Consignment Scenarios: Implementation Options
In general, the basic implementation options apply to the components of consignment scenarios. 

The component models represent how business process scenarios are typically broken down in order to implement a scenario in phases.  Few companies automate an entire business process all at once.  An implementor may choose to use the same implementation option for all components, i.e. all RosettaNet or all ASC X12 or all Web application, or the implementor may use different options for different components.  The implementor has to evaluate the cost factors in order to identify which implementation option is the most cost-effective.    Some companies may decide not to automate some one or more parts of the process at all - a given part of the process may continue to be handled  manually - if an ROI analysis indicates that automating a process component is not cost-effective.

In consignment processes, the biggest technical obstacle is in dealing with managing and tracking the inventory, and especially in handling Inventory Audits and Reconciliation and reporting Inventory Activity and Transfer of Ownership.

Because back-end systems don't always support the tracking of consigned inventory, one common short-term solution is to build a Web application for tracking the inventory, and giving both possessor and owner access to the data.