SAP-specific: EDI-XML tool kit speeds trade document setup
By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 9/8/2008 7:33:00 PM
ACOM Solutions says its SAP-based implementation tool kit for ACOM’s NET-compliant EZConnect EDI and XML data translation and trading partner management solution simplifies mapping of electronic trading partner documents for exchange between the SAP software environment and software systems used by customers or vendors.
The tool kit has preconfigured XML document maps for widely used SAP trading partner documents, including purchase orders and invoices, as well as the means for users with limited technology skills to create additional trading partner documents quickly and easily.
“In the native SAP environment, trading partner document exchanges typically are accomplished using iDocs—or Intermediate Documents—which provide intermediate storage of e-business documents such as purchase orders, invoices, and advance ship notices,” says Firmin. “Mapping these documents can be complex and time-consuming, requiring extensive knowledge of the German mnemonics on which the system is based, as well how EDI documents are adapted to the iDoc structure, including such things as non-ANSI standard locations of document elements.”
Conversely, says Firmin, ACOM’s EZConnect SAP EDI-XML implementation tool kit allows users to import an iDoc schema and convert it to an XML template for the desired document. Then, with drag-and-drop entry of the trading partner information into the XML document template map, the new document is mapped and ready to use.
The process essentially by-passes the Intermediate Document stage, proceeding directly to the exchange of active electronic trading partner documents between SAP R/3 and other business management software. Besides expediting the launch of new trading partner relationships, the semi-automated implementation toolkit virtually eliminates the need to deploy expensive in-house or contract programming resources as well as minimizes the possibility of errors and flawed document design.
“Priced as much as 40 percent below competing solutions with comparable features and capabilities, EZConnect EDI-XML already delivers the top price-performance value in the SMB market,” Firmin said. “With ACOM’s new SAP implementation toolkit dramatically reducing the cost and complexity involved setting up trading partner documents, the price-performance advantages become even more dramatic for this extensive user community.”
