Century Distribution Systems - Key link in the chain

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Middleware, SDKs & Libraries

Applicable Industries

Retail

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation
Procurement

Use Cases

Supply Chain Visibility

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services
System Integration

The Challenge

Century Distribution Systems was facing challenges with data integration and exception handling. The company was using multiple systems to handle customers’ EDI transactions and data integration mapping, which resulted in inefficient use of time in the creation and maintenance of custom interfaces. Each customer had unique requirements in terms of how they store and receive data from customers, suppliers, and partners. Century was using multiple applications for EDI data integration and to build interfaces from start to finish for each data feed. This significantly slowed the process of getting customers up and running and proved to be an inefficient use of resources. Another challenge was exception handling. An error in a purchase order or invoice could mean a delay in shipment, which ultimately damages relationships and potentially incurs significant fees.

About The Customer

Century Distribution Systems (Century) is a global logistics company that provides supply chain management services to well-known global brands such as Sephora, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores and Canadian Tire. Century distinguishes itself among its competitors by providing advanced systems and technology solutions that drive efficiencies and enable full visibility into its customers’ supply chains. Through Century’s Visibility Management System (VMS), a proprietary application that serves as an internal operating system and a supply chain management visibility tool, customers can easily manage purchase orders from vendor issuance all the way to delivery at a distribution center.

The Solution

To streamline the data integration process, Century replaced its legacy EDI solution with EXTOL International’s EXTOL Business Integrator (EBI) tool, reducing the customer interface creation from weeks to a matter of days. EBI provides a common platform where any data format and any application can be easily integrated without the need for custom coding. For Century, this means that regardless of its customers’ requirements, Century is able to integrate EDI, XML, database, flat file, and spreadsheet data with VMS to provide the enhanced supply chain visibility it has become known for. Century relies on EBI to accept purchase orders and cleanse and process the data before sending it to VMS. If there is an issue with the data, EBI automatically notifies the sender, eliminating the need for Century to write a special process.

Operational Impact

Century now has one common staging layer for building customer interfaces and is able to test data, ensure quality and take swift action if needed – significantly improving operational efficiencies.
By utilizing EXTOL’s automation and any-to-any integration capabilities, Century now has a common set of resources to build and test interfaces from start to finish. This improvement has allowed the company to scale easier as demand increases and better utilize resources to effectively serve customers.

Quantitative Benefit

Reduced the customer interface creation from weeks to a matter of days.
Tasks that previously took weeks to complete can now be accomplished in a few days.