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DataTrans Dispatch |
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| April, 2006 |
Volume 3, Number 1 |
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Since EDI became popular as the method of exchanging business documents electronically, companies with established EDI systems have faced a dilemma. Traditionally, EDI is integrated into backend ERP systems and the major trading partners are setup to begin exchanging EDI messages. These major trading partners may account for the majority of the volume. They typically have the IT budgets to put their own EDI systems in place. However, there are still a large number of smaller trading partners that may not have EDI capabilities. These smaller trading partners require on-going manual processing in order to exchange business documents such as Purchase Orders and Invoices. Typically, these manual document exchanges are done over fax machines or through e-mail. Regardless of how the manual process is handled, it is expensive and time consuming to maintain.
DataTrans e-Community is a web-based portal solution which is designed to address this problem. It allows companies to easily make all of their partners EDI capable through one central connection. Think of the value and savings that can be realized if you can implement a solution to eliminate manual processes when exchanging business documents and tie all partners into your EDI environment.
DataTrans e-Community solution also addresses the issue larger companies (Hubs) have with constant changes in trading partners. Typically, there are always new suppliers and other partners that may not have EDI. This adds to the complexity of managing two different document exchanges, one for EDI partners and one for manual partners. Maintaining these manual processes while maintaining an EDI system is expensive and time consuming.
The DataTrans e-Community solution allows companies that are in this situation to leverage their existing EDI infrastructure and establish EDI links to all manual partners. We utilize our WebEDI portal solution to make this whole process possible. Thus, the only requirement is for your trading partner to have access to the internet.
The way this works is DataTrans creates WebEDI maps based on your existing map specifications. So there are no map changes required. We also establish a data communications link between your EDI environment and DataTrans WebEDI. This link will be used for all customers signing up for DataTrans WebEDI. We coordinate the rollout of the program to manual partners, provide an on-line sign up, weekly web-based training sessions, and on-going support. The time savings from an EDI standpoint from reducing or eliminating testing, trading partner implementation process, etc. is tremendous. DataTrans provides these services to allow for streamlining business processes and eliminate manual efforts.
e-Community also eliminates the traditional EDI implementation steps such as testing, data communications setups, VAN account setups, training, etc. These steps can be eliminated because DataTrans utilizes the same set of maps, same application and the same communications method with all of your WebEDI partners. Thus, testing is an unnecessary step once the initial setup is completed and in production.
Let DataTrans provide your company with a quick, efficient solution to address your internal needs and give your partners a useful tool for exchanging business documents. To find out more call 800-469-0877 option 1 or e-mail us for a free consultation at info@datatrans-inc.com.
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DataTrans has continued to enhance the WebEDI system to be able to handle virtually any EDI scenario. In some cases WebEDI has been modified to handle specific business processes and the supporting EDI exchanges. One of these examples is with our Warehouse Inventory Control Solution.
In this scenario, the warehouse or distribution company will receive a dispatch message or advance ship notice from the manufacturer or supplier of the product. This message will contain all of the information about the products that are being shipped through and stored in the Warehouse/Distribution Center. Once the Warehouse receives all or part of the shipment, they will acknowledge receipt of the shipments using WebEDI to send the manufacturer/supplier an EDI reception report message. When the message is sent, the product information is automatically populated to the WebEDI Inventory Control System. So WebEDI actually provides a method for the warehouse to maintain and control all of the product inventory and movement between you and your partners. The Product Inventory feature of WebEDI allows for the selection of different products for status changes or movement. The products selected can then be reported as being distributed out of the Warehouse and removed from the Inventory Control System. This will generate an EDI message alerting your partners to the movement of the inventory and shipment to the ultimate location destination. Once the product movement is created within WebEDI, the appropriate number of items is removed from the WebEDI Inventory Control System. So the Inventory levels within WebEDI are maintained and controlled in real time.
The actual EDI messages associated with the WebEDI Warehousing support can vary depending on the trading partners involved and their requirements. EDIFACT EDI standards, X12 EDI standards, or even XML could be incorporated into this process. DataTrans currently has over 30 EDI document types defined and in use with the WebEDI system.
To find out more about DataTrans WebEDI or any of the other solutions DataTrans provides, please contact us at 800-469-0877 or e-mail: info@datatrans-inc.com.
