Mechel launched e-commerce system

Mechel, one of the leading Russian mining and steel companies, announced the launch of B2B-Mechel, an electronic trading system

The system’s launch is part of a joint project between Mechel and e-commerce operator B2B-Center to automate the process of competitive purchases of products, works and services by Mechel’s subsidiaries. The B2B-Mechel portal was created especially for this purpose on the basis of B2B-Center.

The system is aimed at cutting costs, optimizing financial expenditure and raising the efficiency of Mechel’s procurement processes.

The B2B-Mechel system enables its client to make all forms of purchases from request for proposal to auctions and multistage tenders. Use of e-commerce mechanisms will allow Mechel to significantly increase the transparency of these processes. It is important to note that B2B-Mechel is integrated into the B2B-Center network which numbers 55,000 members from various industries, which will enable the company to use to the fullest the potential of a well-developed Internet market with an unlimited range of products, works and services.

As part of the partnership tie between Mechel and B2B-Center, all companies wishing to take part in trading in B2B-Mechel are offered beneficial terms which will be operational until August 1, 2011.

“B2B-Mechel’s capabilities will enable Mechel to go to a new level of managing its trading and procurement activity. It is an efficient instrument for constructive work both with suppliers of material resources and our customers,” noted Mechel’s Vice-President for Commercial Activities Mikhail Urvantsev.

«Mechel decision to launch e-trading system testifies to aspiration of the Russian metallurgical companies to wide use of the Internet. The next years this trend will amplify only», Leonid Khazanov, the observer of Metal Supply and Sale Magazine, noted.