For more than three decades, Metal Tech MFG has been precision-machining components for many of the world’s best-known agricultural machinery brands. We work with large enterprises with manufacturing facilities all over the world—and when we receive an order, we strive to deliver high-quality products on time, every time.

Because we work with tight timelines for manufacturing and delivery, communication is key. We need to be able to receive orders from our customers and let them know when to expect delivery of their products. With thousands of orders coming in every month, we depend on our electronic data interchange (EDI) capabilities to stay on top of the workload.

Although EDI has been a vital capability for our business for decades, our previous approach still involved a signficant amount of manual data processing. Creating and dispatching advance shipping notices (ASNs) to our customers was a full-time job—one of our employees worked 40 hours a week simply re-keying data on customer orders.

In a small company like ours, everyone needs to wear multiple hats to get things done. We wanted to free our people from repetitive data-entry tasks, so they could focus on value-added work.

Getting into the fast lane with EDI automation

To achieve our goal, we looked for a way to automate our EDI workflows, beginning with ASN documents. Initially, we thought we would need to rip and replace our legacy ERP system to get the B2B integration capabilities we wanted—a major project that would have involved a massive outlay of capital and time, and a signficant amount of risk. But then, OpenText came through with another option.

When OpenText showed us what we could do with OpenText Business Network Cloud Foundation, we quickly realized that we had a fast route to advanced EDI automation. Working with OpenText Professional Services, we deployed a solution to extract the necessary data from our ERP system and bring it into Business Network Cloud Foundation for onward processing.

Shifting to B2B managed services

Every month, we use Business Network Cloud Foundation to process up to 3,000 EDI transactions—including all our ASNs. The platform leverages the world’s largest value-added network (the OpenText Trading Grid™ Messaging Service), which gives us total peace of mind that all our EDI documents will be delivered to customers on time.

In the rare event that there’s an issue with one of our ASNs, OpenText Lens™ gives us the ability to monitor our business transaction flows in real time and rapidly drill down to discover and resolve the root cause.

Empowering employees to add value

Even though we’ve automated the processing of just one of our EDI documents, the project has already made a big difference to our business. One of our team-members who was previously working up to 40 hours a week manually re-keying order data for ASNs is now free to focus on more valuable and rewarding work: from training the next generation of machinists to refining our processes on the shop floor.

Working with OpenText has also helped us significantly reduce our costs. Thanks to the labor savings we made, the project paid for itself within a year. We plan to work with OpenText to automate all of our EDI processes, which has the potential to deliver cost-savings of around $200,000 a year.

 
Although cost-savings are welcome, what excites us most about EDI automation is the ability to save time and focus on our customers. By taking manual data entry out of the equation, we reduce the potential for human error in our B2B communications, which translates to even faster and higher-quality services for our customers.

To learn more about how we are working with OpenText to transform our approach to EDI, read the Metal Tech MFG customer case study.

The post Metal Tech MFG optimizes its B2B integration and EDI automation capabilities  appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene, wreaking havoc across multiple U.S. regions. Compounding the Southeast's recovery from Helene, it also exposed the fragility of modern supply chains. With high winds, torrential rain, and devastating flooding, Milton severely disrupted vital supply chains, paralyzing port operations as well as road and rail transportation. The resulting bottleneck in goods movement sent shockwaves across industries. For retail, it underscored an urgent need to address the escalating threat of natural disasters to global trade.

A perfect storm of disruptions as retail’s peak season approaches

Unfortunately, with peak season on the horizon, retailers are also navigating another perfect storm of potential supply chain disruptions. The recovery of transportation routes in the hurricane-affected areas is expected to be a prolonged process, likely taking weeks. Recent labor disruptions at U.S. ports are adding to the complexity. Some reports suggest that supply chain restoration from these could also take four to six weeks. Black Friday is just three weeks away. With consumer confidence up, interest rates and inflation down, retailers could be dealing with heavy demand. amid burgeoning customer expectations in addition to these disruptions.

Global retail supply chains are not exempt from the chaos. Unpredictable weather events are not confined to North America, nor are labor disputes and shortages. Across the globe, Geopolitical tensions, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, could affect ocean freight just as air cargo capacity winds down for the winter. Both costs are expected to increase in response to demand, with ocean rates expected to climb by as much as 30%.

Risk mitigation strategies are working but resiliency remains an issue

There is good news on the horizon. Many retailers have implemented measures to mitigate some of the risks in their supply chains. Strategies like nearshoring, dual-sourcing, and regionalization have all begun to have an impact on retail supply chains. However, a recent McKinsey survey suggests that many companies may be losing sight of one crucial aspect of the supply chain: resiliency.

Visibility and compliance are two main areas of concern for analysts. The number of respondents to the McKinsey study who said they had deep visibility into their supply chains fell from 56% to 30% over the last two years. This is concerning, given that disruptions often occur deep in the supply chain and can take weeks to recover. Also worrying: Only 9% of respondents to the McKinsey survey said their supply chains were currently in compliance with new regulations.

