Smurfit launches extranet

Jefferson Smurfit Group, the world's leading paper-based packaging company, has announced details of its new customer service initiative, the "Smurfit Extranet".

Developed for its corrugated and paper sack customers, the new web-based application will enable users to access relevant account information and avail other services on-line, including the ability to directly re-order products from their local Smurfit facility.

"We are fully committed to enhancing customer service through innovation. With this new tool we can further streamline the sales process and improve our communications with customers"​ said Dermot Smurfit, Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing and Joint Deputy Chairman of Smurfit Group.

JSG has two research centres in the US and Europe fully dedicated to the development of new packaging solutions and has developed a suite of design and packaging capabilities for its customers known as the "innotools". With this latest innovation, customers, through a secure web-site, will be able to access account information on current and past orders, check stock availability, call-off or re-order product on-line, track the status of a pending order, view technical and design files and request a sales visit or design consultation.

"Through our extranet, customers will be able to transact with Smurfits and access a variety of business services instantly, on a 24/7 basis with only a few simple keystrokes"​ said Ros O' Shea, Vice President E-business at JSG.

To gain access to the system a customer can register on the extranet area on the JSG web-site​. The system is already up and running with customers at a number of European sites in France, the Netherlands and Italy as well as the Group's Latin American markets of Mexico and Colombia. The Group expects to have rolled out the application to Ireland, UK and Spain by the end of the summer, with all countries scheduled to be live by the year-end.