- What is the cost of registration?
- What information do I need to provide?
- Who has access to my information?
- How do the buyers access my information?
- How will I receive buyer enquiries?
- When do I need to update my information?
- My company already supplies to one of the APUG members. Why should I register?
- I am a relatively small company. How can I benefit?
- Why is there a cost?
- I have received a letter from one of my customers inviting me to register. What should I do?
- What is the GUBD?
- Who operates APUG SMS?
- I am a supplier of services and not products, so would this be less applicable to me?
- I am an agent. Should I register or the manufacturer?
- My products and services are very specialized. Do I still need to register?
- Are multiple registrations necessary for different branches?
- Will I need to provide pricing information?
- How do I register?
- Further assistance
What is the cost of registration?
The APUG SMS annual registration fee for suppliers is set by the APUG Steering Committee. This fee includes your registration on APUG SMS for one year and the quality checking and validation of your questionnaire by Achilles. For details of the annual registration fee including applicable sales taxes and methods of payment please select the application form for the Achilles’ office where you wish to register your company;
APUG SMS Application Form
APUG SMS Terms and Conditions:
For companies with an annual turnover of less than US$1,000,000 please contact the APUG SMS Service Desk for details of Small Supplier registration.
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What information do I need to provide?
Through the on-line questionnaire suppliers provide information under the following headings;
- General Information
- Personnel Information
- Legal Information
- Financial Information
- Ultimate Parent Company
- Region of Supply
- Associated Companies
- Locations Information
- Customers
- Quality Systems
- Health & Safety
- Environmental
- Social and Ethical
- Products & Services
To download a copy of the APUG SMS questionnaire click here. Once you have completed your questionnaire on-line you will be contacted by the APUG SMS Service Desk regarding any points for clarification and to provide supporting documents so that you questionnaire can be validated.
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Who has access to my information?
Your company information will be made available to buyers from all of the APUG members via an online search system. To view the current list of APUG members click here.
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How do the buyers access my information?
The buyers have access to a secure on-line search system. The search system enables the buyers to search for companies by name or by selecting products and services codes. To download a copy of the Product and Service Code guide click here. As a registered supplier if a buyer searches for the products and services that your company is registered to supply then your company will be displayed and the buyers can view your information as supplied through the questionnaire.
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How will I receive buyer enquiries?
Once the buyers have identified suppliers through the APUG SMS search system that they wish to consider for an up-coming tender or contract opportunity, they will either contact you directly for example by sending you a Request for a Proposal or by sending you an e-Qual. If you have been sent an e-Qual enquiry you will be notified by email and asked to log into the system to review the details and respond to the buyer’s questions.
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When do I need to update my information?
You can update your information for no additional cost at any time during the year. It is strongly recommended that you do this if there are any changes within your organization so that the buyers have the latest information about your company and can contact you easily. As a minimum you will be asked to renew your registration and update your information at least annually and you will receive a reminder from Achilles in advance.
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My company already supplies to one of the APUG members. Why should I register?
Through APUG SMS, buyers from all of the member companies have instant access to your company’s information. As well as offering opportunities for business with other members your information will be also be available to your existing customer ensuring that it is displayed the next time a suitable business opportunity arises. By holding this information centrally on the system it removes the risk of supplier information becoming lost or overlooked if there are personnel changes within your customer organization or if there are opportunities in a different department. By enabling suppliers to directly maintain their information, which is then independently validated by Achilles, the buyers have confidence in the data on the system and can identify suppliers for future contracts more quickly and efficiently than if they have to manage this information separately.
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I am a relatively small company. How can I benefit?
The APUG members are keen to encourage all of their suppliers to register as it makes the process of supplier identification and management more efficient for both the buyers and their suppliers. To encourage smaller companies to also register APUG have implemented a small supplier registration scheme. Companies with an annual turnover of less than US$1,000,000 are eligible for small supplier registration and should contact the APUG SMS Service Desk for further details.
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Why is there a cost?
The costs of operating APUG SMS are shared between the buyers and the suppliers. Suppliers pay an annual registration fee to cover the cost of registration and the quality checking and validation of their information by Achilles. The information is independently validated once reducing the duplication of effort between the members and their suppliers and providing confidence to the buyers that they can rely on the information available to them.
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I have received a letter from one of my customers inviting me to register. What should I do?
All APUG members are inviting their suppliers to register on APUG SMS. If you have received a letter from one of your customers it is because they would like you to register on the system so that your company information is available to them for future sourcing. For further information you can contact the customer’s representative at the contact details given in the letter or the APUG SMS Service Desk. To register on APUG SMS click here.
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What is the GUBD?
The GUBD is the Global Utilities Business Directory. APUG is one of eight regional utility groups supported by Achilles, which combined include over 180 buying organisations in the utility industry. By pooling the supplier information held across these communities and systems APUG members have access to a Global Utilities Business Directory of over 16,000 suppliers registered worldwide. Suppliers registering on APUG SMS receive a free listing on the GUBD so that their information is available to buyers from utility companies worldwide.
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Who operates APUG SMS?
APUG SMS is operated on behalf of the APUG members by Achilles Information Ltd. Achilles Information is part of the Achilles Group, a leading provider of supplier information management, delivering a wide range of procurement and business solutions to major companies around the world. Achilles’ supplier management systems improve the efficiency of the procurement cycle while promoting health and safety, environmental management and wider corporate responsibility in the supply chain.
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I am a supplier of services and not products, so would this be less applicable to me?
APUG SMS covers all products and services purchased by the utilities and is relevant for manufacturers, contractors, service providers etc. To download a copy of the Product and Services code guide which lists the categories of products and services purchased by the utilities click here.
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I am an agent. Should I register or the manufacturer?
In the APUG SMS questionnaire you will be asked to indicate your role in the supply chain e.g. agent, manufacturer, stockist etc. and the appropriate details of the manufacturer. If as an agent you are the main contact for the buyers then you should register so that the buyers can locate and contact you.
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My products and services are very specialized. Do I still need to register?
Suppliers considered as sole source suppliers represent a risk to the buyers and so it is even more important that they register. In many cases where the supplier believes that they are a sole source supplier there are in fact several other providers or alternatives in the market place. Buyers use APUG SMS to source suppliers for upcoming contracts and by registering on the system the supplier will be able to maintain visibility of their company and contacts, and support the key relationship that they hold with the buyer.
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Are multiple registrations necessary for different branches?
Companies with multiple branches may have different sales regions and organizational structures. Suppliers can choose to register more than one branch to expand their business opportunities, or to register as a single company. In the questionnaire suppliers can add details of their associated companies and locations but there is one main contact point displayed on the system per supplier registration.
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Will I need to provide pricing information?
No. Pricing information is not included in the system. Buyers use the system to identify appropriate suppliers and will then approach these companies to discuss the specific details of any upcoming tender or contract including requests for proposals or quotations.
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How do I register?
To register suppliers can apply and pay on-line by credit card. To apply on-line click here.
Alternatively suppliers can pay by cheque or bank transfer. Payment details are set out on the application form and to download a copy click here.
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Further assistance
For further assistance please contact the APUG SMS Service desk by email at apugsms@achilles.com or at the details given below.
APUG SMS Service Desk (Hong Kong)
Achilles Information Hong Kong Ltd
Unit 1108, 11/F, Austin Tower
22-26A Austin Avenue
TST, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852 2815 7100
Fax: 852 2815 7120
APUG SMS Service Desk (Australia)
Achilles Information (Australia) Pty Ltd
PO Box 783, Capalaba, QLD 4157
Australia
Tel: 61 (0)7 3245 1744
Fax: 61 (0)7 3823 4055
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