“As a leading manufacturer of seasonal food decorating kits, Create A Treat has a tremendous amount of EDI data flow during peak seasons. As our volume of EDI transactions grew, manual data entry errors led us to the need to integrate to our Sage BV ERP application. Data Integration Specialists provided a BV interface and the integration services to completely eliminate manual data entry. Their consultant performed a quick remote install of the BV bridge and integrated all of our inbound 850’s, outbound 810’s and 856’s. It was a very seamless process and the DIS cost structure was very fair. Today, we utilize DIS as a monthly resource to change maps, add trading partners, test, etc. They are available immediately and we could’nt be happier with their response and attention to our EDI platform!”
-Rita Jugal, VP of IS
Profile
Industry: Food, Grocery
EDI Platform: SPS Commerce
ERP: Sage Business Vision
# of trading partners: 18+.
Volume: 5,000+ transaction/mo
Challenge
Create A Treat had a unique product that was attracting demand from many retailers and pushing their EDI volume limits. The limits were requiring a growing number of people to key in all of the EDI data coming in and out. As such, there were many Business Vision data entry errors and duplicate entries, etc., which caused headaches with trading partners. Delays, reprocessing, many customer complaints all required overhead that needed to be addressed. In addition, new partners that were waiting to be implemented were constantly left waiting too long. As a result of all the problems, profitability was taking a hit and the owners were demanding a better and more efficient way to tackle EDI.
Solution
Data Integration Specialists provided an interface to Business Vision that seamlessly integrated all PO’s, Invoices, and ASN’s. The DIS consultant remotely installed the Bridge to allow for complete integration, mapped all BV data files, setup workflows and trading partner profiles. Testing with each document map and each trading partner was performed and the entire project was placed into production. DIS set up each process to be scheduled in an event driven and unattended mode. DIS also provides a resource on a limited basis for Create A Treat to utilize to fix maps, build maps and add new trading partners. DIS communicated with the SPS Commerce Data Operations team to ensure a successful and smooth handoff of data so that the entire EDI process, end to end, was complete.
Result
All EDI data is now completely integrated and off of SPS Commerce webforms which has provided for a cost efficient and trading partner friendly environment. When a PO comes in to the BV bridge, it immediately creates a Sales Order in the BV order entry tables and an invoice and ASN is initiated. Because of this integration, there are no more data entry errors, duplicates or delays and all of the data entry employees now attend to other, more profitable areas of the business. There has been an immediate customer satisfaction response that was never in place before. New EDI trading partners are being added, the EDI volume is growing and the overhead costs are retracting. As a result of these efficiencies, the EDI program is a huge cost saver that, ultimately, has improved Create A Treat’s bottom line profitability.
For more information contact DIS:
E-mail: edihelp@dis-llc.com
Phone: 612-840-6753
Web: www.dataintegrationspecialists.com
“Our EDI resource left us and a recruiter started interviewing FTE candidates. Not only were we in a hurry to find someone as our EDI volume is large and not being attended to, we felt we needed an employee to be onsite handling our EDI full time. Then, we reached out to DIS and they stated they could handle our entire EDI operation from their remote facilities and for almost half the cost of an FTE!! Because we have used DIS in the past, we were comfortable with their ability to deliver so we signed them up. Today, they handle all EDI remotely and come onsite from time to time. It truly is a huge savings and we have no risk with paying benefits, etc. Most importantly, our EDI trading partner relationships have never been more healthy!”
-Matt Schuler, VP of IS
PROFILE
Industry: Precision Injection Molding & Assembly
EDI software: OpenText: TLE For Windows
# of trading partners: 200+.
Volume: 11,000+ transaction/mo
CHALLENGE
Thermotech had a long time EDI Coordinator that was a FTE and a critical player in the Thermotech EC/EDI strategy. This person handled the entire operation of EDI processes, data monitoring, map fixing, adding TPs, etc, and was the resource in communication with 100% of the trading partner base. So, when this resource left Thermotech abruptly, there was a mad scramble to find a replacement. Their HR department immediately enlisted a recruiter to find an OpenText TLE EDI resource to hire as a full time, onsite employee. They quickly found out that finding this TLE resource was difficult and it was even more challenging to locate a TLE Senior Level resource to come onsite as a full time employee. In the meantime, EDI processes were falling thru the cracks and trading partner relationships were in jeopardy.
