Iasta's spend analysis solution is designed to provide users with instant, comprehensive and detailed access to the entire organization's purchasing data. SmartAnalytic's real-time user control delivers access to the right spend information, at the right time, at the right price.

• Expediency - SmartAnalytics provides a single, centralized repository for spend data regardless of its original data system - ERP systems, accounting software, purchasing cards and many more. Companies and users can organize and analyze their spend information based on their own unique needs. The user decides how and when data can be refreshed, re-classified and re-analyzed - as well as by whom, Iasta, the customer, or both.
  
  
• Faster Decision-Making - SmartAnalytics lets companies improve decision making by providing better visibility into information about goods, services and suppliers by:
  • Consolidating spend information from one or multiple data systems
  • Helping identify and prioritize sourcing projects, resulting in quicker savings
  • Aiding alignment with leadership and people inside and outside the sourcing team
  • Ensuring contract compliance of past sourcing projects
  
  
• Speed - SmartAnalytics is the fastest spend visibility tool available to Sourcing Professionals. Speed affects users in many ways:
  • Changes to the data set are effective immediately. Users do not need to wait hours or days to access new data, new reports, new dimensions or new data hierarchies.
  • Analysis can be done on a real time basis. Adjustments to reports or dimensions are reflected immediately - so users can make faster decisions that impact sourcing priorities and projects.

• Auto Classification Engine - Iasta uses a state-of-the-art auto-classification engine to quickly classify all of your spend to a common structure - whether it is custom or standardized.
  
  
• Import / Export Engine - Enables Sourcing Professionals to refresh spend data as frequently as needed. The easy-to-use Import/Export Engine helps users focus only on the data they want and to use it any way or any where they want.
  
  
• Analysis Tools & Reports - Helps Sourcing Professionals make better decisions about supplier relationships and cost reduction opportunities. Custom reporting dimensions can be updated at an ad hoc basis by the team or individual user. Changes flow through dataset on a real-time basis. The integrated, easy-to-use Tools include Excel^® spreadsheets and various graphical displays. The tool-set gives users more choices regarding how to analyze and display information.
  
  
• Spend Repository - Provides companies a centralized data repository that consolidates information from multiple systems and formats. The Spend Repository can be updated on a regularly scheduled basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.) or an ad hoc basis. Best of all, a company can choose whether to update the Spend Repository themselves, or have Iasta manage the process.

Iasta's goal is to improve the effectiveness of every team member who uses the SmartAnalytics platform by providing world-class support and service. Designed to be flexible and easily assessable for large or small sourcing teams, Iasta offers Application Support and Sourcing Support Center to upgrade user's skills and organizational processes they can benefit from advanced technology.

Iasta's Silver level support provides users with access to:

• Application Support
  Application Support offers assistance with technical error resolution, password resets, navigation and how-to assistance. Application Support is available via telephone and email.
  
  
• Sourcing Support Center
  Iasta's Sourcing Support Center allows users to contact Iasta's team of sourcing professionals to guide them through current and future projects. Iasta will evaluate the project's specific needs and provide coaching and mentoring support for sourcing best practices. Such issues may include auction tactics, lotting strategies, event set-up and planning, and supplier communication strategies, optimization strategy & mentoring, supplier communication strategies, survey/questionnaire planning, formula/offline bidding tactics. Admin-users can request this service through phone or email.
  
  
• Online Tutorials
  Online Tutorials provide easy to follow instructions on how to use the different features of the software. These online training videos include step by step instructions, along with screen shots and tips, to assist users in learning how to make the most of the platform.

Establishing a solid foundation for a company's spend analysis initiative is a critical first step. An integral part of that process is building custom spend cube that reflects the true data profile of the organization. So, whether a company has a simple or complex data profile with one or 100 data systems, one currency or several currencies, Iasta's custom Launch program that will meet each company's needs.

• Custom Launch - The Custom Launch program is for companies with simple or complex data profiles who need additional project management, data enrichment and quality control support from Iasta. Iasta works with the organization to articulate goals and determine how best to collect and enrich spend data to achieve those goals. At that point, Iasta manages all aspects of building and launching classified spend data. Organizations can choose to either manage their own Refresh cycles internally, or if desired, request Iasta to manage them. Iasta also provides user training and ongoing user support.
  
  
  • Consolidate and normalize data
  • Validate data files
  • Cleanse suppliers
  • Categorize transactions
  • Supplier data augmentation (optional)
  • Review and validate data classification structures (data workshops)
  • Develop spend reports and views
  • Launch SmartAnalytics

• Data Passport Service - The Data Passport Program can instantly improve your company's reporting ability. Iasta transfers and loads your spend data into SmartAnalytics with its classification structure. The SmartAnalytics dashboard and custom reporting can help you drive better category management decisions.