Development and modernization of a manufacturer and retailer's EDI and ERP system
About The Client
The client is a manufacturer and retailer of about 6000 types of disposable products used in the foodservice, janitorial, sanitation, industrial, hospitality, and medical industries. The company deals in both B2B and B2C space and is a quality leader for trusted quality disposables. This premier manufacturing client has various shipping points across the United States. The multiple distribution points include Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.
- Industry: Manufacturing
- Headquartered: US
- Platforms: S2K ERP, IFS Spreadsheet Integration, and a Custom Web Portal
- Team Size: 4–6 members
The Challenge
The client works with a large customer base and handles its operations/transactions through EDI.
The challenge faced by the client was that purchase orders received from selected customers via EDI were not updated with the latest PO due dates. This was because they had not set up any PO update triggers from their end. The staff had to update the PO dates manually in the system for a large number of customers, which was time-consuming and hectic.
The company received one spreadsheet with information on approximately 3000 PO due date updates. Compilation of the POs in one spreadsheet and updating them in the system, one-by-one took more than a weeks’ time and spreadsheets piled up. It impacted the processing and delivery of their purchase orders.
Our Solution
Seamless Data Integration Between IFS and Warehouse Operations
Programmers.io became the client’s IT, partner, to resolve the problem. Our team came up with a design to put a spreadsheet in a specific directory being created in IFS, which was mapped to the drive of associates from the Warehouse management system.
Automated Purchase Order Updates via Custom ERP Integration
We created custom programs to access the IFS spreadsheet from that directory and process records. Thereby, updating the POs with their due dates all at once. A Menu option was added into the S2K ERP interface to run this process.
Error Reporting and Data Validation for Improved Accuracy
Our team also implemented a feature wherein a report was created that contained the error record data from the spreadsheet with a comment on additional info on the error, to validate failures, resolve and re-verify the data.
Rapid End-to-End Feature Delivery
The team delivered end to end custom features in 3 days, including designing, development, and testing
Technologies Used
Our software architects and engineers are experts in using the latest technologies.
Business Impact
Our solution added value with surprising results because we were able to deliver a high-quality product on time.
Here’s how we did it
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Secure Web Portal with SSO and OAuth 2.0
Programmers.io enabled the client to easily manage the users and applications by building a modern web portal. Our team suggested the use of SSO (Single Sign On) for signing in and OAuth 2.0, which ensured the security of the web application.
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Unified Item Management via Web Catalog
Programmers.io enabled the client to look at and maintain all their items through the application of a web catalogue in an easy and convenient way. Previously they had to maintain details (in DB2) and images (in image server) separately. Now they can maintain both from a single point.
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On-Demand Invoice Access for Customers
Programmers.io invoice app helped the client’s customers to download their invoice from the application anytime. It has saved the time of both our client’s sales people and their customers.
Other Case Studies
I wanted to take a moment to highlight and commemorate the efforts from our dedicated PIO team. To preface, the projects we work on here are complex, with rigid objectives, budgets, and timelines. Expectations are always high and are ever-changing. From the start of our relationship, the IO team was able to exceed expectations and make our business wishes a reality.
Over the past year I have worked with them, they have worked very hard to understand our highly customized system and troubleshoot things with little or no documentation while managing to keep the business up and running normally. Without the hard work and dedication they have shown, I know we would have had some issues causing downtime or lost production. I am looking forward to continuing working them in the next year as well.
I have been working with Programmers IO for more than 5 years now and I have been pleased with all projects and developers that I have worked with. We have had a few issues here and there but they have always fixed and made it right. They have been an excellent addition to our business.
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