Software AG Case Studies Automating the Demand Chain with Integrated Product Replenishment

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	Automating the Demand Chain with Integrated Product Replenishment Software AG

Automating the Demand Chain with Integrated Product Replenishment

Software AG

Technology Category	Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management
Applicable Industries	Retail Consumer Goods
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation Procurement
Use Cases	Supply Chain Visibility Inventory Management Demand Planning & Forecasting
Services	System Integration Software Design & Engineering Services
Challenge	7-Eleven, the world's largest convenience store chain, faced a significant challenge in maintaining a supply chain and distribution network to support thousands of stores. The company had to coordinate orders with hundreds of suppliers to deliver products to stores on a daily basis. Many of its smaller suppliers did not have the infrastructure in place to support Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) technologies, which 7-Eleven used to automate the exchange of orders and business documents with some of its largest partners. As a result, the company had to rely largely on manual processes with paper invoices faxed, mailed or emailed into the company, and manually keyed into back-end financial applications. Read More
About Customer	7-Eleven is the world's largest convenience store chain, operating, franchising and licensing stores in 18 countries. Since its inception in 1927, 7-Eleven's mission has been to serve its customers at its more than 59,000 stores around the world. The company is ranked No. 1 on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500's Top 10 Most Popular Retail Companies for 2016. 7-Eleven's operations span across various countries, making it a global player in the retail industry. The company's vast network of stores requires a robust and efficient supply chain and distribution network to ensure smooth operations and customer satisfaction. The company's commitment to innovation and customer service has made it a leader in the convenience store industry. Read More
Solution	7-Eleven decided to implement an Internet-based business portal for suppliers. However, to maximize the benefits of such a deployment, the company needed to flow business transactions from the portal directly into its existing legacy systems. 7-Eleven selected the webMethods product suite, using the integration platform as the backbone for the project. The first phase of the project consisted of a Web-based portal for exchanging orders and other business documents with suppliers. Using the method of the supplier’s choice, be it EDI, a Web page with forms, or FTP, 7-Eleven was able to automate such transactions as the exchange of purchase orders, acknowledgements and invoices. Furthermore, the webMethods solution was leveraged to integrate the exchange of business documents directly into 7-Eleven’s mainframe applications. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management

Applicable Industries

Retail

Consumer Goods

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Procurement

Use Cases

Supply Chain Visibility

Inventory Management

Demand Planning & Forecasting

Services

System Integration

Software Design & Engineering Services

Challenge

7-Eleven, the world's largest convenience store chain, faced a significant challenge in maintaining a supply chain and distribution network to support thousands of stores. The company had to coordinate orders with hundreds of suppliers to deliver products to stores on a daily basis. Many of its smaller suppliers did not have the infrastructure in place to support Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) technologies, which 7-Eleven used to automate the exchange of orders and business documents with some of its largest partners. As a result, the company had to rely largely on manual processes with paper invoices faxed, mailed or emailed into the company, and manually keyed into back-end financial applications.

About Customer

7-Eleven is the world's largest convenience store chain, operating, franchising and licensing stores in 18 countries. Since its inception in 1927, 7-Eleven's mission has been to serve its customers at its more than 59,000 stores around the world. The company is ranked No. 1 on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500's Top 10 Most Popular Retail Companies for 2016. 7-Eleven's operations span across various countries, making it a global player in the retail industry. The company's vast network of stores requires a robust and efficient supply chain and distribution network to ensure smooth operations and customer satisfaction. The company's commitment to innovation and customer service has made it a leader in the convenience store industry.

Solution

7-Eleven decided to implement an Internet-based business portal for suppliers. However, to maximize the benefits of such a deployment, the company needed to flow business transactions from the portal directly into its existing legacy systems. 7-Eleven selected the webMethods product suite, using the integration platform as the backbone for the project. The first phase of the project consisted of a Web-based portal for exchanging orders and other business documents with suppliers. Using the method of the supplier’s choice, be it EDI, a Web page with forms, or FTP, 7-Eleven was able to automate such transactions as the exchange of purchase orders, acknowledgements and invoices. Furthermore, the webMethods solution was leveraged to integrate the exchange of business documents directly into 7-Eleven’s mainframe applications.

Impact #1	7-Eleven is experiencing dramatic benefits in both its demand chain and internal operations as a result of the integration project.
Impact #2	Thousands of invoices per month are now being exchanged electronically with suppliers and synchronized automatically with the company’s financial applications.
Impact #3	The electronic exchange of orders has improved turnaround times and visibility into the supply chain.

Impact #1

7-Eleven is experiencing dramatic benefits in both its demand chain and internal operations as a result of the integration project.

Impact #2

Thousands of invoices per month are now being exchanged electronically with suppliers and synchronized automatically with the company’s financial applications.

Impact #3

The electronic exchange of orders has improved turnaround times and visibility into the supply chain.

Benefit #1	Reduced the amount of manual keying that took place in the past and reduced associated errors.

Benefit #1

Reduced the amount of manual keying that took place in the past and reduced associated errors.

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Overview

Automating the Demand Chain with Integrated Product Replenishment

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit