Suppliers multichannel management

The client is a leader among Italian large-scale retailers who had recently started upgrading its information system, transforming existing programs on the legacy system (AS / 400) into web applications.


THE PRE-PROJECT SITUATION

The constant exchange of significant data flows (Orders, Notes, Warehouse delivery confirmations, Invoices, stock level notices, etc.) with usual suppliers was managed with AS 400.

These flows constitute a highly heterogeneous external world, created by diverse information systems and consisting of different types of communication, over diverse channels, on which no control or technological standard could be imposed.


THE NEED

The client's need was to be able to receive and send data streams to and from this outside world in the most varied forms and technologies, such as:

  • EDI files (Electronic Data Interchange) exchanged via external providers;
  • pdf documents or text files sent as e-mail attachments;
  • formatted text files sent via FTP;
  • other such as fax documents, direct writing on the database, etc.


THE SOLUTION: THE MIDDLEWARE

We created a layer of intermediate software (middleware) between the client’s information system and the communication channels used by the external world, acting as an interface for data exchange.

The middleware is crossed by all the heterogeneous data flows entering and leaving the company, normalizing them into a single standard format.

THE SOLUTION: THE WEB APPLICATION

We created a web application with configuration and monitoring features:

  • configuration and activation flows;
  • monitoring of the outcome of the exchange of flows,
  • view of the data received and sent,
  • ability to resubmit items;

but also with more specific application features such as:

  • the ability to send communications to suppliers, customized according to distribution lists;
  • the anticipated management of stock notes requiring user intervention (?);
  • the repeated sending of orders via email and fax;
  • the customization of order notes for each supplier.


BENEFITS OBTEINED

We eliminated an obsolete system in our client’s overall architecture, incorporating the same functionalities into the SAP system already in use by the company.

With the SAP system, we created a complete production supervisor, integrated with our client’s line machinery.

Contact us for more information
Share by: