• The Four Hundred
  • Subscribe
  • Media Kit
  • Contributors
  • About Us
  • Contact
Menu
  • The Four Hundred
  • Subscribe
  • Media Kit
  • Contributors
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Textile Manufacturer Gets EDI Help from Robot

    June 3, 2014 Alex Woodie

    When Standard Textile decided to move its EDI translator from IBM i to Windows, the company knew it needed a solid way to make the new Windows-based EDI talk with its core JD Edwards system running on IBM i. The company found what it needed in the guise of the Robot/SCHEDULE software from HelpSystems.

    Standard Textile makes a variety of textile products–including sheets, blankets, window treatments, upholstery fabrics, uniforms, workwear, and napery–and sells them to customers all around the world. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based company is privately held, and employs about 4,000 people.

    About 80 percent of Standard Textile’s orders come into its JD Edwards ERP system via EDI. The company had used an IBM i-resident EDI translator for years, but decided to move away from it when it became apparent that it couldn’t support new file mappings.

    The company’s EDI manager, Brian Michael, selected a new Windows-based EDI translator that could support the new requirements. The next challenge was getting the new EDI translator communicating with its IBM i server and JD Edwards applications.

    “Our translator, now Windows-based, needs to interact with jobs on the iSeries,” Michael says in a case study on the HelpSystems website. “That’s where Robot/SCHEDULE Enterprise came in. I needed something simple to go across platforms and automate trigger jobs that would kick off a downstream job once the data translation occurred.”

    Michael is also using HelpSystems’ operator assistance language (OPAL) to automate many of the business processes that are handled by the Windows and IBM i systems, and to minimize the chance of orders falling through the cracks.

    Today, when JD Edwards jobs produce purchase orders, acknowledgements, and invoices, it triggers an EDI job, according to the case study. The OPAL code then monitors for data in the physical files. If data is found, it triggers an EDI job. “It’s been very helpful,” Michael says. “I’m not missing things.”

    Michael also appreciates the fact that Robot/SCHEDULE sports a GUI rather than a green screen. “It’s more inviting,” he says, particularly for users who aren’t familiar with the IBM i platform.

    The company is also using Robot/ALERT to automate the execution of alerts. If something goes wrong with EDI, Robot/ALERT notifies Michael directly via email, eliminating the need to involve the IT staff.

    Overall, Michael sounds pleased with the software from Robot, which is now a division of HelpSystems. “Robot is simple to set up, easy to use, and very powerful, especially compared to other schedulers on the iSeries, which are kind of clunky and repetitive,” he says in the case study. “It’s critical to the business that EDI works, and I’ve got it humming with Robot.”

    To read the entire case study, go to www.helpsystems.com/solutions/success-stories/robot-adds-cross-platform-flexibility-edi-standard-textile.



                         Post this story to del.icio.us
                   Post this story to Digg
        Post this story to Slashdot

    Share this:

    • Reddit
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Email

    Tags:

    Sponsored by
    iTech Solutions

    Choose Your Own IBM i OS Upgrade Adventure

    Choice 1:

    • Plan for 3 months
    • Check hardware & software compatibility
    • Check Lan Console, MQ, Domino, SMB, Ciphers, WebSphere, Java
    • Test, test, and test again
    • Prepare for potential downtime
    • Hope the OS Upgrade goes smoothly
     

    Choice 2:

    • Strategically plan alongside a team of IBM i experts
    • Work with experienced system admins to ensure hardware & software compatibility
    • Receive full analysis of Lan Console, MQ, Domino, SMB, Ciphers, WebSphere, Java
    • Know which PTFs are required for the upgrade
    • Relax, and let iTech handle the rest

    Not every OS Upgrade has to be an adventure. We make the process easy for you.

    Having completed thousands of upgrades, we have the experience, know-how, and expertise to get the job done seamlessly. We know what can go wrong, what to plan for, and can act quickly if problems arise.

    No matter where you are in your journey, we’re here to help. Take a look at the video below to ensure you’re on the right path when it comes to your next IBM i OS Upgrade.

    [Video] What You Need to Know to Successfully Upgrade to IBM i 7.4 and 7.5

    An IBM i OS upgrade isn’t complete until all the boxes are checked. Is your list up to date?

    In this video, Pete Massiello covers what’s new on IBM i 7.5, planning tips, pre-requisites, and post-installation requirements for a successful OS Upgrade.

    [ Watch Now ]

    Share this:

    • Reddit
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Email

    Sponsored Links

    BCD:  June 5 Webinar: RPG Open Access in Presto Gives You More Modernization Options
    CloudFax400:  Moving to an IBM PureSystems™? You need our cloud-based enterprise FAX service.
    Remain Software:  IBM i Application Lifecycle Management freedom and flexibility

    More IT Jungle Resources:

    System i PTF Guide: Weekly PTF Updates
    IBM i Events Calendar: National Conferences, Local Events, and Webinars
    Breaking News: News Hot Off The Press
    TPM @ EnterpriseTech: High Performance Computing Industry News From ITJ EIC Timothy Prickett Morgan

    IBM Gooses FlashSystem With Skinnier Flash, Faster Ports Thanks For The Cheaper, Faster Memories

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Volume 14, Number 12 -- June 3, 2014
THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY:

SEQUEL Software
Maxava
Manta Technologies
Remain Software
Shield Advanced Solutions

Table of Contents

  • LaserVault Goes SCSI with New Backup Device
  • Italian Stock Exchange Protected by Maxava
  • Calling the Shots with Flash, Disk, and Tape
  • BCD Spruces Up Web and Doc Management Tools
  • IBM Helps Users Find i Needles in CMOD Haystack
  • Textile Manufacturer Gets EDI Help from Robot
  • Halcyon Fills the ‘Missing Link’ with Interactive Job Log Monitoring
  • Jinfonet Adds Geo Analysis to Reporting Software
  • LANSA Teaches BPI Tool New SQL, Web Services Tricks
  • DSI Targets IBM i Shops with VTL Solutions

Content archive

  • The Four Hundred
  • Four Hundred Stuff
  • Four Hundred Guru

Recent Posts

  • IBM i 7.3 TR12: The Non-TR Tech Refresh
  • IBM i Integration Elevates Operational Query and Analytics
  • Simplified IBM i Stack Bundling Ahead Of Subscription Pricing
  • More Price Hikes From IBM, Now For High End Storage
  • Big Blue Readies Power10 And IBM i 7.5 Training for Partners
  • IBM Delivers More Out-of-the-Box Security with IBM i 7.5
  • Groundhog Day For Malware
  • IBM i Community Reacts to IBM i 7.5
  • Four Hundred Monitor, May 11
  • IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 24, Number 19

Subscribe

To get news from IT Jungle sent to your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.

Pages

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Contributors
  • Four Hundred Monitor
  • IBM i PTF Guide
  • Media Kit
  • Subscribe

Search

Copyright © 2022 IT Jungle

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.