Software AG Case Studies Gist delivers premium supply chain services with outstanding reliability

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	Gist delivers premium supply chain services with outstanding reliability Software AG

Gist delivers premium supply chain services with outstanding reliability

Software AG

Technology Category	Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Middleware, SDKs & Libraries
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases	Process Control & Optimization Supply Chain Visibility
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	Gist Limited, a leading U.K. supply chain solutions provider, needed to improve the speed, efficiency, and traceability of its enterprise interfaces. The company's success depends on its ability to consistently deliver superior service 24/7 despite challenging targets. Gist's IT systems had to be as reliable as the rest of its business, otherwise, it would escalate very quickly. If there was an unplanned middleware outage, file or data issue lasting longer than 20 minutes, the business would already be saying, 'Now it's too late. We're going to have to go manual and pick to an estimate.' This increases costs, incurs customer fines, and affects the company's reputation. Gist's supply chain is incredibly fast: A sandwich produced by a supplier in Scotland is available for sale by a store in the south of England, more than 500 miles away, a mere 24 hours after manufacture. Read More
About Customer	Gist Limited is a leading U.K. supply chain solutions provider and division of The Linde Group. The company specializes in time- and temperature-controlled logistics. Gist’s personal approach and tailored, flexible solutions deliver not just supply chain reliability and end-to-end visibility but also greater competitive advantage for the company’s 3,000+ global customers. Operating from more than 40 locations in the U.K., Europe and worldwide, Gist’s 5,000 employees generate an annual turnover of €600 million. A leader in the perishable and chilled sector, Gist’s vision is to be the customer’s ongoing partner of choice for logistics innovation and delivery excellence. Suppliers, manufacturers and retailers of all sizes rely on Gist’s expertise and efficiencies in supply chain operations. Read More
Solution	Gist decided to move from its existing middleware platform to the webMethods Integration Platform. The company chose to implement by interface groups, essentially by large customers and customer groups, to optimize risk and minimize service disruption during the migration. After the middleware migration was complete, Gist’s second challenge to manage was a major change to its B2B service. To better support the business, Gist opted to bring its B2B service in-house using webMethods Trading Networks, complementary software to the webMethods ESB. The B2B project was high-priority—120 trading partners had to be moved to the new technology within four months. The project was staffed with the most senior people and meticulously planned at a detailed level. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Middleware, SDKs & Libraries

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Use Cases

Process Control & Optimization

Supply Chain Visibility

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

Gist Limited, a leading U.K. supply chain solutions provider, needed to improve the speed, efficiency, and traceability of its enterprise interfaces. The company's success depends on its ability to consistently deliver superior service 24/7 despite challenging targets. Gist's IT systems had to be as reliable as the rest of its business, otherwise, it would escalate very quickly. If there was an unplanned middleware outage, file or data issue lasting longer than 20 minutes, the business would already be saying, 'Now it's too late. We're going to have to go manual and pick to an estimate.' This increases costs, incurs customer fines, and affects the company's reputation. Gist's supply chain is incredibly fast: A sandwich produced by a supplier in Scotland is available for sale by a store in the south of England, more than 500 miles away, a mere 24 hours after manufacture.

About Customer

Gist Limited is a leading U.K. supply chain solutions provider and division of The Linde Group. The company specializes in time- and temperature-controlled logistics. Gist’s personal approach and tailored, flexible solutions deliver not just supply chain reliability and end-to-end visibility but also greater competitive advantage for the company’s 3,000+ global customers. Operating from more than 40 locations in the U.K., Europe and worldwide, Gist’s 5,000 employees generate an annual turnover of €600 million. A leader in the perishable and chilled sector, Gist’s vision is to be the customer’s ongoing partner of choice for logistics innovation and delivery excellence. Suppliers, manufacturers and retailers of all sizes rely on Gist’s expertise and efficiencies in supply chain operations.

Solution

Gist decided to move from its existing middleware platform to the webMethods Integration Platform. The company chose to implement by interface groups, essentially by large customers and customer groups, to optimize risk and minimize service disruption during the migration. After the middleware migration was complete, Gist’s second challenge to manage was a major change to its B2B service. To better support the business, Gist opted to bring its B2B service in-house using webMethods Trading Networks, complementary software to the webMethods ESB. The B2B project was high-priority—120 trading partners had to be moved to the new technology within four months. The project was staffed with the most senior people and meticulously planned at a detailed level.

Impact #1	Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) architecture delivers a scalable, robust platform
Impact #2	Component re-usability and expansion of best practices increases developer efficiency
Impact #3	Easier partner on-boarding and alignment with business priorities

Impact #1

Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) architecture delivers a scalable, robust platform

Impact #2

Component re-usability and expansion of best practices increases developer efficiency

Impact #3

Easier partner on-boarding and alignment with business priorities

Benefit #1	Order transmissions cut from 20 minutes to just seconds
Benefit #2	Easier troubleshooting saves hundreds of hours per year
Benefit #3	More than 1.2 million B2B messages annually

Benefit #1

Order transmissions cut from 20 minutes to just seconds

Benefit #2

Easier troubleshooting saves hundreds of hours per year

Benefit #3

More than 1.2 million B2B messages annually

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Overview

Gist delivers premium supply chain services with outstanding reliability

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit