| |
| Case Study |
| |
Baan-JD Edwards synchronization solution
transforms operations |
By partnering with
Patni, a large manufacturer achieved synchronization between
complex business processes across two different enterprise application
systems.
The Client
The client is a large manufacturer of transport air conditioning
equipments.
The Challenge
The client’s Replacement Components Group (RCG) serviced
and provided replacement components for locomotive air conditioning
equipments. It used Baan for automating the business processes
related to sales order processing. Another division, The Replacement
Component Division (RCD), focused on the manufacturing and distribution
of commercial air conditioning service parts. This division
used a version of JD Edwards to automate the shipment processing.
To gain operational cost savings, the client wanted to combine
the warehousing operations of the two divisions. The RCD warehouse
was to be used by both the divisions. In order to avoid retraining
of the users from the warehouses, the order to cash process
for sales for RCG was to be split across the two ERPs, Baan
and JD Edwards. Accordingly, the client wanted to build a new
solution which would help the client achieve its objective of
combining the warehousing operations.
The new solution had to:
 |
Take advantage of the optimized warehouse management
of RCD |
|
Avoid any changes to client facing processes of RCG |
|
Automate invoicing to make it a batch process for discreet
sales order processes through the RCD systems. |
In addition, the solution had to be scalable and flexible to
adapt to constantly changing business needs, complex business
processes and involvement of multiple external/internal agencies.
The Solution
After mapping user requirements, Patni developed a flexible
solution which provided seamless integration between the two
systems. Sufficient checks and balances were builtin to ensure
smooth execution of business processes.
Key business requirements were fulfilled by building interfaces
which ensured:
|
Incremental master data synchronization from Baan to
JD Edwards |
|
Synchronization of Inventory transaction and stock availability
from JD Edwards to Baan |
|
Automated shipment processing in Baan based on shipment
confirmations received from JD Edwards |
|
Tracking information and calculation of freight charges
updated to Baan from JD Edwards |
|
Automated Invoicing in Baan.
The solution has been designed to take care of changing business
needs and provides the client the flexibility to change the
mapping at any point of time. The solution has also been highly
optimized to handle large number of transactions. To ensure
high availability of the application, there is a facility to
send automated mails in case of any failures. |
| |
 |
The solution has been designed to take care of changing business
needs and provides the client the flexibility to change the
mapping at any point of time. The solution has also been highly
optimized to handle large number of transactions. To ensure
high availability of the application, there is a facility to
send automated mails in case of any failures.
|
The Technology
|
Baan. |
Achievements
|
Savings of US $ 2 million per year |
|
Greater user acceptance as there were no chnages to
the interfaces. |
The Benefits
The solution is capable of synchronizing complex business processes
across two enterprise applications viz. Baan and JD Edwards
used by the two divisions. What's significant is that the solution
has been developed without customizing Baan, which has reduced
the total costs of maintenance. The entire solution, which was
developed in a short timeframe of 3 months has given the client
compelling benefits. Some of these benefits include:
|
Ability to execute large volumes of 2000 shipment lines
per day |
|
Cycle time reduced to 1.5 minutes per order line against
9 minutes for the manual entry on two systems in absence
of the automation |
|
Parameter based transfer frequencies for high, medium
and low priority orders |
|
Huge savings in stationary and filing costs due to reduction
in paperwork |
|
High Reliability and availability to support critical
business processes |
|
Optimized processing for frequent synchronization of
inventories. |
|
