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How To Select An Integration Method That Works Best For Your eCommerce Platform

This article was taken from our blog, published on our EDI2XML platform back in 2014.

eCommerce-IntegrationDo you have your own eCommerce Store, perhaps built with Shopify, or sell your goods online through Amazon, Cabela’s, eBay, etc.? If so, we are quite certain you’ve already been in discussion about how to best exchange data between you and your Trading Partner(s) or between your eCommerce platform and your internal software management system (i.e. your ERP system, CRM (Salesforce)…). In some cases, you may not have much of a choice, as some Trading Partners send their communication requirements prior to beginning a business relationship. For example, partners like Cabela’s or Amazon often push suppliers to be EDI compliant. At that point, it’s time to get in contact with an EDI provider to learn more about this process for your specific business needs.

When it comes to integration between your eCommerce platform and your management system, this process will allow your two systems to interact seamlessly, without any need for human intervention. How it works is that you allow data from the eCommerce system to automatically be sent to your management system, as for example any new online orders, also allow your eCommerce system to receive data from your management system, for example, inventory statuses. This ensures your consumers are well aware of inventory on hand and their orders can be processed right away.

So, if you are unsure of what steps you should take, then I highly suggest you read through the following blog and then contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our experts. Every case is different and it’s best to go over your specific requirements and current capabilities with an integrations expert before making a decision. Of course, we highly recommend eCommerce integration as it improves efficiency, minimizes manual data entry and errors, increases order processing and allows for scalability.

What are some of the different integration methods?

  1. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

As experts of EDI, we’ve written quite a few articles on this topic. This protocol has been around for many years and is used to exchange data between business partners. The data being exchanged in “EDI format” is pre-defined in both format and structure. Trading partners can have their own file specifications. Files can be transmitted using several different types of secured communication protocols such as a VAN, AS2, FTP/sFTP, etc. This method is very popular in the manufacturing, retail, automotive, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

  1. XML

XML, or Extensible Markup Language, is a very common format, used to transfer well-structured data between business partners. It was designed to be self-descriptive allowing users to define their own XML tags to describe the data.

  1. Web Services

Web Services is a method of communication between 2 electronic devices over a network. It uses the Internet as a communication and transport protocol and the XML language to format the data transmitted back and forth.

So, which method is best for your eCommerce integration project? Well, that of course depends on your specific business needs. It’s important for companies to analyze their technical capabilities and ensure it aligns well with their business requirements;

  • Does your internal IT team have any experience and expertise with any of the above integration methods? If so, which method are they more familiar with? If you don’t have an internal IT department, contact your IT provider and explain your business needs. They’ll suggest the best method for your specific case.
  • List the technical advantages of using one method over the others.
  • What are the costs for both of these options, for your specific case?
  • What is the timeframe to get setup for these options, for your specific case?
  • Are you already EDI-compliant due to requests from other Trading Partners? If so, EDI may be your best best.

If you’ve chosen EDI to be your integration method, then here is a list of questions to answer before speaking with an EDI consultant, so they’ll know exactly how best to help you;

  • What system(s) do you currently use to manage your business operations? (if any)
    • Do you use one fully integrated management system or multiple systems for various business functions? For example, Quickbooks for your Accounting, Hubspot for your CRM/Sales, etc.
    • If you use multiple systems, are these systems integrated with one another? If not, are you manually inputting data in one system, then doing the same task in another system and so forth?
  • What is your current workflow (at a business level)? If you can draw it that would be best!
  • How many warehouses do you have? (if any)
  • How many SKUs do you have, that will be used for EDI purposes?
  • Are you currently shipping your goods to DCs (Distribution Centers) or doing Drop-Ship? (or both, depending on the retailer)
  • Are you capable of extracting an accurate inventory status from your current inventory management system?
    • If so, can this be automated to produce this status multiple times a day, if needed?
  • Can you do pick/pack with your current inventory management system?

