Axonai.com Web Portal Simplifies Bidding

By DE Editors

Axonai Inc.(West Lafayette, IN), an online collaborative network specializing inconnecting buyers and suppliers, has launched an Internet portal thatmakes the parts bidding process more efficient and affordable.

According to an Axonai press release, the process takes a pay-as-you-goapproach, unlike traditional online models that are membership-based.Axonai's process detects eligible suppliers based on informationthey've uploaded to the site's directory and matches them to buyers,weeding out inappropriate bids and shortening the bidding process by anaverage of 12 days.

Once a design engineer uploads a CAD model depicting an item the buyerwishes to have produced, Axonai's Buyer Sourcing Assistant helps thebuyer determine the most appropriate manufacturing process for thatparticular part and distributes RFQs to previously qualified suppliers.

Once buyers submit their RFQ, they can receive and review the responsesonline, including information about the supplier's profile and ratingas well as comments about the supplier in reference to other jobs.

At the opposite end of the supply chain, suppliers use Axonai's onlineservice to specify their capabilities and the kinds of manufacturingjobs they would like to receive. When an RFQ comes their way, they canreview, at no cost, the part's dimensions, tolerances, materials andspecifications (including delivery deadlines). They also are able toview how many RFQs the buyer has previously posted as well as thebuyer's ratings from previous jobs. Once the supplier is satisfied thatit has met eligibility requirements, the supplier can pay a fee to viewthe buyer's contact information in anticipation of bidding on the job.

The Axonai system also includes enhanced project management featuresfor buyers and suppliers to work together during the design, productionand inspection phases. For more information, visit axonai.com.

Sources: Press materials received from the company. Additional information gleaned from the company's website.