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

EDI Transformations And Things You Should Know About

For a legendary, global company like IBM, providing Gentran Server EDI to customers is one element of their business.

International Business Machines (IBM), provides EDI translation software, including Gentran: Server, Gentran Integration Server (SI) and more to EDI capable businesses worldwide. IBM’s Gentran: Server provides a way to address the increasing demands that come with today’s business to business requirements and technology. The Gentran: Server includes data store, process, communication controllers, and UI clients.

Choosing Gentran: Server can help to improve the quality of service, lower costs, and potentially increase productivity. The Gentran: Server allows stakeholders and essential customers to hold that critical competitive edge in the marketplace. Additionally, the Gentran: Server was developed by Sterling Corporation (subsequently purchased by IBM) three decades ago as a way to benchmark e-business transactions.

What Gentran Server options are available to choose from?

IBM has ten different options to choose for Gentran Products. The ten options include the following: Gentran: Server Product options include the following: Sterling Gentran: Server for Unix; Sterling Gentran: Server for Microsoft Windows; Sterling Gentran: Server for iSeries; Sterling Gentran: Basic; Sterling Gentran: Realtime; Sterling Gentran: Control; Sterling Gentran: Plus; Sterling Gentran: Structure; Sterling Gentran: Viewpoint; Sterling Gentran: Director and Gentran: Director Professional.

What is the architecture of IBM Gentran Server?

IBM’s Gentran: Server is built on an open architecture — this allows IT staff to install and work with specific components by utilizing common simple functions and features. Gentran: Server is a high performance, yet versatile solution that can use the Microsoft Windows client and server framework. One of the key benefits of embracing a technological solution provided by IBM like Gentran: Server is that the architecture can be built upon by adding more power and potential as needed.

What type of tools are available with Gentran: Server?

With IBM’s Gentran: Server, process control allows for business documents to be controlled. The question of when, where or how these essential documents are processed is strictly up to you.

IBM’s Gentran: Server also provides for more straightforward methods to map and increase data translation using the mapping utility. The Gentran: Server uses an intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI) to perform data mapping. Gentran: Server provides a way to display one’s applications or data on one’s screen. With the Gentran mapping utility, customers can also point-and-click to create mapping relationships.

The Gentran: Server also provides a way to easily set up and perform trading partner setup and maintenance. This function helps relationships by offering flexibility in creating new relationships. Gentran also allows stakeholders and businesses to exchange complex documents, and utilizing XML, graphics, and even non-EDI standards and business rules.

Gentran: Server also helps stakeholders and customers to trade their data with their business partners on an international scale. Microsoft allows for IBM’s Gentran: Server to use its Communications Service to control the flow of data throughout the system by utilizing many different protocols. To know more about EDI managed services, and to keep your EDI data flow streamlined, get in touch with Data Integration Specialists and we’d be happy to assist you and shed more light on these IBM Gentran EDI solutions and the services that we offer.