For retailers, supply chain technology delivers agility and stability

Retailers may not have a choice when it comes to compliance. Regulations, such as the digital product passports in Europe, are increasing. Modern supply chains are complex, and disruptions unpredictable. Addressing that complexity and building the flexibility to meet unexpected challenges is crucial to ensuring a stable supply chain in an increasingly unstable environment. Managing inventory levels and diversifying sourcing and fulfilment strategies is a step in the right direction. However, the need for an agile supply chain that can quickly adapt to consumers' changing demands and pivot when faced with disruption is more crucial than ever. The question for retailers is how.

Supply chain analysists are touting integrated supply chain technologies with advanced visibility capabilities as the answer. Increasingly augmented with AI capabilities, these technologies can help retailers anticipate risks, identify and rectify inefficiencies, maintain stock levels, and ensure strong supplier and customer relationships.

Most importantly, they can deliver supply chain visibility ensuring clear skies ahead for retailers can meet demand this peak season, no matter what the forecast calls for.

Ready to see what OpenText supply chain technologies can do for you? Check us out.

The post Retail: As peak season approaches, so does a perfect storm of supply chain challenges appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming industries, and at OpenText, we've been at the forefront of this evolution. Today, we are excited to introduce OpenText Aviator IoT 24.3, the latest release that elevates our IoT solution from a powerful middleware to a comprehensive, AI-driven, end-to-end IoT platform. Whether you want to enhance industrial assets' operational efficiency or tap into advanced analytics for better decision-making, this release can accelerate your IoT strategy. Read on to explore the exciting new capabilities of OpenText Aviator IoT 24.3! 

Competitive advantage delivered by OpenText Aviator IoT

OpenText has provided a robust IoT platform tailored to manage and optimize industrial assets and connected devices for years. Our customers have been benefiting from our solution, which offers: 

1. Identity-Centric Security: Ensuring secure management of device identities and data sources to maintain data integrity. 
2. Remote Monitoring: Boosting asset availability and operational efficiency through remote equipment monitoring. 
3. Advanced Data Analytics: Consolidating data from multiple devices and providing actionable insights through AI and machine learning. 
4. Supply Chain Optimization: Enhancing supply chain resilience by integrating with critical business systems like ERP and WMS. 
5. Scalability: Designed to scale for large enterprises, handling millions of devices and data points. 

AI-driven data analytics and business intelligence

With the release of OpenText Aviator IoT, we've transformed our platform. It's an end-to-end IoT solution encompassing everything from message processing and orchestration to advanced data analytics and business intelligence. Our recent blog, Accelerate Strategic Decisions with AI-Enabled IoT Business Intelligence, detailed the ongoing integration of AI and analytics. Now, with OpenText™ Aviator IoT, these innovations are at your fingertips, opening up a new world of possibilities. 

Key capabilities of Aviator IoT 24.3 

Here are some of the new features you can explore right away: 

• Magellan Business Intelligence Repository (MBIR) as a Service: Customers can configure which events to store in the MBIR data warehouse for easy visualization and analysis. 
• MBIR-as-a-Service Business Intelligence: Our drag-and-drop interface makes creating new dashboards and reports to analyze IoT data simple. 

• Custom Apps with Application Builder: Create branded apps with custom themes, including colors, logos, and fonts.
• Integrated Reports and Dashboards: Embed MBIR reports into your applications for seamless access to insights.

• iFrame Integration: Integrate custom-built applications developed by partners or professional services via iFrame.

• Geofence Enhancements: Now, customers can quickly import geofence coordinates from a CSV file, making it easier than ever to define geofences.

OpenText Aviator IoT powered by data lake with custom reports and dashboards 

Our new OpenText Aviator IoT platform leverages Vertica’s data lake, enabling trillion-row scalability and supporting in-database machine learning for machine-to-machine use cases. This scalable, high-performance solution makes it easier for customers to store and analyze vast amounts of IoT data, ensuring they can extract maximum value from their connected devices. 

The Magellan BI tool adds even more value, allowing users to quickly create custom reports and dashboards. Its intuitive web-based interface supports fast deployment of insights, whether you are a customer, partner, or systems integrator. 

Ready for the future of IoT? 

The release of OpenText Aviator IoT 24.3 marks the beginning of a new chapter for OpenText IoT solutions. By combining powerful data orchestration, scalable storage, and user-friendly analytics, OpenText™ Aviator IoT helps businesses unlock deeper insights and build applications faster than ever before. And this is just the start—predictive AI analytics is on the way. 

Whether you’re already an OpenText IoT customer or just getting started, OpenText Aviator IoT 24.3 offers the tools you need to stay ahead in an increasingly connected world. Ready to transform your IoT data into actionable insights? Get started with OpenText™ Aviator IoT today. 

The post What’s new in OpenText™ Aviator IoT 24.3 appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

The roulette wheel of e-Invoicing mandates keeps on spinning, nobody knows where in the world the "pill" (as the roulette ball is traditionally known) will land next, and when it does e-Invoicing suddenly becomes the only game in town. And it can be a bitter pill to swallow, with complex technical and legal requirements forced on businesses, and significant penalties for non-compliance - so it's a high-stakes game.

As we gear up for OpenText World we invite you to join us in Las Vegas from November 19-21, where you can join our session on Thursday 21, titled “Tame the e-Invoicing Tornado: Don’t get left behind.”

This session is designed to help you navigate the complexities of electronic invoicing mandates with confidence and ease.

Take the risk out of e-Invoicing

OpenText Trading Grid e-Invoicing is a sure-fire winner for multinational businesses faced, providing a comprehensive end-to-end solution that can support all of your invoice use cases from paper and PDF to mandatory national portals - and everything in between. Join us to discover how our fully managed, “white glove” service can be a game-changer, alleviating the burdens of e-Invoicing within your business, proactively monitoring and managing to ensure you remain compliant. We handle the complexities, so you don’t have to.

Stacking the odds in your favor: Business Network solutions

Just like in a casino, where having the right strategy can turn the odds in your favor, OpenText offers a suite of solutions designed to give your business the upper hand. At OpenText World 2024, you’ll have the chance to explore our broader Business Network solutions that enable you to go beyond e-Invoicing and digitally transform your entire business.

Keynote and breakout sessions

Our keynote sessions will feature insights from OpenText’s CEO and CPO, focusing on the future of supply chain management and how AI and IoT are reshaping the landscape. With our largest-ever lineup of Business Network customer speakers, you’ll hear directly from industry leaders who have successfully navigated supply chain challenges using our innovative solutions.

Check out the schedule of Business Network sessions, demos and events at OpenText World in this blog.

Live demos and interactive experiences

Throughout the conference, you can experience live demonstrations of our latest technologies. These will include the Trading Grid Command Center and the advanced Aviator IoT solution. These demos will show you how AI-powered supply chain visibility transforms your operations, much like a winning hand in poker.

Business network demo stations including e-Invoicing

Visit our large Expo Hall to see our solutions in action and speak with our senior solution consultants. The following demo stations will be available:

1. Scalable B2B integrations and Connected Communities. Live demos will include B2B Integration Foundation with NetSuite and MS Dynamics adapters, and Core Collaboration Access product
2. Electronic Invoicing with live demo of Trading Grid e-Invoicing
3. Asset Traceability with live demos of Aviator IoT and Product Traceability Service (formerly GPAS)
4. Supply Chain Insights with live demo of brand-new Command Center with Integration Monitor

Our keynote sessions, featuring OpenText’s CEO and CPO, will dive into the future of supply chain management and will focus on how AI and IoT are reshaping the landscape. We're also delivering our largest-ever lineup of Business Network customer speakers. You’ll hear directly from industry leaders who have successfully navigated supply chain challenges using our innovative solutions.

You will have the opportunity to take part in brand-new interactive learning experiences, such as product and innovation labs:

• Order-to-cash (O2) – no registration needed, all skill levels
• Command Center, including Ask the Aviator – no registration needed, all skill levels
• Aviator IoT – no registration needed, all skill levels
• Command Center: Integration Monitor Data Exploration & Sharing. Sign up online. Attendees who participate in innovation lab will receive a giveaway.

Why Las Vegas?

Las Vegas is synonymous with high stakes and bold moves, making it the perfect setting for OpenText World 2024. Every spin of the roulette wheel brings a mix of risk and reward. So too do the decisions you make in managing your supply chain. In this city of endless possibilities, we’re bringing together the best minds. We're also showcasing the latest innovations to help you navigate the complexities of global trade with confidence.

At OpenText World, you’ll find the tools and insights to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the curve. Whether it’s leveraging AI for predictive analytics or using IoT for real-time visibility, our solutions help you turn challenges into opportunities. Join us in Las Vegas to discover how you can stack the odds in your favor. Ensure your business is ready for whatever comes next.

For more information about OpenText World 2024 please check HERE.

The post Gambling with compliance – play your cards right with electronic invoicing appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

As one of the busiest airports in the U.S., Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas handles a large volume of commercial, private, and charter flights. The airport's air traffic control tower is critical in managing these flows and keeping the busy air space safe and organized.

At 352 feet (107 meters) tall, the control tower at Harry Reid International is one of the tallest in the United States. In addition to being a dominant architectural feature at the airport, with excellent views over the surrounding area, the control tower is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. This includes advanced radar systems, communication equipment, and safety systems to help it meet its demanding task.

From air traffic control to supply chain processes

Since the 1990s, organizations have tried to apply the control tower concept to their supply chains. Yet, unlike the air traffic control towers that inspired them, supply chain control towers have lacked a common definition and operating guidelines. As a result, the idea of a sophisticated and comprehensive control tower has often turned into a dashboard of key metrics pertaining only to a specific function, such as logistics.

However, solutions for supply chain visibility are evolving. As opposed to siloed dashboards, companies are now focusing on cross-functional and data-centric solutions—labelled command centers to call attention to the change in the underlying approach.

Command centers seek to make supply chain insights more actionable by addressing critical issues such as gaps in data availability, lack of access to the right data, and issues with data quality. This requires fundamental changes in the enabling technology and processes for leveraging the generated insights.

How well do your supply chain visibility solutions support business needs?

Supply chain visibility is a top priority for most organizations. Yet, according to recent studies, many have gaps in achieving desired outcomes from their technology investments. 69% of operations and supply chain officers say tech investments have yet to fully deliver expected results, and only 12% of supply chain leaders believe that their investment strategy fully meets their supply chain's needs.

If your organization has been disillusioned by the gap between expectations and reality regarding supply chain visibility, why not explore a new way of thinking?

See visibility innovations in action at OpenText World 2024

OpenText World 2024 in Las Vegas will feature sessions and demos that discuss OpenText's vision and approach to supply chain command centers and many other topics related to reimagining how organizations leverage their information.

When arriving in Las Vegas to join us, be sure to take the opportunity to marvel at the impressive air traffic control tower at Harry Reid International. If you pass through the airport, see if some of the staff can tell you more about its specially designed 60-ton tuned mass damper, which keeps the air traffic controllers in the tower comfortable and protected in all wind conditions. You're unlikely to find that in a supply chain control tower or a command center.

Experience OpenText World 2024 in Las Vegas. Register today

The post OpenText World 2024: Are supply chain control towers enough? appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

Join me at OpenText World 2024 in Las Vegas (November 19-21) where I’ll be hosting two live sessions that will equip you with the knowledge and tools to unlock the full potential of your business operations. Whether you're embarking on an ERP modernization journey or seeking cost-effective options for easy EDI integration, these sessions offer valuable insights and practical solutions.

Maximize the value of your ERP modernization projects

I’m thrilled to welcome industry giants, Hershey and Kimberley-Clark, who will share their firsthand experiences navigating the transition from legacy systems to modern ERPs like SAP S/4HANA. This will be a great session to learn how they:

• Overcame the challenges associated with ERP migration,
• Maximized the full potential of their new ERP systems,
• while mitigating risks during implementation,
• and just maybe (wink, wink) we’ll hear how OpenText was able assist them on their operational transformation journey.

Overcoming EDI challenges for resource-constrained businesses

For mid-market companies, mid-sized subsidiaries or trading partners in need of EDI capabilities, this session will explore options for businesses who do not need a full-fledged enterprise solution. Discover how easy EDI integration can help break down technological barriers and drive growth with:

• Fast-to-deploy trading partner kits to speed onboarding,
• Cost-effective ERP adapters to integrate internal systems for seamless data flows,
• User-friendly self-service tools to reduce the burden of in-house IT staff
• and experienced OpenText EDI professionals that stand ready with advice and support.

Secure your spot at OpenText World 2024 and join me for these valuable sessions!

And here is the full OpenText Business Network conference lineup.

The post Master ERP modernization and streamline EDI at OpenText World 2024 appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

Las Vegas is a city built on bets, where every decision carries a risk, but with the right strategy, rewards can be transformative. This November 19-21, OpenText World 2024 will bring that same spirit of high-stakes decision-making to the future of supply chains and business networks. The stakes have never been higher for businesses operating in a rapidly evolving global market, and our Business Network track is your opportunity to learn how to play your cards right. 

What are you betting your supply chain on? 

In today's world, supply chain disruptions are no longer a question of if—they're a matter of when. Whether it's due to geopolitical issues, shifting consumer demands, or climate impacts, every company is facing new challenges. The businesses that survive and thrive are those that can anticipate and adapt quickly. At OpenText, we’re betting on innovation—AI-driven insights, IoT solutions, and resilient business networks that offer the transparency and flexibility modern enterprises need. 

OpenText World keynote and breakout sessions related to Business Network: 

Day 1

Days 2 & 3

At OpenText World 2024, we’ll reveal our newest solutions that are designed to help you meet these challenges head-on. We’re particularly excited to launch the Trading Grid Command Center, a game-changing platform that provides a centralized view of your entire supply chain ecosystem, allowing you to predict, adjust, and optimize in real-time. With the rise of AI, automation, and IoT, our solutions are designed to enhance visibility, minimize risk, and maximize efficiency—so you can make confident decisions in uncertain times.

High-stakes innovation: Live demos and insights

One of the most exciting parts of OpenText World is the chance to experience our technology firsthand. Throughout the conference, you’ll find live demonstrations of the Trading Grid Command Center and our newly advanced Aviator IoT solution at the OpenText booth. Immerse yourself in our Command Center experience and see for yourself how AI-powered supply chain visibility can transform your operations.

The team of BN senior solution consultants are waiting for you at our large Expo Hall to demonstrate products, discuss your solutions, show tips and tricks and answer any questions you may have. The following BN demo stations will be available:

1. Scalable B2B integrations and Connected Communities. Live demos will include B2B Integration Foundation with NetSuite and MS Dynamics adapters, and Core Collaboration Access product
2. Electronic Invoicing with live demo of Trading Grid e-Invoicing
3. Asset Traceability with live demos of Aviator IoT and Product Traceability Service (formerly GPAS)
4. Supply Chain Insights with live demo of brand-new Command Center with Integration Monitor

Our keynote sessions, featuring OpenText’s CEO and CPO, will dive into the future of supply chain management, focusing on how AI and IoT are reshaping the landscape. With our largest-ever lineup of Business Network customer speakers, you’ll hear directly from industry leaders who have successfully navigated supply chain challenges using our innovative solutions.

You will have the opportunity to take part in brand-new interactive learning experiences, such as product and innovation labs:

• Order-to-cash (O2) – no registration needed, all skill levels
• Command Center, including Ask the Aviator – no registration needed, all skill levels
• Aviator IoT – no registration needed, all skill levels
• Command Center: Integration Monitor Data Exploration & Sharing. Sign up online. Attendees who participate in innovation lab will receive a giveaway.

Why Las Vegas?

Las Vegas is the perfect backdrop for this conference because it’s a city that thrives on smart risk-taking and innovation, just like the businesses that will shape the future of global trade. Much like a casino, every supply chain decision comes with its risks and rewards. But when you have the right tools, you can stack the odds in your favor. That’s what OpenText Business Network is all about—giving you the insight and control you need to make the best bets for your business.

Join us in Las Vegas this November and take control of your supply chain’s future. Whether you’re looking for actionable insights, peer connections, or in-depth sessions with our experts, OpenText World 2024 is where you’ll discover how to bet on the right technology for your business. Don’t miss out on the most exciting and informative OpenText World yet!

Don’t forget to schedule 1:1 with BN leadership and product managers.

Place your bets wisely—your supply chain’s future depends on it. For more information about OpenText World 2024 please check HERE.

The post Place your bets: the future of supply chains at OpenText World 2024  appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

Supply chain visibility is a key focus area for many organizations. Therefore, it’s no wonder that visibility, monitoring, analytics, and forecasting tools continue to be at the top of the list when it comes to supply chain technology investments.

Despite companies understanding the importance of visibility and investing in tools to improve it, the results have not been great. According to one study by PwC, 69% of operations and supply chain officers say that their supply chain technology investments have not delivered the expected results. Other studies have pointed to similar findings about the gap between expected and realized ROI for supply chain tech.

On top of this, another study found that only 12% of supply chain leaders believe that their investment strategy fully meets the needs of their supply chain. So, what gives? Why are most organizations failing to reach their goals, and what can be done to change course?

Varying definitions of supply chain visibility can distort expectations

It is good to recognize that the term supply chain visibility can mean different things to different people. Definitions vary from being specific to, for example, shipment tracking to covering ambiguous monitoring of all supply chain processes across multi-tier networks. To some, it means visibility into supplier inventory for planning purposes. Others may use the term when discussing the availability of supplier sustainability information.

Each organization has their own challenges and priorities that focus the conversation around visibility on specific areas. Yet, if you ask two people in distinct roles even in the same organization, they will likely give you different definitions of what supply chain visibility means for them.

When discussing ROI of supply chain visibility solutions, this diversity of definitions can lead to misalignment between expectations and what is realistically achievable in each situation. However, despite the diversity, we can identify some familiar challenges across the distinct types of supply chain visibility use cases.

Three key challenges around supply chain visibility

The first challenge is availability of data. Digitization has come a long way. However, there are still substantial gaps in capturing structured data on different supply chain processes. This means the available data only partially covers the real-world supply chain activities.

The second challenge faced by most companies is access to data. Even when processes are digitized and data is available for analytics, it may only be accessible for a specific function. For example, if the data from a logistics control tower is only available to the logistics team and not to procurement, sourcing, planning or customer fulfillment, these other teams may have gaps in their understanding of what is really going on in the business.

Finally, even when data is both available and accessible, companies often have challenges around the quality of data. Doing traditional analytics based on incorrect data is counterproductive. However, proliferating the use of incorrect data through AI algorithms can be downright catastrophic to the business. Therefore, the more advanced capabilities an organization is looking for, the more important data management, quality control and governance capabilities become.

Addressing these challenges requires an innovative approach to supply chain visibility

It’s great that companies understand the value of visibility and are investing in tools to improve it. However, addressing the challenges around availability, accessibility and quality of data will be the key to achieving their goals.

