer errors
For MCB:
- Fewer questions to the sales department
- More efficient handling of customer requests
- Ready for future applications like PCF
Looking ahead: from measurement to CO₂ data
The measurement message also forms the basis for new applications within SCSN. One example is the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) message, which will be available in the next SCSN release. MCB is already actively involved in the first tests. Many of the required data, such as batch numbers and material data, are already included in the measurement message. This makes the transition to CO₂ information relatively easy. In this way, MCB not only meets current customer needs but also prepares for the growing demand for sustainability and transparency in the supply chain.
Some service providers do not yet fully support the message, but market demand is driving broader adoption.
Building a digital supply chain together
With the measurement message via SCSN, MCB demonstrates how digitalization not only strengthens internal processes but also supports customers in their growth toward a future-proof, digital supply chain. The result is less manual work, faster processes, and stronger collaboration between supplier and customer. A great example of how smart data integration can make a difference in every link of the chain.