You do business with Tata Steel because you expect top-quality steel. We think top-quality information should be provided along with it. For that purpose we developed our order-tracking system YMonline, which has proved to be a success since most of our customers use it on a daily basis and the reactions are very positive.

We continue to look for ways to provide customers with all the support they need to run their business as efficiently as possible. The development of YMonline was just the beginning. In this information era it is not only the quality of information that is essential; speed and efficiency are also factors that require attention. Our E-Order Confirmation and the E-Certificate are two added features that fit this bill. In the fall of 2008 we will add an E-Customer card and in 2009 we expect to introduce Fast Order Entry: customers will be able to book an order directly into our system!

YMonline

We set up YMonline in 2007 with the aim of making life easier for our customers, primarily by offering free information that would enhance their administrative procedures. All you need to access YMonline is a PC or a laptop, a browser and an Internet connection. Signing up takes just a few minutes. YMonline puts you in direct online contact with Tata Steel in order to give you access to detailed information such as:

·                Your order book

·                Production status (track and trace)

·                Test certificates

·                Information about your claims

·                Details of credit notes

·                Stock details

·                Product information

From the moment you place your order until the time it is delivered, you can check the status of your order at any time and download for example quality certificates while your shipment of steel is on its way. Information about claims plus details of credit notes are linked to our financial system and can be exported into Excel reports for use in your own organisation.

For YMonline, please click on the following link:

https://www.tatasteelbusiness.com/ymonline

If you are not a registered user yet, please contact your Accountmanager.

Electronic Order Confirmation and certificates

Our order-entry system provides an electronic order confirmation service. In addition to order confirmation, we can also send test certificates by e-mail. This is not only more efficient and environmentally friendly (because it saves paper) – it’s also more secure. You can easily set up your e-mail programs so that the information is automatically archived and forwarded to colleagues. Signing up only takes a few minutes. Those who sign up to this service receive their next order confirmation electronically instead of by post.

Electronic customer card

This is basically an Excel sheet that shows in detail what you have ordered, what has been booked, for which week, etc. The way this works is that our order entry system generates a list of details related to all orders placed in a defined period (usually monthly or quarterly) and makes this information available to you through e-mail.

Fast order entry

We have developed new software that allows us to connect our IT systems with that of our customers. This is a feature that creates the possibility for our customers to directly book their orders into our order-entry system. The pilots that we are running show very promising results. We expect to be able to offer this feature to all our customers in 2009.

We are very eager to know what you think of YMonline. If you have any questions or suggestions, please e-mail them to us at ymonline@tatasteel.com.

We make a lot of high-value products and over the years we have been able to advise our customers – and, in some cases, our customers' customers – on how to select appropriate types of steel and optimise production processes in order to maximise profits and minimise waste. Considerable savings can be made through using the right material. Sometimes it's a question of the advantages associated with high-strength steel. Sometimes there are  advantages in using steel with tighter tolerances. It may even be advisable to use cast-iron, such as Smart Lite^®, in certain applications.

In any case, our dedicated engineers are there to help you make the most out of our steel, whether you require advice on the use of materials or troubleshooting. People who have benefited from the service include the customers of Steel Service Centres, such as manufacturers of trucks and trailers, yellow goods and automotive components. We've also advised customers on material suitable for laser cutting and we've helped improve production processes for producers of enamelled steel boilers, as well as products such as racking and shelving.

For more information contact our Manager Customer Technical Services, John Collingham:

0251-492240

John.collingham@tatasteel.com