SOLUTION
Because they had used Data Integration Specialists before on a large mapping project, they reached out
to see if DIS could provide an immediate contract resource while they continued their search for a full time, onsite EDI Coordinator. DIS promptly issued a Senior Level OpenText TLE consultant to remotely engage in picking up the pieces and to ensure that EDI remained on solid footing. This resource also came onsite frequently to attend meetings, etc., at Thermotech’s request. As it turned out, Thermotech became so comfortable with the excellent work, they inquired about utilizing the consultant as their actual EDI Coordinator in a “hybrid” model of both onsite and remote. Both parties negotiated a fair cost model and the DIS OpenText TLE resource is currently Thermotech’s EDI Coordinator.
RESULT
Not only are their EDI trading relationships growing and healthy, Thermotech’s decision to use DIS’ Remote EDI Admin model in a “hybrid” way has reduced their EDI budget by roughly 35%! Thermotch’s FTE cost, including benefits, was $105,000 and the DIS resource will cost them about $68,000. This is a huge savings in addition to all employee risk being completely mitigated. Most importantly, the EC/EDI strategy is back on solid footing and Thermotech is so confident in DIS that they are embarking on a “supplier” side enablement program to be spearheaded by DIS.
For more information contact DIS:
E-mail: edihelp@dis-llc.com
Phone: 612-840-6753
Web: www.dataintegrationspecialists.com
“For 3 years now, we have been using Data Integration Specialists as a backup to our existing EDI Coordinator so we know about their fantastic availability and response time. Because our EDI Coordinator wears many hats, sometimes we run into scenarios where we need help keeping the EDI system steady. Because we chose SAP as our new ERP application, we knew we’d need additional mapping resources so, once again, we turned to DIS. DIS provided an immediate Sterling Integrator Project Manager and enlisted their “SAP mapping factory” to ensure an on time and on budget project. DIS gave us a fixed project bid that was very fair, immediately took over the mapping project and the results were nothing short of phenomenal! Of course, we will continue to use Data Integration Specialists for any future EDI/SAP related projects.
~Lea Claire, VP of IS
Profile
Industry: Women’s Apparel & Fashion
EDI software: IBM Sterling Integrator
# of trading partners: 25+.
Volume: 20,000+ transaction/mo
Challenge
Horizon Hosiery had one resource that provided administration to its EDI processes, new trading partner setup, new map building, error detection and resolution and overall maintenance of the system. Even though the EDI volume had much attention, the EDI Coordinator would get pulled in other directions and there were processing issues and unstable situations, in that case. A backup EDI resource was needed from time to time and DIS filled that role when called upon. However, once Horizon made the switch to SAP, they knew there was going to be a ton of maps that could not be handled by just the one resource. There was a concern that, handling all the mapping/testing internal would lead to all of the EDI processes falling thru the cracks and putting the entire Ecommerce agenda in jeopardy. Either way, it was obvious they needed someone immediately.
Solution
At a negotiated fixed project cost, Data Integration Specialists provided an immediate Senior Level Gentran SI expert to lead the project. Utilizing the “mapping factory”, DIS built and tested 155 maps over a 2 month period. A testing phase where DIS was responsible for contacting each trading partner to do end to end testing was also done. Go live was within 3 months of Horizon contacting DIS. In addition to the mapping project, the DIS Project Lead set up workflows to ensure that all processes occur in an unattended and automated fashion and with email alerts on errors and exceptions. Today, DIS is on call to monitor and provide maintenance of the system and add all new trading partners/maps.
Result
Horizon Hosiery estimated a savings of over 3 months and thousands of dollars by using the DIS mapping factory. DIS’ dedicated Gentran SI resource provided the resources so that the cost and risk was reduced exponentially. Because the entire EDI system is now automated, there is less overhead and increased efficiency. Because the DIS consultant added more responsibility with backup, it allows the EDI Coordinator to attend to other IT functions that are more profitable. Turning to Data Integration Specialists has been a cost containment (30%) success and has helped the Horizon Hosiery Mills’ bottom line immensely.
Sterling Integrator is a trademark of IBM Corporation.
For more information contact DIS:
E-mail: edihelp@dis-llc.com
Phone: 612-840-6753
Web: www.dataintegrationspecialists.com
