QStrat has been in the marketplace with its supply chain management software solutions since the turn of the millennium. Its three main offerings include QLM Costing, QLM Sourcing, and QLM Sales, each of which is available as an on-site standalone or as a web-based service. The solutions are especially well-suited to global trading, consumer-packaged good, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and automotive companies.

The QStrat suite is also known for its ability to integrate with a range of ERPs (enterprise resource planning systems) such as Oracle, SAP, Infor and NetSuite. QLM Costing streamlines the BOM creation process, and its data is exportable in XML format for editing within other programs. With this solution, users say goodbye to complex spreadsheets for tracking complicated quotes. QLM Sourcing includes automatic reminders to suppliers to keep them on track and responding in a timely fashion. Its customizable RFQ formats can be applied to a range of different commodities and utilizes Adobe eForm technology to automate the process as much as possible. QLM Sales then consolidates all supplier contracts and other information in one place, making the tracking of both RFQ and BOM data and documents much easier. Using the QuoteCube function, users can quickly conduct side-by-side comparisons of quotes from various suppliers.

Pros

Users seem to be especially happy with the copy function, which is a real time-saver when it comes to putting out multiple RFQs that are all similar in nature. Most users praise its ability for streamlining the RFQ process, and that the software is both easy to use and user-friendly, especially when you need to go back and view RFQ data and information.

Cons

One drawback of QLM Sourcing is for those companies that work with five-year pricing, because QLM is only able to (currently) accommodate up to four-year pricing. Other users have noted that the automatic time-out happens too quickly, forcing users to have to log back in to keep working. Other users note that in order to quickly find past quotes, you need to have the QLM codes handy, which isn’t always the case. This might be an isolated complaint, however, as others users have noted how much they enjoy being able to access historical quotes by part number, RFQ, supplier name, or almost any field. Still, you have to know something about what you’re trying to find in order to find it. Another functionality wish for some users would be the ability to preview an RFQ as it would be seen by a supplier before sending it off. This is important because if you happen to put a comma in a volume number, the whole number won’t show up for the vendor. The deeper problem here is that the way suppliers/vendors see the portal is different from your own view, and sometimes have trouble accessing it to enter their own information.

In general, users that have been exposed to multiple similar supply chain management software systems note that QLM Sourcing is comparable to other systems, better in some ways, and worse in none. That’s a good indication that the QStrat solutions are worth checking out in greater depth. If the company can enhance the supplier-side of the equation, the few complaints out there will quickly fade away.