Making Sense of BlueCherry ERP Consulting

How are Apparel and Textile businesses making sense of BlueCherry ERP Consulting?  Is there appropriate communication during the sales cycle to inform the customer of the resource needs they will have pre and post go-live?  Are these companies making sense of BlueCherry ERP Consulting and in what way?   Well, let’s start by saying that we believe the BlueCherry ERP by CGS is one of the best ERP applications for the apparel and textile sector.  The ERP solution effectively handles apparel forecasting, demand planning, SKU management, ERP and more and was designed specifically for the fashion industry.

For wholesalers, distributors and mid-to-large apparel companies looking to manage thousands of style, size and color combinations while keeping inventory accurate and sales aligned with production, it is consistently ranked as a top tier solution.

BlueCherry does an excellent job with product lifecycle management, supply chain tracking, and advanced analytics. Denim and sportswear brands often rely on BlueCherry to align retail sales data with production runs, helping them adjust in real time to changing consumer demand.  So, we like the power and functionality of BlueCherry from an Apparel IT and ERP infrastructure perspective.  The CGS service and support model has become challenging for many businesses that have purchased BlueCherry.  This is where Data Integration Specialists comes in to pick up the pieces of a BlueCherry implementation both before and after a production implementation.

What about BlueCherry resources that CGS can’t deliver?

Whether it be PLM, BI, Reporting, WMS, ERP or EDI, Data Integration Specialists can provide Senior Level consultants to help either onsite or remote.  Not only can we provide apparel industry veterans who have been associated with live ERP implementations, our consultants will be 10-20% less expensive than CGS.  Many CGS clients have reached out to DIS as we will allocate a specific project manager to your existing implementation or post go-live processes.

How does BlueCherry handle EDI??

EDI is very prevalent when it comes to wholesale distribution.  CGS’ answer is to relegate its customers to using SPS Commerce TSB (The SmartBridge) solution.  If your business relies on another EDI software application, CGS is going to demand that you use their TSB option.  This can be problematic given you may already have significant cost within your EDI infrastructure.  Data Integration Specialists can help with minimizing disruption to your existing EDI processes while still allowing you to take advantage of the entire suite of CGS BlueCherry applications.  EDI Integration can happen without requiring you to use the TSB outsourced solution.  In addition, we have several TSB EDI experts to help get trading partners tested, live and supported.  Call DIS at 612-840-6753 for more information or reach out to EDIhelp@dis-llc.com.  Click here to learn more http://www.dis-llc.com

CGS is an excellent company with a very well regarded product.  Data Integration Specialists is a small group of integration consultants, each having with no less than 18+ years of Apparel/Textile experience.  We do not compete with CGS.  Rather, we actually work with them to complement their services by allowing your company to take advantage of a committed and focused set of resources that will end up being the best decision you have made and at a vast cost savings!

Call DIS at 612-840-6753 for more information or reach out to EDIhelp@dis-llc.com.  Click here to learn more http://www.dis-llc.com

How EDI Managed Services Can Simplify Your Business Operations

Businesses can’t be stagnant; they need to evolve and keep on trying new technologies to ensure the constant and robust participatory in the ever-changing and competitive market. While you keep on strategizing and evaluating your visions and ideas, it is essential that you bring on something convenient on the executive level to ensure the tasks are performed smoothly and deadlines are met. One of the advancements of the technology is the EDI software that enables you to communicate the information such as purchase orders and invoices electronically.

Not just implementing the EDI software, it’s essential that you keep them in a smooth functionality. Having a processed EDI managed service will ensure the uninterrupted data exchange amongst the trading partners. We at Data Integration Specialists provide EDI experts to manage your existing EDI solution. Also, we can be your remote EDI coordinator to maintain the entire EDI system from our remote office.

Here are some of the factors qualifying how EDI managed service can prove a smart investment for your business.

Upscale service

In a business environment, the less manual processes the more streamlined your internal applications run.  When you have managed service for the EDI, you can ensure the ongoing tasks and operations are running automated and unattended so Ecommerce Trading relationships remain healthy and growing.