Jot down the answers to these questions, then contact us. We’ll be happy to help you with your eCommerce integration needs.

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Our Most Requested Management Software Solutions & Services

In today’s business world, the right technology can make a world of difference. IT experts are always pushing to install the best hardware, software, IT services and cloud applications to simplify the lives of business people. This year has been another big year for IT advancements and we couldn’t be more excited about that. We love seeing businesses leverage technology with the right solutions for them, in order to benefit from efficiencies and cost savings.

Here are our most popular and most requested management software solutions and services.

EDI2XML Translation Service

Year after year, we keep seeing an increase in demand for EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) services. Business executives don’t want to hire a full-time in-house EDI specialist anymore to handle their EDI transactions. Nor do they want to hire more customer service reps to manually enter all incoming purchase orders anymore. Many retailers and suppliers are now requiring that any company they do business with must send and receive documents, like Purchase Orders Invoices and Advance Shipping Notices, via EDI.

Companies today are looking not only to implement EDI but to automate this entire process with an outsourced EDI provider. This is why our EDI2XML Translation Service has been one of our most popular services this year. We handle our customers’ EDI requirements from A to Z; we convert their incoming EDI documents into their preferred file format, such as XML (and convert their outgoing XML documents into EDI), as well as handle all new Partner and document setups and manage their continuous communication with their Trading Partners. Our service is affordable, our setup phase is quick and our EDI support team is easily accessible and available; making it the perfect EDI service for any business.

EDI2XML Translation Service

Try it for yourself today!

 

QBR Business Continuity

With ransomware cyberattacks increasing worldwide, it’s not unusual for business executives to come running, asking about our QBR solution. Using the latest technology on the market, this Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery solution is THE best way to protect your data from hardware/software failures, human error, natural disasters, ransomware, computer viruses and more.

No matter the disaster, QBR allows you to recover your data quickly and easily. Businesses can no longer afford to incur downtime that lasts days or weeks, only to later realize that their old, dusty backup tapes haven’t been working for months! With on-site and off-site virtualization, ransomware detection, advanced screenshot verification emails, infinite cloud retention, unlimited agent licensing, instant recovery of entire servers/workstations and more, a company’s data is well protected!

QBR Business Continuity

Learn more about QBR here.

Management Software Solutions – The ErpWizard Suite

We are definitely still seeing a demand for complete Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in the business world. The demand comes from companies that either don’t currently use IT systems to manage their business operations, but instead still use Microsoft Office tools like Excel and Word, as well as companies looking to update their outdated, complex, expensive ERP software.

The transition to a simple, modern ERP system, like our homegrown system – The ErpWizard Suite, has allowed companies to increase visibility into their operations, improve data quality, reduce manual data entry, improve customer service and increase productivity. At the end of the day, when a company has found the right ERP system and Software Provider for their business, they can automate and streamline their processes and improve business agility and performance. That’s the goal of any ERP system. Unfortunately, not many companies realize these benefits at the end of their software implementation (you’d be surprised how many companies don’t even successfully make it to the end of their implementation!).

Technology in the workplace is meant to make business people’s lives a whole lot easier, which is why executives are realizing the importance of a helpful, available, and accessible support team, a flexible, easy-to-use system, and affordable IT costs.

ERP system qualities

Here are some of the main qualities of an ERP system that business executives are looking for:

  • Flexibility
  • Can easily integrate with other systems
  • Is effortlessly accessible from anywhere, at any time to allow users to stay in touch with business operations, even while on vacation or on a business trip
  • Easy to use, with a simple, modern interface
  • Is continuously updated to accommodate to the ever-changing business environment
  • Is well supported by an available and accessible IT support team
  • Is affordable !!

This year we have been especially excited about our newly improved ErpWizard Suite. Now, with its new modern, sleek interface, end users will actually enjoy using an ERP system. It’s about time companies moved away from those complex, boring looking, out-dated systems and towards simple, visually appealing management applications, that won’t break the bank.