Digitize supply chain processes to make supply chain data available

Availability of data is intricately linked to digitization of supply chain processes. This often requires capabilities such as a modern integration solution. It means that an essential part of improving supply chain visibility in each area is reviewing existing processes and tools around capturing and exchanging data and addressing any gaps that limit visibility. Depending on the desired scope, this can also mean examining the order-to-cash or purchase-to-pay processes, logistics, data flows, or other areas in the supply chain.

Leverage data-centric solutions to make supply chain data accessible

Addressing challenges around data access requires an original approach to analytics. Organizations associate traditional visibility with siloed, application-centric thinking where business applications—such as TMS, WMS, ERP, CRM, and e-procurement platforms—are the main source of data. They tend to limit access to separate analytics tools aggregating data from multiple systems to the team they were built for.

In contrast, companies should leverage a data-centric approach, where the supply chain analytics data is stored in a shared data hub, and function or role specific views are created on top of this central data repository. Supply chain command centers are an emerging approach typically leveraging this approach.

Deploy comprehensive strategy to ensure the quality of your supply chain data

Finally, issues with data quality are perhaps the most challenging to tackle and require a multifaceted approach combining robust data management and governance practices and tooling. Depending on the desired scope, organizations may need different forms of data validations, process controls, master data management, and other capabilities to ensure that the insights delivered are accurate and reliable.

And as with any investments, clear definitions of scope and quantifying the impacts on supply chain operations will help guide the path forward. Without clear focus, supply chain visibility projects can turn into an attempt at “boiling the ocean” where confusion reigns between stakeholders and expectations fall far short of what was expected.

Find out how OpenText can help digitize your supply chain processes and improve visibility.

The post Supply chain visibility: 3 reasons tech investments fail to deliver ROI   appeared first on OpenText Blogs.

The Paris 2024 Olympics saw over 10,500 athletes competing in over 329 medal events. This event is where sporting legends are created. Every four years these GOAT (Greatest of All Time) athletes gather in one place to compete for the gold.

The varied sporting disciplines of the games got me thinking. How would companies fare if they competed in the Integration Olympics, an event designed to assess how well companies are using B2B integration technologies to address specific business and supply chain challenges?

How many of the following ‘events’ would your company be able to participate in based on whether you are using the B2B integration technologies described for each sport listed? One, two or possibly all events?

4 x 100m Relay 

This event relies on four runners effortlessly transporting a baton from the start to finish in the quickest possible time. If the baton is dropped for any reason during the handover period between two runners, it can add significant time to the track lap or, in some instances, cause teams to lose the relay race.

The EDI relay on your B2B network

Exchanging the baton seamlessly between runners is like transferring an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) message across a B2B network. A provider must carry EDI messages and transport them securely from one location to another. They must also do it in a relatively short time while simultaneously adhering to local EDI standards. OpenText Trading Grid provides a highly available messaging platform. It ensures your business transactions get from point A to point B as smoothly as possible.

Trading Grid allows you to build a 100% digitized supply chain operation. These transactions may need to be sent via different communication protocols or converted into other document formats. Either way Trading Grid can mediate between formats and provide interconnectivity to many different networks worldwide. 

Do you have the ability to send EDI messages anywhere in the world, regardless of the communication protocol or document format being used? If yes, then you can award your company your first gold medal!

Triathlon

Sydney hosted the first triathlon at the 2000 Olympics. The event consisted of a 1500m swim, a 40km bike ride, and a 10km run with no breaks. Transitions between each event had to be seamless, and this was part of the competition. For the 110 men and women taking part in this year’s Olympic triathlon, it was a tough test of their abilities and endurance.

The shipping logistics triathlon

A triathlon is almost multi-modal in nature, similar to many of the services offered by global logistics companies. These companies ship goods across land, sea, and air routes around the world 24/7. But how do you keep track of these global shipments? One way is by leveraging an IoT solution. This solution gives you to have a window into your global supply chain. It keeps track of the location and health of your shipments as they pass across different modes of transport, different country borders and then onto distribution centers or retail outlets.

OpenText Aviator IoT is an AI-powered platform that allows you to track shipments moving across the supply chain or any asset across your business.

Do you have a way to seamlessly track shipments or assets anywhere in the world? If so, award your company a second gold medal!

Football

Football can trace its roots back to Ancient China. But the modern version of the game was born on the streets of medieval England before becoming the most popular sport in the world.  Each team consists of 11 players, and the game is split into two 45-minute halves. The key difference at the Paris Olympics is that each team has 18 players, all but three of whom must be born on or after 1st January 2001

Choosing the best teammates for your business initiatives

Football is interesting because teams are selected from multiple players, and coaches can substitute players as the game develops. In essence, teams swap out scalable resources depending on needs or who they may be playing. Supply chain leaders face many challenges in supporting global expansion initiatives. These include business restructuring, ERP modernization activities, or meeting complex regional e-invoicing compliance mandates.