Reduced risk and improved profitability

An EDI Managed Service comes with an expert team that will handle your day-to-day EDI data and transactions such as purchase orders and invoices. Our DIS experts will keep a check on the system to ensure everything is running smoothly without any interruption. So, if you have been handling your large data and information, leave the job to our EDI Managed Service experts.  EDI companies may provide you a reliable EDI software, but streamlining them into a constant functionality manner is our offering.  We help to simplify your daily task and that ultimately reduces the risk and improves the possibility of success.

Refocus the staff skill set

When you have Data Integration Specialists, you do not have to keep your employees indulged in time-consuming tasks instead you can provide them their creative space to vision the innovative ideas towards the growth of your company. This allows them to attend to their core area of competency, which is NOT EDI.  This will improve the quality delivery and enhances the skill of the employees.

Build client relationship

When staff is working within their skillsets, when there are less manual process and when the EDI system is working unattended and automated then your EDI customers and suppliers are smiling.  When the trading partner base is happy then IT costs are minimized which will then affect the bottom line in a positive way.  Building client relationships is at the core of what EDI Managed Services is all about.

Summing Up

If you have been looking for a reliable EDI Managed Service, Data integration Specialists will provide unlimited Senior Level EDI resources to streamline your Ecommerce and EDI platform.

Features To Look For In an EDI Provider

An efficient supply chain management system is essential for adequate automation and streamlining of distribution tasks. One such solution promoting automation and enhance efficiency is Electronic Data Interchange. It is transferring data from one computer to another utilizing standardized message formatting, relying on internet connectivity, either through peer-to-peer networking or serial links. Documents can be electronically exchanged between multiple companies both in the US and abroad.

It is essential to make a sound decision when selecting an EDI provider since a slight miscalculation and wrong choice could lead to poor supplier scores, inability to forge a long-lasting relationship with clients or missing out on enormous business opportunities, etc.

MANAGED SERVICE

Depending upon the requirement, managed services differ across the board. Data Integration Specialists can provide a remote EDI expert to either complement your existing EDI resource or they can maintain the entire EDI system from their remote offices. DIS’ EDI Consultant will handle trading partner setups, connectivity to VANs/direct connects, automated scheduling, error handling, acknowledgment reconciliation, map fixes, map changes, new maps, map testing, unit testing and ongoing maintenance on a daily basis. They also provide Hybrid EDI Managed service that acts as an efficient alternative to remote administration. The Hybrid model combines both an on-site option (when needed) as well as a remote EDI expert.

FEATURES

An adept EDI service provider should be able to provide best solutions for your business needs. It should be simple, and the user must be able to work with it with little or no training, It should be quick and easy to implement making it more efficient and facilitating better trade relationships.

INTEGRATION

The solution should be able to integrate with your business systems irrespective of their technical capabilities, connection protocols, data formats and back-office systems.  It should include a downstream system that delivers a seamless exchange of information to other operations.

TRANSPARENCY IN PRICING

Check if there is any hidden cost in the number of transactions made. There should be no additional cost for more transactions since that means you might end up paying more for cheap solutions. The EDI Managed Service maintains the health of your EDI business trading partner relationships at a cost model that IT management loves because it’s easy on their budgets.

CUSTOMER SERVICE
The EDI solution provider must have a flexible and available customer support team offering comprehensive, tailored solutions to business requirements. You should be able to rely on a team that is responsive and available to quickly diagnose any problem, determine a quick answer and implement it instantly.

REVIEW

EDI software can be an expensive investment so it’s critical that you have an experienced and proven EDI Consultant. Ask all solution providers to give you a name of their previous clients so that you can validate the level of customers satisfaction and quality of service.

EDI implementations, when done efficiently, can allow for effective business to business data interchange automation, especially for retail, manufacturing, distribution and healthcare.  Considering its capability to integrate business processes and accelerate speed to market fully, its now increasingly becoming a prerequisite for large suppliers and businesses globally.