Published on 14-Feb-2012
"Without IBM WebSphere Cast Iron Cloud integration, it could easily have taken nine months to a year of internal programming, which would have slowed down our process of adopting the just-in-time inventory model." - Global vacuum design company
Customer:
Global vacuum design company
Industry:
Industrial Products
Solution:
Cloud Computing
Overview
This global vacuum design company develops and manufactures vacuum products.
Business need:
This company needed its ERP systems to be integrated for real-time data synchronization.
Solution:
IBM WebSphere® Cast Iron® Cloud integration and IBM WebSphere DataPower® Cast Iron Appliance XH40 linked ERP systems in the United Kingdom and France with the headquarters in Sweden
Benefits:
With IBM WebSphere® Cast Iron® Cloud integration and IBM WebSphere DataPower® Cast Iron Appliance XH40 the company achieved fast time to value, reduced costs and accelerated delivery of products to customers.
Case Study
IBM WebSphere Cast Iron Cloud integration facilitates fast ROI with application integration approach
This global vacuum design company based in Sweden develops and manufactures vacuum products.
Challenge
This company has branches in many countries. In the recent past, each branch had its own system for ERP. Because they were unable to communicate, order placement required tedious and error-prone double data entry. The turning point came when the organization decided to implement a global, just-in-time inventory model. Clearly, the ERP systems needed to be integrated for real-time data synchronization.
The company’s IT staff evaluated multiple integration technologies and vendors, as well as whether electronic data interchange (EDI) could provide the solution. The organization found that some technologies were relatively difficult and costly to deploy in its environment. Others tended to specialize in a single application or business process, such as Salesforce.com for CRM technology, but lacked open and flexible connections in other areas.
Solution
The evaluation led the client to choose IBM WebSphere® Cast Iron® Cloud integration and IBM WebSphere DataPower® Cast Iron Appliance XH40, which provide preconfigured integration solutions for hundreds of leading enterprise and cloud applications. The WebSphere platform uses a “configuration, not coding” approach to perform the entire lifecycle of application integration, including data mashups, process integration across applications and data migrations from existing systems to cloud-based applications in real time.
The initial integration linked ERP systems in the United Kingdom and France with the headquarters in Sweden, accomplished through a WebSphere Cast Iron Cloud appliance that translates among the systems. Speed of integration was a key advantage on the client’s path to just-in-time inventory.
Since the initial project, the client has used WebSphere Cast Iron Cloud integration for additional integrations, including connecting the ERP system in Germany with the Salesforce.com application. This enables sales personnel to view all of a customer’s history and other information within a single tool. Such follow-on projects deliver ROI even faster because the integration appliance is already in place and the client’s staff has become skilled in the solution.
Benefits
· Achieved fast time to value and ROI thanks to the “no coding” approach to ERP integration
· Reduced costs because of improved staff productivity, a more agile supply chain and decreased warehousing space
· Accelerated delivery of products to customers
For more information
To learn more about WebSphere Cast Iron Cloud integration, please contact your IBM representative or IBM Business Partner, or visit: ibm.com/castiron
Products and services used
IBM products and services that were used in this case study.
Legal Information
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2012 IBM Corporation Software Group Route 100 Somers, NY 10589 U.S.A. Produced in the United States of America February 2012 All Rights Reserved IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com, WebSphere and Cast Iron are trademarks of International Business Machines Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the Web at “Copyright and trademark information” at ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml Other company, product or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. The information contained in this documentation is provided for informational purposes only. While efforts were made to verify the completeness and accuracy of the information contained in this documentation, it is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, express or implied. In addition, this information is based on IBM’s current product plans and strategy, which are subject to change by IBM without notice. IBM shall not be responsible for any damages arising out of the use of, or otherwise related to, this documentation or any other documentation. Nothing contained in this documentation is intended to, nor shall have the effect of, creating any warranties or representations from IBM (or its suppliers or licensors), or altering the terms and conditions of the applicable license agreement governing the use of IBM software. References in this publication to IBM products or services do not imply that IBM intends to make them available in all countries in which IBM operates. All customer examples described are presented as illustrations of how those customers have used IBM products and the results they may have achieved. Actual environmental costs and performance characteristics may vary by customer.