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The most recent release of Delta and ECS is available for download for all Delta and ECS supported customers. This release contains many enhancements designed to improve the EDI infrastructure as well as refinements to the systems to address previous issues. Here is a brief summary of just a few of the changes in Delta & ECS Ver. 4.1:
Delta:
Log View: Clarified the Log Viewer messages that display when Delta can't map a record to a database target, due to errors encountered when writing to one or more table columns. Starting in this build, specific column write errors will also display with "Warning" rather than "Info" severities.
Map Organizer: Map Organizer lets you configure a map to run automatically when any EDI or XML document matching the source model criteria is received, regardless of the sending trading partner. Automatic map execution is triggered by receipt of a matching document and execution of an "automatic" translation event rule in ECS.
Improved Translation Management: These features--which include new management reports, new Data Administrator features, and a new event type--let users more accurately track the translation statuses of subsequently received EDI envelopes and transactions.
Improved XML schemas processing: Delta includes support for the redefine element in XML schemas, letting you reference schemas that, in turn, reference other external schemas and redefine type and group definitions contained in them.
ECS:
ECS Logging: Previously, if ECS lost connectivity to SQL Server, it potentially logged a large quantity of SQL-query errors to the ECS event log before shutting down the ECS service. Starting in this build, ECS's event logging has been improved that a smaller, more manageable quantity of errors is logged when ECS loses its SQL Server connection.
Configurable communications sessions: A new option in the Management Console, lets you specify the maximum number of communications sessions that can be simultaneously open for each communications protocol used in ECS (e.g. HTTP, FTP, or SMTP). The default limit is 32 sessions, but you can change this value as needed.
AS2 Merlin: Choosing this new feature displays a series of Merlin screens for easily setting up AS2 communications (including an HTTP input channel and/or output queue, TPM records, certificate designations, and so on) between your ECS server and a trading partner's AS2 server.
New Translation Reporting: Two new Delta-related ECS management reports have been added. The "Documents Translated Report” displays EDI documents matching the specified criteria that were successfully translated at both the document and envelope levels. The "Documents Failed Translation Report" displays EDI documents that match the report criteria and failed to be translated when passed to an EDI-translation map for processing.
To see the complete list of enhancements in the build notes, go to your Softshare e-services account (http://www.softshare.com/eservice/). In order to upgrade to 4.1, simply go to your Softshare e-service account, login using your mailbox ID and password, and go to “Product Updates”. All of the instructions, downloadable files, and build notes are available there. As always if you have any questions regarding this latest release or the upgrade instructions, please contact DataTrans Support at 281-292-8686 Option 2.
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In many cases companies need an EDI solution that is integrated into their internal applications (such as an accounting or ERP system). However, they may not be interested in the time and expense of buying and implementing an internal EDI software solution. DataTrans Hosted EDI is the perfect cost-effective alternative.
With this solution, DataTrans provides a communication “client” software application that creates a secure link between the customer’s computer and DataTrans’ communications server. This communications client automatically uploads and downloads files periodically during the day. As part of the implementation, the DataTrans EDI Analysts create maps that tie into the customer’s internal system (such as an accounting or ERP system). Once all this is done, the appropriate maps are run against the data that is uploaded and downloaded via the communications client. Hosted EDI basically gives the DataTrans customer all of the benefits of an integrated EDI solution without the costs associated with an internal EDI software solution.
DataTrans also provides Hosted EDI customers with access to a web-based reporting system, so that there is visibility to the data files that DataTrans is processing. This includes information on the status of the messages, such as whether the recipient has acknowledged the message. We believe it is very important to provide good visibility to our processes and take the mystery out of EDI
When making a decision to go with an EDI solutions provider, it is also important to understand your options in the future. In some cases, it may make some sense to bring the EDI functionality “in house” by purchasing the EDI software and learning the process internally. DataTrans allows for this flexibility in the future. The DataTrans FlexPlan, which is offered to all of our Hosted EDI customers, allows the customer to easily bring the maps and other set ups that DataTrans has established into an in house software solution.
No other EDI provider can offer the quality, solution options, excellent support and flexibility that DataTrans provides. Contact DataTrans for more information: e-mail: sales@datatrans-inc.com or call 800-469-0877 ext. 105.
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DataTrans Solutions, Inc.
25325 Borough Park Dr. Suite 100
The Woodlands, TX 77380
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