What do you think of ErpWizard’s new look?

WIMS 2.0 – Warehouse Management

 

Warehouse Management is another popular software solution, usually integrated within a company’s ERP system. This system allows for better visibility and control of all warehouse activity, which is an absolute must today. A Warehouse Management system allows businesses to know;

  • What’s been delivered and when

  • Where all items are stored in the warehouse facility

  • Which items to pick and how much to pick for delivery

  • The right items to pack using the right shipping cartons and materials

  • What items to ship and where to ship them

All of this is exceptionally important in order to reduce operating expenditures, increase data accuracy, shorten fulfillment lead times, move inventory faster and increase data accessibility. By using wireless scanners, this inventory data collection system is truly bringing better control and insight into warehouse processes. If a company’s warehouse is in order, customers are better served and happy!

Business Intelligence & AnalyticsBI

A big favourite among our customers is our Business Intelligence offering. Our Business Intelligence experts are integrating Tableau Software’s BI solution into our customer’s management system in order to provide detailed analyses with customized drillable dashboards, using all real-time data. Our customers are now able to identify hidden trends and strategic information, turn raw data into visual graphs and tables, identify new business opportunities, spot areas of weakness and avoid problems. The insights that our customers are getting from this Business Intelligence solution is giving them the ability to stay ahead of competition.

Contact us to see how our Business Intelligence experts can help you!

The Best Management Software Solutions

mobile-app-1We are certain that demand for these management solutions will only increase, as executives are actively looking to transform their businesses using the latest technologies on the market. We predict that mobile business applications will make this list next year, as business owners are looking to supply their on-site teams with access to their management system to input and review real-time data. Modern, visually appealing, easy to use applications don’t just have to be for personal use; companies should be benefiting from these types of applications as well! One thing is for certain; businesses are looking beyond the brand name when it comes to software systems and taking the time to ensure that the Software Provider and offerings are a good fit for their company.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help YOU.

 

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How to become EDI-compatible with major retailers such as Sears, HBC, Costco, Wal-Mart and Target

If you’re looking to do business with major retailers like Sears, Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, HBC, Amazon, etc., then you’ll definitely needEDI. Today, most major retailers require their trading partners to exchange all documents, such as purchase orders , invoices and ASNs, electronically[EDI]. This can be a major concern at first, but once you find the right EDI supplier (at the right price), everything will become very quick and easy. (To find out what is involved in the configuration of EDI accounts by EDI suppliers, read this article.)

Be EDI-compliant

So, to become EDI compliant, you first need to determine how you want to progress in this area. Do you currently have an IT department with EDI experience? In this case, all you need to do is purchase an EDI translation tool to convert all incoming EDI documents into a suitable format for easy integration into your management system. If not, and you’re not prepared to hire an in-house IT team with EDI experience, you’ll need to consider partnering with an EDIprovider who can manage EVERYTHING for you. “All” includes all EDI mapping servicesWe offer a full range of EDI services, including trading partner configuration, standard maintenance, XML / CSV / TXT translation, integration with your ERP application, sending and receiving of EDI documents from your trading partners, and the deposit and collection of all XML / CSV / TXT files to and from your EDI mailbox.

Then determine which documents your business partners will ask you for, and which they will send you. Will it only be an incoming PO and an outgoing invoice? Do they need an ASN? At this stage, it’s also very important to define the format you’ll need the incoming documents to convert to. Is it XML? CSV? TXT?

Other important questions to ask your business partners at the outset include:

  • What communication protocols do they need (if any)? AS2? VAN?
  • What EDI standard do they use? ANSI ASC X12? EDIFACT? (In North America, the standard generally used is X12)
  • What are the specifications of their documents? (Most probably they send a document with all their specifications).
  • Any other rules and/or guidelines they have for starting to exchange documents electronically with them?

