DA is the Holland’s biggest chemist. The cooperation includes almost 600 specialty retail outlets and collaborates with 330 different suppliers. By the end of 2005 all communications with suppliers should be automated and documents must be exchanged electronically, via the Internet.

DA sells over 50.000 different products, mainly health and beauty products. Those products are mainly distributed via two distribution centers in the south and the north of the Netherlands.

By the end of 2005, all suppliers will exchange business documents electronically with DA. Exchanged documents include purchase orders, order confirmations, despatch advices and invoices. For all those document types, DA will no longer accept paper documents, only electronic documents.

Suppliers to DA can choose from different e-Communication options. Bigger suppliers who already use an EDI infrastructure can continue to use it to connect to the DA. Their document exchange with DA can be easily integrated into their own business processes, without additional charges.

Smaller suppliers will be able to exchange electronic documents via a dedicated supplier portal, DAportal.nl. The only requirement is to have a pc with an internet connection. Certipost takes care of the enrolment of the suppliers and will provide suppliers with a username and a password. DAportal.nl is built on the CertiONE platform. It has a personalised DA branded website and can be accessed via www.daportal.nl.