A football team manager might need a player with different skills to compete against another team. Similarly, supply chain leaders may need additional skills and resources to ensure their B2B integration platform supports the needs of the business.  OpenText Business Network Cloud Enterprise can provide the scalable resources companies need to deploy a successful B2B integration project.  Defined as outsourced integration, managed services, or EDI as a service, a scalable integration delivery model extends the skills of an IT team and ensures they can meet impending project go-live dates.

Do you have a way to scale B2B integration resources to meet the needs of your business? If so, then you can award your company a third gold medal!

Volleyball

In 1895, William G Morgan devised a game called 'mignonette', which he intended to be a gentle alternative to basketball for older members of his YMCA gym.  Over a hundred years later, volleyball is anything but gentle. It first appeared at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. Two teams of six play this game, with the object being to land the ball in the opposition's half of the court with only three touches of the ball before it must cross over the net. In 2024, 312 volleyball players competed at the South Paris Arena and the Eiffel Tower Stadium in Paris.

There are two critical requirements for volleyball team members: collaboration and communication. These are also skills required across many of today's supply chains.  Collaborating with trading partners is essential for improving operational efficiencies, and communicating during, for example, some form of supply chain disruption is equally crucial.  

Collaboration and communication matter in teams and supply chains

OpenText Active Access provides a secure collaboration platform that helps to improve collaboration and information management across a trading partner community. A solution such as Active Access has been more significant over the past couple of years, with the increase in disruptions impacting global supply chains. When these disasters strike, communicating with your trading partner community becomes more critical than ever. 

Do you have the means to manage the day-to-day effectively, as well as people-to-people collaboration and communications with your entire trading partner community? If so, award your company a fourth gold medal!

Archery 

This sport is one of the oldest in the Olympics and requires the utmost accuracy and patience from competitors. Archery dates back around 10,000 years, when humans first used bows and arrows for hunting and warfare before it developed as a competitive activity in medieval England. The 128 athletes competing in archery demonstrated much nerve, skill, and determination, shooting at a target 122cm in diameter, approximately 70m away, to hit the center ring measuring just 12.2cm.

Automation delivers accuracy

As archery is focused primarily on accuracy, have you ever thought about how accurate your B2B documents are as they flow across your supply chain? How much manual rework do you have to undertake to correct documents before they enter an ERP system, for example? Did you know that 44% of data entering an ERP system comes from outside the enterprise? What if it contains inaccurate information? OpenText Active Intelligence is one solution that can ensure increased accuracy of business transactions flowing across your supply chain and into enterprise platforms such as ERP systems. 

Do you have an automated process for checking the quality of B2B transactions exchanged across your supply chain? If so, you can award your company a fifth and final gold medal!

Based on these five areas, how many gold medals did your company win? One? Two? Three? Four? Five? Adopting B2B integration technologies is a slow and complex process, but OpenText is here to help. Learn more about how OpenText Business Network and our most recent innovations from our 24.3 release in July 2024 can help you GOAT for the gold and win the Supply Chain Olympics!

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The Olympic Games 2024 in Paris – the grand celebration of human athleticism, determination, and the occasional synchronized swimming routine that makes me question the laws of physics – will end in a few days. In the high-stakes world of Olympic competition, success is not just the result of individual athletes' strengths. It is also the result of seamless coordination and the support of their teams. This dynamic mirrors the challenges and triumphs experienced by supply chain, IT, or finance organizations. Just as athletes strive for gold, businesses aim for efficiency, precision, and excellence. Therefore, the Business Network team delivered a feature-rich release, CE 24.3, to help you stay competitive, resilient, and ready for whatever comes in the following weeks and months.

Here is a brief overview of new and enhanced capabilities in Business Network CE 24.3:

Trading Grid with Aviator

Trading Grid with Aviator is a new conversational, generative AI-based self-service virtual advisor. It integrates seamlessly with the OpenText™ Business Network, providing users with instant, human-like, contextually relevant responses and support. Trading Grid users gain autonomy to find the information they need instantly instead of opening support tickets or reading product documentation. You can find more information in this blog post.

Aviator IoT

Aviator IoT combines AI and advanced analytics with our IoT platform to allow companies to innovate like never before. It simplifies IoT sensor data access and analysis with our custom application builder and intuitive user experience. It integrates with OpenText Magellan MBIRaaS for fast, AI-driven insights and data visualization. The pre-packaged apps help customers quickly leverage data and monitor digital twins of physical assets. For more information, read this blog post.

Active Invoices with Compliance (AIC)

To help customers increase the reach of global e-Invoicing implementation, AIC supports the new B2B e-invoicing mandate in Malaysia, as well as the existing e-Invoicing mandate in Columbia. AIC extends the capabilities for SAF-T e-Reporting in Romania and brings enhancements to support changes in Saudi Arabia, Romania, and Turkey. For more details about the mandate in Malaysia, read the blog update here.

