VAI Expands EDI Capabilities with S2K Integrator

May 7, 2013 Dan Burger

VAI, the ERP software company known for its IBM i customer base of small and midsize manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, has announced the availability of S2K Integrator, which advances traditional EDI integration to include such items as XML files, flat files, and spreadsheets. S2K Integrator is based on technology derived from a business partnership with EXTOL International, which is OEM-ing its EXTOL Business Integrator (EBI).

As a result, companies using S2K Enterprise, VAI’s IBM i-based ERP software, will gain the capability to connect, share and synchronize data with third parties. It opens the door to such documents as price files, spreadsheet orders from customers’ product master files, advanced ship notices, and external Web applications.

Joe Scioscia, vice president of sales at VAI, described S2K Integrator as a new mapping tool that replaces conventional EDI by supporting new formats.

“VAI is bridging the gap between ERP software and external services to provide organizations with the tools they need to improve manufacturing processes and deliver superior customer service,” Scioscia says. “If a company is doing strictly EDI, the conventional EXTOL tool is what is being used. But most accounts these days not only do conventional EDI, they also need integration for XML, flat files, Web services etc.”

S2K Integrator users can map external services and data into VAI software, configure and test applications, and propagate data to production environments. It uses standardized mapping templates for integrating Excel files into S2K order entry files, flat files into S2K price update files, and CRM lists into S2K CRM. Scioscia called the standard mappings “the VAI value-add.”

S2K Integrator runs on Windows and Linux servers, which Scioscia says will be handy for companies that are more accustomed to PC-oriented tools.

One of VAI’s customers, Badanco Enterprises, has tested S2K Integrator and seems pleased with the results.

“With S2K Integrator, we can aggregate data from many disparate sources, ensuring that we have immediate and accurate information from our suppliers,” said Gino Giombetti, vice president operations with Badanco, in a press release. “The integration of VAI and EXTOL gives us the competitive advantage we looked for and the real-time communication we needed.”