IPC Global’s EDI solution has been developed in VB.NET

In order to facilitate the interface between the 3rd Party EDI Provider and the various Protean Tables involved in the Inbound and Outbound transactions, the application has been developed to use intermediate SQL tables to communicate to the outside EDI applications.

This conveniently shelters the EDI provider from intimately understanding the Protean Database tables, and facilitates the development effort to interface to any EDI package.  The communication tool between Protean and the EDI provider, for each transaction, is SQL table(s) that house all fields required for each transaction.

For inbound transactions, Protean monitors these EDI custom tables for newly posted data, and processes it as necessary.  Similarly, outbound records are added to the EDI tables and the 3rd party EDI vendor application will retrieve and process the newly added records.

EDI Document 875 - Inbound Purchase Order

The Inbound Purchase Order, EDI Document 875, enabled the customer to transmit inbound purchase orders directly to FlexProcess through a third party EDI transmitter.  A custom table was created to collect customer order data.  The customer order was then created in FlexProcess automatically without manual intervention.  An additional process was developed to automatically create a production schedule in FlexProcess based on newly created inbound purchase orders.
Users: Customer Service, Production Planning & Scheduling
Benefits: The customer and customer service group benefited by the reduced amount of time and cost required to manually send and create a customer order.  Order accuracy was improved.  The relationship between the customer and the company improved.
The Production Planning & Scheduling group benefited by the reduced amount of time and cost required to manually enter schedules.  Schedule accuracy was ensured, finished good scheduling was expedited.  Planners were able to see finished good demand more quickly, which improved response time to place orders for required raw materials.

EDI Document 940 – Inbound Warehouse Shipping Order

The Inbound Warehouse Shipping Order, EDI Document 940, enabled the customer to transmit inbound orders directly to the company.  The order data was delivered by a third party transmitter and stored in a custom table.  The order was then created automatically in FlexProcess, providing shipping requirements.
Users:  Shipping and Customer Service
Benefits: Customer Service benefited from the reduced time and cost to create or edit an order manually, and increased order accuracy.
The Shipping Department benefited from advanced notice of shipping requirements.  Shipments and scheduling of trucks could take place earlier and with increased efficiency.

EDI Document 880 - Outbound Invoice

The Outbound Invoice, EDI Document 880, enabled the company to transmit a customer invoice automatically through a 3rd party transmitter.  The invoice was created with the FlexProcess invoice generator.   Once created, the invoice data was stored in a custom table.  The data was then picked up by the third party transmitter and delivered to the customer without manual intervention.
Users: Accounts Receivable, Customer Service
Benefits: The automatic delivery of customer invoices reduced uninvoiced shipments for the company, and expedited invoice delivery to their customers.  The expedited invoice delivery led to lower open accounts receivable balances.  Customer relationship was improved.

EDI Document 947 - Outbound Warehouse Inventory Adjustment Advice

The Outbound Warehouse Inventory Adjustment Advice, EDI Document 947, enabled the company to notify its customers of changes in inventory quantity or classification.  Normal inventory transactions were completed in FlexProcess.  A custom table was created that contained data that was then picked up by a third party transmitter and delivered to the customer.
Users: Logistics
Benefits: This enabled the logistics department to provide near real-time inventory status and levels to the customer.  Notification was automatic, reducing time and cost to communicate with the customer.
This allowed the supplier to act as a 3rd party logistics provider or 3rd party warehouse, giving the customer near-real time inventory status and inventory levels.

EDI Document 945 - Outbound Warehouse Shipping Advice

The Outbound Warehouse Shipping Advice Document 945, provided notification to customers when a shipment occurred.  Normal FlexProcess shipping transactions were completed.  A custom table was populated with data to be picked up by a third party transmitter.  The shipping advice was then delivered to the customer, giving them near real-time inventory information.
Users: Shipping and Customer Service
Benefits: Customer Service and Shipping benefited from reduced time and cost to notify customers of shipments. 
When supplier is acting as a 3rd party logistics provider, it also gives the customer near real-time inventory information and the ability to advise its own customer.