Lens Enhancements

• Configurable Bulk Redelivery Limit at User Level: Users with this role can simultaneously redeliver up to 60 transactions, up from the previous limit of 30.
• Enhanced Partner Transaction View: Suppress internal documents and files. Users can exchange and view transactions between customers and partners using two new quick filters for Partner transactions and Partner transactions, including errors. We also added a new active filter attribute to filter out Partner transactions, excluding internal documents, control messages, and 997 EDI types.
• Support for Live Search and Reporting for Active Document Customers Moving to Lens: Customers using AD can only access 93 days of data for their reports. However, with the transition to Lens, customers can run reports on 13 months of data and carry out live searches on historical data after Lens collects data for a 13-month period.

Business Network Cloud Enterprise (BNCE) Enhancements

• Trading Grid Cartographer: Integrates business processes and applications, allowing customers to programmatically retrieve and update XREF tables, dramatically simplifying table update processes for users, ensuring accuracy, and reducing time to production.
• Developed SCIM APIs for Company and User Management: SCIM standardizes the exchange of company and user identity information, simplifying access to cloud applications. Adding SCIM APIs to BN allows customers to integrate identities between their platform, the Trading Grid portal, and its applications.
• Deprecated gxs.com: All customers and communities on the Trading Grid will use Trading Grid Online to access and manage their Trading Grid solutions.
• AS4 CEF Certification: The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), a key EU funding instrument to promote growth, jobs, and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment, has certified Business Network Cloud Enterprise for the AS4 message exchange protocol, ensuring secure data exchange regardless of sector.
• Peppol End User Statistics Reporting: Collects statistics and informs OpenPeppol and other Peppol authorities worldwide.
• Common Mailbox for PEPPOL Outbound Receiver: Better fits BNCE solution to Peppol dynamic discovery and connections.

Business Network Cloud Foundation and Adapter Enhancements

• MS Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (F&O) Order-to-Cash (O2C) Support for Just-in-Time (JIT) Manufacturing: The Planning Schedule with Release Capability (EDI 830) and Shipping Schedule (EDI 862) transactions are crucial in JIT manufacturing, enabling efficient demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics coordination between buyers and sellers. The Product Transfer and Resale Report (EDI 867) adds additional value by providing insights into downstream sales and inventory, supporting refined demand forecasts and improved supply chain communication. Together, these transactions ensure the responsiveness and efficiency essential for JIT operations.
• Self-Service Onboarding Dashboard for Customers: Get a single dashboard to view and manage tasks required to provision Trading Grid solutions.
• Self-Service VAN Passthrough Workflow for Partner Onboarding: BNCF customers can now onboard VAN-connected trading partners to their solutions.

Freeway Enhancements

• Expanded Supported Trading Partner Kit Portfolio: Offers Freeway more trading opportunities in new markets, geographies, and industries.
• UI Enhancements for Streamlined and More Automated User Experience: Helps users save time while moving through their supply chain steps.
• ASN Labels as a Service API Creation: Helps integrated customers to integrate and automatically generate shipping labels for their merchandise.

Active Access Enhancements

• Added Subscription Actions to Bulletins: Active Access will provide specific messages for actions and automatically close the subscription pop-up after saving. Clear messages will further boost engagement and reduce errors and support needs.
• Ability to Send Bulletins to Security Administrators: A streamlined notification process will automatically inform security personnel directly, without delays, about events they need to know.

 Identity and Access Management Enhancements

• Sign-In Policy for Geographical Region and Step-Up Authentication: This policy ensures additional authentication when users log in from unknown locations, enhancing security posture of enterprises.
• Authentication IP Address Reputation Policy API: Prevents access from IPs flagged for suspect activity or low reputation.
• Known Breached Password Policy Rule for Sign-In: Ensures weak or compromised passwords are flagged appropriately.

Active Intelligence Enhancements

• Support for French Language in Compliance Link and Trading Partner-Facing Screens: This feature enables customers to access the application in multiple languages and Professional Services to configure rules and data sets in the preferred languages.
• Duplicate Index Constraint Check Verification for XML Format: This allows checking of elements in XML documents from trading partners for duplicates over a rolling period. This feature is in addition to the previously introduced capability for X12 documents.

B2B Software Enhancements

• BizManager Integration with API and PaaS Object Storage: This feature enables customers looking to build and extend integration flows to API-based services such as Azure Blob, Amazon S3, etc. It also helps developers build, deploy, and manage applications faster.
• BizManager OAuth2.0 Support: Provides a secure, flexible, and user-friendly method for authentication and authorization.
• BizManager PostgreSQL Support

Just as Olympic athletes depend on their teams to achieve greatness, supply chain, finance, and IT professionals rely on robust tools and features to reach their goals. We designed the new additions in Business Network CE 24.3 to help you push the limits of efficiency, precision, and excellence in your operations. Stay ahead of the competition and ensure your business is ready for the future with these powerful updates.

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