Once you know the basics of your EDI requirements, it’s time to speak with an EDI consultant (or talk to your EDI supplier) to establish the exact EDI flow for your business. At Namtek Consulting Services, our EDI experts are here to assess your EDI business needs and ensure that our services are right for you. If you need direct EDI integration into your Salesforce, JDE, IBM AS400 or eCommerce systems, they can handle it! If you’re simply looking for us to translate incoming and outgoing documents and hand them over to your team for further processing, this can also be arranged. Whether it’s your business partner Sears, Wal-Mart, Costco, HBC, Amazon, Meijer, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Loblaws or Target, you’ll be well prepared to do business with them on time and on budget. See the list of our current business partners, but note that we can add any partner at any time!

To see prices for our EDI2XML translation service, click here.

Contact us for a free EDI consultation today!

 

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How Modern EDI Can Be Your Missing Piece to an Efficient Company

At this point in time, I’d say that most of our readers know what EDI is. We’ve written tons of articles and continuously provide educational resources on it. If you are still unsure of what EDI is and what it can do for your business, please refer to our EDI slide presentation or download our Intro to EDI guide to get better acquainted with this business communication method. Read more

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EDI, EDI, EDI…Why its demand has drastically increased

EDI Communication is in high demand right now. Many companies are quickly realizing how beneficial it is to trade important documents with their suppliers, retailers or business partners via electronic means. Others are receiving direct instructions from their partners to begin using EDI in order to continue doing business with them. Basically, some companies aren’t getting the choice and others are taking proactive steps to ensure they are ahead of the game so that they are as efficient as possible. Read more

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How to become EDI compliant with large retailers like Sears, HBC, Costco, Wal-Mart and Target

If you are looking into getting into business with large retailers like Sears, Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, HBC, Amazon, etc., then you will most certainly require EDI. Nowadays, most large retailers demand that their Trading Partners exchange all documents, like Purchase Orders, Invoices, ASNs, electronically [EDI]. This may seem like such a hassle at first but once you find the right EDI Provider (at the right price), it’ll all become quite easy and quick. (To know what’s involved in the setup of EDI accounts by EDI Providers, read this article.) Read more

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EDI as a Service: Understanding the Concepts

What is EDI “as a Service”? At Namtek Consulting Services, we have been providing a service called EDI2XML Translation Service. As many already know, EDI requires expertise and knowledge in the field; not any IT professional can handle a full EDI project. This often makes it difficult when businesses are told by suppliers or retailers […]

Read more
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Bringing EDI To Your Business in 2016

EDI Communication, a method of electronically exchanging business documents, like Purchase Orders and Invoices, between Trading Partners, has been very much in demand for manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, etc. in recent years…and for good reason! [Read the top benefits of EDI]

So, you’ve recently been looking into doing business with a large retailer but they require you to exchange POs, Invoices, ASNs via EDI? Debating whether or not to bring EDI into your business by 2016? Read more

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Getting Started with EDI

Take a look at today’s  Infographic that goes on to briefly describe how companies can get started using EDI Communication with their customers/suppliers/partners.

Every company needs to analyze their EDI requirements first and foremost to determine which solution or service will be needed to easily and securely exchange documents with their Trading Partners. To learn more about EDI Communication, visit EDI2XML. Read more

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B2B Transactions & EDI Communication

Businesses are constantly exchanging documents like invoices, purchase orders, advance ship notices, acknowledgements, etc. Many small and mid-size companies tend to still exchange these important documents via email, fax and even mail. Unfortunately, these methods take more effort and time to get to the business partner – which means that orders will be processed later and payments will take longer.

In today’s business world, everything is so fast-paced and competition is fierce. Customers and business partners demand the very best, in the shortest amount of time. It can get tricky for small businesses that may not be well equipped to compete with these larger players and provide the best service for their customers and business partners as everything is still done manually. This is where EDI communication comes in Read more

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