A Sportswear Company Improves Gentran Processing
EDI Challenge
A sportswear company that was using an old version of Gentran:Director™ came to DCS with several EDI challenges and requirements. The company was experiencing explosive growth in the volume of EDI transmissions it was transmitting and in the number of Trading Partners requiring EDI transmissions. They needed DCS to design an EDI Solution that would integrate their EDI requirements and be able to accomplish seven major tasks/processes to include:
- Handling the increase volume of EDI transmissions,
- Processing bulk orders which came several months in advance,
- Processing Purchase Orders (850) that had a five day shipping window and required cross docking using SDQ segments for the destination location.
- Incorporating “Bar Code Labels” for shipping,
- Accommodating several less common EDI transactions including a “Request for Routing Instructions” (753), a “Routing Instruction” (754), and a “Price/Sales Catalog” (832).
- Communicating their EDI transmissions via an FTP connection, and
- To be AS2 enabled for those Trading Partners who were requiring AS2 transmissions.
Solution
The solution that DCS designed consisted of several steps to include:
- Upgrading the EDI system from Gentran:Director™ to Gentran:Server™ . The newer translator would more readily accommodate the increased volume of EDI transactions and Trading Partners set-ups.
- Creating several inbound and outbound integrated maps which automated the data entry process and eliminated the manual data entry of the EDI transmission.
- Installing ASN Plus™ to print required Bar Codes Labels. This product also creates a fully enveloped Advanced Ship Notice (856) transaction which is ready to send back to the Trading Partners. This was required because the MRP system and Gentran:Server™ couldn’t create the Bar Code Labels.
- Installing WS FTP_PRO™ and writing several scripts, to send/receive EDI transmissions to the VAN (Value Added Network) via FTP, because some customers continue to require a VAN. This eliminated the need for the traditional “dial-up” modem.
- Installing Alligacom’s Net-Transfer™ to enable the client to communicate EDI transmissions via AS2. All EDI traffic has now been moved away from pricey VANs.
Result
DCS has provided on call EDI support and development for this sportswear company for many years. Not only for development and problem resolution, but to provide ongoing training. Due to growth, DCS has helped to recruit and train in multiple EDI coordinators and continues to be a phone call away.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the computer-to-computer exchange of routine business documents such as Purchase Orders, Shipment Notices, Invoices, and Remittance Advices without human intervention. Data moves from your customer’s computer system – through the Internet securely – to your computer system.