Most asked questions

• About Tradeplace

  Q: What is Tradeplace?
  A: Tradeplace is an independent business-to-business electronic marketplace for European retailers and manufacturers of household appliances and consumer electronics household appliance manufacturers and retailers in Europe. The Participating Companies are BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, Electrolux Home Products, Whirlpool Europe, TP Vision and Philips Personal Health Europe. Tradeplace will evolve into a pan-European industry e-marketplace with a mission to improve customer service to retailers. Tradeplace aims to eliminate inefficiencies in the supply chain whilst improving e-enabled communications between manufacturers and distributors.

  Q: WHAT DOES IT OFFER?
  A: Tradeplace offers Retailers of the household appliances and consumer electronics industries support in daily sales and after sales processes.

  • Through the Tradeplace website retailers have the possibility to easily access the existing browser based services of the participating companies. There they can check a multitude of information, e.g. price and availability, place orders and view product info.
  • Support in after sales processes is offered through the common after sales marketplace. Through one interface retailers and service specialists have access to current technical documentation, wiring diagrams, detailed exploded views for part identification, ordering facilities and so on.
  • Additionally retailers can connect their own order processing systems directly to the portal, through XML internet technology.

  
  The offered services may vary from country to country. Please see the registration function of your country for details.

  Q: What was the reason for launching Tradeplace?
  A: There is a growing need amongst retailers and trade partners to be able to communicate easily and quickly with manufacturers.

  BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, Electrolux Home Products, Whirlpool Europe, Indesit Company and Philips Consumer Lifestyle Europe are strongly in favour of achieving greater commonality and standardization of B2B systems amongst all household appliances and consumer electronics manufacturers.
  In fact, many manufacturers are already investing in Internet systems that integrate with their ERP systems to provide real-time, up-to-date information. The aim of Tradeplace is to help those manufacturers leverage those investments and progressively drive further standardization.

  Q: Have any manufacturers already expressed interest in joining Tradeplace?
  A: It is too early to tell right now, but given the benefits of joining Tradeplace, we certainly expect interest in the near future, and we welcome all potential participants.

  Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS EXCHANGE AND OTHERS?
  A: Tradeplace aims to differentiate its offering from other exchanges through the provision of direct access to a portfolio of leading consumer brands and quality, up-to-date information thanks to real-time ERP integration with manufacturers. Tradeplace’s approach facilitates standardization systems, processes and transaction formats for the household appliances and consumer electronics industry, for example, single authentication for retailers; utilization of PI standard defined by Applia and standard XML system-to-system transactions. Ultimately, this will dramatically reduce the efforts of e-commerce integration in the industry.

• Benefits and Support

  Q: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR ME AS RETAILER OF JOINING TRADEPLACE?
  A: Tradeplace provides retailers with efficient, quality customer service, based on easy, fast access to information and transactions 24 hours, 7 days per week.For the first time, household appliance producers and retailers can access the existing browser-based services of multiple household appliance and consumer electronics manufacturers via a common portal. No longer do they have to log in and out of the separate platforms. TradePlace simplifies access for retailers and sets a direction for further standardization of information services for the household appliances and consumer electronics industry. Tradeplace allows retailers to access from ONE web site, with ONE password to a wealth of information from multiple brands.

  Q: HOW IS THIS GOING TO HELP ME AS A MANUFACTURER?
  A: Tradeplace provides appliance manufacturers with a common platform to provide better services to retailers. They can leverage investments made in extranet applications, reach multiple retailers and take advantage of a shared entry point with minimum integration effort.Manufacturers’ portals also maintain independence from other manufacturers’ systems. Tradeplace’s Shared Call Center services relieve manufacturers of complicated and specialist on-line support requirements, providing a seamless and efficient service to customers.

  Q: IS TRADEPLACE DIFFICULT TO USE?
  A: Not at all. Tradeplace is a single point of access to a wealth of information from multiple brands with just one user ID and password. With just an internet connection, retailers can start doing business on-line with household appliance and consumer electronics manufacturers immediately.

  Q: DO YOU PROVIDE CUSTOMER SUPPORT?
  A: A multi-lingual e-service contactcenter has been established to support customers wherever they are during registration process and as they use the services of the Tradeplace. The e-service contactcenter is available Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 17:00 CET. Multi-lingual operators can handle queries in the languages Dutch, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Participants can reach the Tradeplace e-service contactcenter by e-mail (helpdesk@tradeplace.com)

• Business information

  Q: WHY HAS TRADEPLACE BEEN SET-UP?
  A: Tradeplace is a win-win for appliance retailers and manufacturers alike, as an industry vehicle for maintaining direct contact. Appliance manufacturers are looking for innovative ways to improve service to retailers which, in turn, will lead to a better purchase experience for the consumer. Retailers looking to adopt electronic business-to-business solutions are demanding common technology standards amongst manufacturers.

  Q: IN WHICH COUNTRIES IS TRADEPLACE AVAILABLE?
  A: Tradeplace is now available with its services in all West European countries. The deployment to other countries is continuously evaluated.

  Q: WHAT IS YOUR PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY?
  A: Our partnership strategy allows us to bring new and emerging technology to our customers and is driven by the criteria of customer-focus rather than partnership exclusivity. It is also based on delivery of quality services using industry-standard technology.

