Oracle EDI/E-C Gateway Expertise Immediately Available

DCS has in-depth experience with Oracle's EDI/E-C Gateway^TM for 11i. We can help you determine if you can integrate with your existing EDI system or show you the best fit for it. We do

Integration with Oracle Application’s EDI/E-C Gateway is straightforward but not trivial. The challenge is activating the several dozen correct fields among the hundreds available for each document and direction. The interface structure can be complex and difficult to tackle. For example user exits or scripts are frequently used when mapping to/from the interface.

EDI too often is an afterthought during the Oracle Applications implementation, or comes up suddenly as an “on demand” project requested by a key customer that needs to be completed yesterday. In both scenarios you are forced to piece together a workable solution. This is something that you must do well and ensure that the best business practices are being followed, since future development is built upon this foundation.

Here are the necessary deliverables you must provide:

Planning

• Identify key resources and opportunities in your environment.
• Develop the project plan with all of its appropriate components (including training).
• Set up your development and test EDI systems.

EDI Development

• Create a comprehensive map for each key Transaction Set, e.g. INbound Purchase Order (850).
• Customize the comprehensive map for each Trading Partner.
• Set up and test communications between the translator and the interface.
• Set up data transmission testing: setting AS2 or FTP over your VPN to your Trading Partners test mailbox. This is done while working closely with the firewall manager.
• Archive off the old EDI system and data.

Oracle Development

• Set up the tables required to receive/send (Data File Structure, Partner Cross-References, Partner Profiles, Code Conversion, etc.).
• Set up the document types and processing rules.
• Check to ensure all customer locations and their part numbers are loaded.
• Set the inbound control record and record keys (1-100). Many are re-usable.

Implementation

• Install and test the finished maps and setup.
• Train users (Customer Service, Accounts Receivable, and more).
• Train I.T. (daily operations and mapping).
• Have help available for support if needed.

A Note on Fusion's Impact on EDI

Since 2000 Oracle has purchased several application software vendors. Now, Oracle has announced a migration path to a new platform: Fusion^TM, that will be released in 2008. If you choose to migrate, it will be difficult because it is a completely redesigned suite and will rely upon Business Process Execution Language for Web Services (BPEL4WS).

You should consider a migration plan. Your choices are:
1. Migrate now to gain the greatest process automation savings.
2. Defer migration until the cost of “hot” talent begins to decline and bugs are squashed.
3. Do nothing – “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” You can wait many years until a change is necessary.

The EDI perspective is clear: the EDI gateway of Oracle is robust and reliable. The new gateway is unknown, but hopefully not troublesome. The key task is to maintain undisturbed production mode EDI during the Fusion conversion.

Conclusion

Let DCS help you build your EDI foundation or add more process automation. Setting up Oracle's EDI/E-C Gateway is straight forward but not trivial. We recommend our DCS Grow™ development service.

• Most of the US companies conducting X12 or EDIFACT EDI requirements are well known to DCS.
• Popular transaction sets such as Inbound PO's (850), Outbound ASN's (856), Outbound Invoices (810), Inbound Releases (830), and Outbound PO Acknowledgements (855) have been implemented at many of our customers. You should also consider 3PL EDI (94x series) and Transportation EDI (21x series).
• DCS experience extends to the add-ons for Oracle created by the above EDI systems.
• Communications set up is a specialty of DCS. Connections using EDI INT AS2 (HTTPS in batch mode) reduce cost by elimination of pricey Value Added Networks.
• We are experts with the EDI/E-C Gateway and ERP modules of Oracle. Unfortunately, many Oracle 11i developers do not have experience with the ERP system (Oracle Applications).
• DCS also has experience writing directly to Oracle tables, but recommends use of the Oracle EDI/E-C Gateway for 11i.
• Finally, DCS has helped many companies convert their EDI from lesser MRP systems to Oracle.

Your mapping will be thorough, quick, and economical due to our many years of EDI experience. Having DCS develop the first few Trading Partners and communication parameters lowers the cost of implementation and hastens payback. Using a seasoned expert who knows EDI and the Oracle Applications EDI/E-C Gateway will save you time and headaches. Your first step is easy, email DCS for your free assessment. Or, you can read a success story involving one of DCS' customers using Oracle Applications.