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

Why OPT for EDI Instead of Manual Processing

An Increasing number of businesses are ditching traditional manual processing and opting for EDI. They’re either buying their own software through EDI software providers or using outsource services. The question that arises is, why? Now that we can get trained human resources for every detailed task, why opt for software and systems to do the same?

Here are few reasons why more businesses are opting for EDI:

Cost Efficient

Although there are trained professionals available for processing your business data, the compared investment in EDI software is cheaper in a long run. Manual processing includes not only labor cost,  but printing, filing, administration, mailing and in many cases, repeating these same costs in the same transactions. EDI exchanges the documents automatically and unattended from system to system which saves you cost on everything in each transaction and cuts the per transaction cost dramatically.

Time Saving

In any business, time is of utmost importance, and that is why EDI is becoming the preferred choice for a better processing between business trading partners. In manual processing, every step of transaction includes the employee feeding the data manually into the system to go to the next step. This way, transactions can take days to be completed. On the other hand, EDI requires no manual data entering at each step making the entire process effective and efficient. The per transaction time consumption reduces from days to minutes ultimately leading to more transaction volume in the same amount of time, less cost and better return on investment.

Accurate

One of the prime reasons why EDI is becoming the preferred choice is that it reduces the error rate to negligible. Manual data entering can include errors like re-entered keys, or missed details or even mistyping. EDI cuts out the chances of such errors. Reduced error rate translates to improved quality of the data as well as no requirement of any redoing data processing or the orders which in turn contributes to better business relations.

Real Time Updates

While manual data processing takes days to complete a transaction and update the status, EDI software is capable of real time status update, making the entire transaction smoother. Moreover, the businesses are more informed of the current status which can help them be more responsive towards any changes or issues in the transaction. A timely and well informed response makes business relations stronger thereby increasing orders and profits.

Corporate Social Responsibility

One of the subtle yet important benefits of EDI is that it helps save a lot of paper, which can be an important part of green strategy of the business. Your business can become more sustainable through this ecological choice which is an important part of corporate social responsibility.

With a better, faster and cost efficient data processing system, not only can the business flourish, but also work smoothly internally. Real time information updates can help make better business strategies and quality decision making is the key to a successful business.

Data Integration Specialists provides you a complete EDI solution to cater to all your data exchange needs from integration to implementation to support system. We are your one stop solution for better e-commerce throughout your business.

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.