  Q: IS TRADEPLACE AGGREGATING THE BUSINESS OF THE PARTICIPATING BRANDS?
  A: No,Tradeplace is a service provider, and its role does not impact the trading relationship between manufacturers and retailers.

  Q: IS YOUR STRATEGY TARGETING ANY SPECIFIC MARKET SEGMENTS OF THE RETAIL INDUSTRY?
  A: Tradeplace aims to address the needs of all retail channels and therefore offers browser-based and system-to-system solutions.

  Q: IS TRADEPLACE OPEN TO CONSUMERS?
  A: Tradeplace is open to all existing customers of the participating brands, it is not open to consumers. It aims to strengthen relationships between retailers and manufacturers by eliminating inefficiencies and non added-value activities in the distribution of household and consumer electronics appliances.

  Q: IS IT OPEN TO ALL DISTRIBUTORS?
  A: Yes, European distributors of any size and reach can participate in Tradeplace.

  Q: WHO ARE THE PARTICIPATING BRANDS?
  A: AEG, Ariston, Arthur Martin Electrolux, Atlas, Balay, Bauknecht, Beko, Bosch, Constructa, Electrolux, Faure, Frigidaire, Hoover Candy, Husqvarna, Gaggenau, Glen Dimplex, Ignis, Indesit, Laden, Lynx, Maytag, Miele UK, Neff, Parkinson Cowan, Rex, Scholtès, Siemens, Tricity Bendix, Volta, Whirlpool, Zanker, Zanussi, Zoppas, Liebherr UK, Philips Personal Health Europe, Samsung, LG Electronics and TP Vision.

  Q: WHO IS THE MANAGEMENT TEAM?

  A: The management team is a fusion of employees and competencies “on loan” from their existing organizations at the founding companies. Its approach is based on a diverse and a broad cross-section of industry, business and technical experience. Key members of the management team are:

  Jean-Noel Thibault
  Digital Transformation Director EMEA
  Electrolux Appliances AB

  Fabio Ciarlantini
  EDI Excellence EMEA Manager
  Whirlpool Corporation

  Alain Hollenthoner
  Head of Sales Operations Europe
  TP Vision Europe B.V.

  Karel van der Horst
  Regional Digital Officer Europe
  BSH Hausgeräte GmbH

  Koen van der Post
  Tradeplace Operations Manager

• Technology

  Q: HOW WILL MY DATA BE PROTECTED? WILL TRADEPLACE BE SECURE?
  A: All data on Tradeplace is secure and protected by secure-server encryption technology, process controls and data firewalls.

  Q: WILL TRADEPLACE SHARE MY DATA WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS?
  A: Tradeplace will not share information relating to a retailer’s orders to one manufacturer with any other Tradeplace members.

  Q: DO RETAILERS HAVE TO MOVE TO A NEW ERP SYSTEM IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE ON TRADEPLACE?
  A: No. Common access simply requires an internet connection. For system-to-system access, there will be no need to move to a new ERP system to participate on Tradeplace. Integration is a one-time effort, and will enable any participant to communicate with any other participant, regardless of the application and or ERP system used. Tradeplace will provide technical specifications to facilitate integration with the site.

  Q: WILL THE PARTICIPANTS ORDERING THROUGH TRADEPLACE NEED AN ON-SITE SECURITY ADMINISTRATOR TO MANAGE IDS, PASSWORDS AND PERMISSIONS?
  A: It all depends on the size of organizations logging in and the number of people registered, but in all instances, Tradeplace ensures transaction-security based on secure-server encryption technology, process controls and data firewalls.

  Q: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR XML?
  A: XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a web standard tool that allows companies to easily and cost-effectively conduct online transactions with their customers and partners. XML technology also delivers sound, video and other data across the Web. An XML-based solution will be deployed to handle certain transactions over the Internet when using Tradeplace.

  Q: WHAT ABOUT EDI?
  A: Investments that manufacturers and distributors have made in EDI will continue to be valuable. Tradeplace provides either an alternative or supplement to EDI depending on trading partners’ priorities and development plans.

  Q: WILL TRADEPLACE LINK TO OTHER MARKETPLACES?
  A: Yes, Tradeplace plans to link to other marketplaces if they add value to the supply chain of our participants.

• Subscribing to Tradeplace

  Q: HOW CAN MY COMPANY JOIN?
  A: Retailers can register through the Tradeplace Shared Call Center by phone or through EMAIL: (helpdesk@tradeplace.com) Manufacturers wishing to join Tradeplace should contact any of the Management Team Members directly.

  Q: DO RETAILERS HAVE TO PAY?
  A: All services are free except the after sales service. For extensive details regarding the After Sales please check the registration section.

  Q: WHAT DOES THE MEMBERSHIP COMPRISE?
  A: Registered users can access information and transactional services offered by the different brand manufacturers such as product information and availability, order entry and tracking, etc. Users can also contact the Tradeplace Shared Call Center for troubleshooting and tips on accessing services through the Internet.

  Q: IN WHICH ACTIVITIES CAN I PARTICIPATE?
  A: Services may vary by brand. Services currently offered by most brands are: Product information (PI certified format), product availability, order entry, order tracking, etc. Future services will include real time system-to-system connections between distributors and manufacturers systems.