The book "Supply Chain Finance Solutions" offers orientation in the new discipline of Supply Chain Finance (SCF) by investigating the need for and nature of SCF, along with its characteristics and enablers. Due to the novelty of the Supply Chain Finance approach, there are still many knowledge gaps. This lack of research leads to uncertainties about the successful implementation of SCF solutions within companies as there is little quantified evidence on the achievable cost savings and other potential benefits. The authors close this gap by providing the latest information on business concepts and the SCF market. Based on a sample SCF model, the worldwide market size for such solutions and potential cost savings to companies engaged in SCF are analyzed. The work underlines the generally agreed-upon attractiveness and future relevance of SCF solutions by creating win-win situations; for all actors in the end-to-end supply chain as well as for external service providers.

Autorentext
Dr. Erik Hofmann:
Erik Hofmann ("Dr. rer. pol." from University of Technology, Darmstadt, Germany) is vice president of the Chair for Logistics Management (LOG-HSG) as well as a senior lecturer at the University of St.Gallen and guest professor at Dresden University of Technology. His primary research focuses on the intersections of logistics and supply chain management on the one side and finance- and performance-issues on the other side. This research stream encompasses performance measurement in supply chains, supply chain finance, mergers & acquisitions in logistics, and working capital management in supply chains. He has published in several logistics and SCM journals and is co-editor of the Handbook 'Kontraktlogistik'. Erik Hofmann can be contacted via: erik.hofmann@unisg.ch.
**Oliver Belin:**
Oliver Belin holds a master degree from the University of St.Gallen and has several years experience in supply chain finance (SCF). He worked for leading institutions in trade finance where he was responsible for the set up of sophisticated portfolio management tools and the risk management of several SCF programs. Recently he setup his own company specialized in SCF solutions targeting large, cross-border trade flows for leading, multinational organizations. Oliver Belin can be contacted via: o.belin@swisscocap.com.

Zusammenfassung
The book Supply Chain Finance Solutions offers orientation in the new discipline of Supply Chain Finance (SCF) by investigating the need for and nature of SCF, along with its characteristics and enablers. Due to the novelty of the Supply Chain Finance approach, there are still many knowledge gaps. This lack of research leads to uncertainties about the successful implementation of SCF solutions within companies as there is little quantified evidence on the achievable cost savings and other potential benefits. The authors close this gap by providing the latest information on business concepts and the SCF market. Based on a sample SCF model, the worldwide market size for such solutions and potential cost savings to companies engaged in SCF are analyzed. The work underlines the generally agreed-upon attractiveness and future relevance of SCF solutions by creating win-win situations; for all actors in the end-to-end supply chain as well as for external service providers.

Inhalt
Introduction.- Relevance of WCM and its weaknesses.- Characteristics of SCF.- Segmentation of SCF solutions.- Value proposition of SCF.- The market size for SCF solutions.- Concluding remarks.- Annex: OECD non-OECD exports per country in 2006.- OECD non-OECD imports per country in 2006.- Invoice processed and value per industry 2006.-(Aberdeen Group, 2006.- Days inventory held (DIH) per Industry.- Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) per Industry.- Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) per Industry.- Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) per Industry.- Literature.