Independent onboarding of new customers at simple system
Thanks to Orchestra, new customers can complete their onboarding for the NextGen platform as a self-service.
What does simple system offer with its NextGen platform?
The NextGen platform from simple system serves as a central data hub between customers and suppliers in the context of indirect purchasing processes. The procurement of all C-parts can be handled via the platform. In addition to traditional ERP systems, other complementary and supplementary products such as automated goods issuing machines or automated Kanban racks are also connected to the platform in a centralised manner.
The challenges of simple system
In the previous version of the platform, the connection of new customers – in conjunction with Orchestra – was implemented as individual interfaces. This approach involved a large investment of time and money, as each API had to be developed separately. There were no standardised or automated processes, making it impossible to scale. Instead, a disproportionate amount of effort went into the technical implementation of the platform.
Creating standardised and automated processes with Orchestra
The platform was rebuilt by simple system in order to reduce the disproportionately high effort that went into the interface connection with the old platform.
Once the new version of the platform – now known as NextGen – had been successfully implemented, the integration with Orchestra was also put on a completely new footing. The aim was to enable standardised and automated processes when connecting new customers.
Orchestra handles the translation, mapping and orchestration of the data. New customers can now be onboarded completely independently. Thanks to the automated connection process made possible by Orchstra, simple system can scale much more easily and concentrate on its core business: The consulting expertise around purchasing processes.
Requirements for the project
Automated processes for interface connection
In the past, customised interfaces or newer technologies such as APIs meant a high investment, sometimes even a barrier to entry in sales, in order to use the platform including all available features. Each interface required an individual project with manual effort.
Therefore, the top priority was to enable automated processes for the interface connection and to implement standardised communication channels between the NextGen platform and Orchestra. In the future, customers should be able to carry out their onboarding completely as a self-service and no manual effort should be required for integration.
Configuration of generic interfaces
As a data hub, simple system centralises the data orchestration of various systems on the customer and supplier side as well as other external systems such as vending machines. All scenarios involve the transfer of data records and require reliable and, above all, standardised integration/connection. To reduce the complexity of the connection itself, generic interfaces should be developed that can be configured automatically.
The desired standardisation includes standard formats and interfaces, as well as the necessary transport routes for data exchange. This requires mappings between different standardised order formats with the strategic goal of being generic and scalable.
The realisation
As is usual in the modern software development process, simple system works in an agile way. Thanks to the long and cooperative relationship between simple system and soffico, this project was also an easy collaboration with a common goal.
Here, simple system had soffico implement the development services for the new architecture and standardised interfaces. Throughout the entire new development of the platform on the part of simple system, close co-operation between the project participants was a decisive success factor.
After a migration period of several months, which was also actively supported, all customer and supplier relationships have now been migrated to the new NextGen platform.
Orchestra is also used for daily monitoring. It ensures that everything runs smoothly and that any problems are transparent. simple system is then informed or independently solves any problems that arise.
The resulting advantages
By using Orchestra for the translation, mapping and orchestration of data in the context of its NextGen platform, simple system has realised numerous benefits:
Standardised APIs and process automation
Time-saving integration in self-service
Traceability of transactions (orders and order confirmations)
Reduction of complexity and better scalability
Conservation of internal IT resources
Our platform offers all the functions needed to save small and medium-sized companies – as well as large corporations – considerable time and process costs. Thanks to Orchestra, a massive cost block is now also eliminated when integrating our platform on both the buyer and supplier side. This not only shortens the time to market for our partners, but also helps us to scale efficiently. We can concentrate on our core business while the integration works in a standardised way. The decision in favour of Orchestra is based on our previous trusting cooperation and the knowledge that we are using a tried and tested, robust product with good support.
Rica Holzmann
