Middleware
Effective data exchange with external partners
A globalized world with smart competition constantly increases the pressure on company performance, whether it is a small local company or a multinational giant. Expedited exchange of information and documents both inside the company and with external partners - either another business or a government administration - is an obvious requirement to be able to maintain or enhance your strategic position in the market. Let's look at a simple order, for example. How many different formats or how many different channels may it encounter on its way to the supplier? A large number of suppliers, customers and other businesses require or offer information exchange using automated communication interfaces. These are however usually built up gradually, as the business relationships get formed. The result may be that a key document or piece of information gets exchanged via e-mail or fax with one subject, while modern web applications and messaging techniques are employed for another. The disadvantages are obvious:
- Information exchanged is not standardized
- Information processing is labour-intensive
- Leading to increased error of data entry
- With extended information processing times
The above mentioned issues are often resolved by implementing an integration data platform built into the middle layer of the system architecture. It is a source of information to the individual distribution channels leading outside the company systems or feeding the local applications with data. Along with data integration a transaction integration gets implemented. This unifies relevant company processes. Global trends call for exchange of standardized business documents while using internet and other well defined processes. This leads to creation of business associations like RosettaNet, Edifact, etc. which task themselves with definition of B2B standards. The software manufacturers are then implementing these standards within their products.
Solution
Entering the world of international standards may not always comply with local conditions. Therefore, our solution design begins with detailed analysis of local company conditions. Depending on the availability of expert resources within the company, we can supply an individual portion of the solution or the end-to-end solution itself.
- Analysis of externally exchange documents, distribution channels and procedures used in such processes
- Design of integration layer and its implementation into the system architecture of your company
- Modelling of integration data objects or documents which will become subject of the exchange
- Modelling of complete exchange process which at each moment defines the status of document or information processing
- development of integation layer and interfacing to distribution channels and to local applications. Development of standardized operations for data or information
- Support of the implemented solution, thus assuring correct execution of the designed solution and elimination of operational issues in predefined time periods.
- Project management is offered for implementation of such solutions.
Technology
Database platforms: Oracle, MS SQL, Informix, DB2, Teradata, MySQL,PostgreSQL
ETL: Informatica, DataStage, AbInitio, OWB, CloverETL