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FIS/Tradeflex

Connection to
online marketplaces

This article describes what is behind the FIS/TradeFlex middleware for connecting online marketplaces to SAP, how it works and the advantages it provides.

Stefanie Weber

Product Manager

As a product manager with long lasting experience in global product and brand management, I am responsible for the areas of e-commerce, Cloud ERP und Business Process Management with regard to the SAP and FIS solution portfolio at FIS. Learn more about me.

What is FIS/TradeFlex?

FIS/TradeFlex is a middleware based on SAP Business Technology Platform and used by companies to easily and quickly integrate any kind of online marketplace into the applied SAP system. Thanks to standardized processes, no development efforts will arise for the provider when integrating a marketplace. The application consistently covers all sales process steps from product listing and payment process to back processing. All activities are managed centrally in the application and automated to the greatest possible degree. A holistic integration with the SAP system is always ensured. Consequently, providers benefit from crucial added values, such as increased range of coverage, additional distribution channels and increasing customer satisfaction. 

FIS/TradeFlex System

How can you easily and quickly connect marketplaces to SAP? 

FIS/TradeFlex is the central puzzle piece that connects your SAP system landscape and the sales platforms of your choice. Regardless of whether you are entering e-commerce for the first time via a marketplace or are already active on online marketplaces or sales platforms and want to fine-tune your processes: FIS/TradeFlex enables fast and uncomplicated integration of any kind of online marketplaces while time expenditure and costs can be kept low. Furthermore, enormous development efforts for connecting different interfaces will be omitted in most cases. With FIS/TradeFlex, your desired online marketplaces and sales platforms are just a few clicks away. 

Does a central application exist where all marketplaces can be managed? 

FIS/TradeFlex is used to manage all seller portals and activities centrally and clearly in just one application. FIS/TradeFlex covers the entire sales process: from the listing of products and order-to-cash to reversals in case of returns or cancellations. User-friendly Fiori apps are available, for instance, for product selection, price and quantity determination and order overview, but also for reporting. As a consequence, sellers always keep an overview of the activities on the marketplaces and the processes in the SAP system. With FIS/TradeFlex, providers benefit from a central application that bundles all interfaces and information and ensures a seamless exchange of information in real time. This means: No additional effort is required for maintaining data at different locations, all information can be accessed centrally and automated processes ensure minimal manual effort.  

Connections to online marketplaces with FIS | Make processes faster and more efficient | To the product

What functions does FIS/TradeFlex include?

Sale via platforms such as Amazon, eBay, mercateo or others involves numerous departments throughout your enterprise: from E-Commerce, IT, Sales and Distribution, Finance and Accounting to Marketing and Product Management. With FIS/TradeFlex, all departments involved benefit from a central software solution that bundles all interfaces, systems and information and ensures a seamless exchange of information. For the employees involved, this means that no additional effort is required for maintaining data at different locations, all information is available in real time and automated processes support users in their daily work. 

For SAP users, FIS/TradeFlex is the optimal solution: The intelligent application offers far more than a mere marketplace interface. As a central tool, it completely covers all sales process activities: from product listing, price and quantity determination, order creation in ERP as well as synchronization of fulfillment and billing to the payment process with automated assignment of invoices. The software can also be used to control reversals and the back processing of returns or credit memos in a central and digital way and with full integration in SAP.  

By using FIS/TradeFlex, vendors optimally meet the requirements of today’s online customers to an easy ordering process, fast delivery and uncomplicated returns. This does not only provide for high customer satisfaction but also enables increased sales revenues due to fast and efficient processes. 

Function overview 

Product lists

  • Management and consideration of different content information
  • Mapping of product variations

Price and quantity determination

  • Available product quantities are automatically transferred to the online marketplace (also proportionate quantities)
  • Transmission of marketplace-specific offers

Order creation

  • The different APIs are directly addressed by FIS/TradeFlex. No effort arises for the user.
  • The marketplace data is seamlessly exchanged between SAP and marketplaces. In this way, no information is lost.

Reversal 

  • Automatic prevention of unnecessary goods dispatches
  • Reimbursement 

Delivery / billing 

  • Quick delivery and billing through automation

Back processing

  • Rule-based processing of return announcements – e.g. automatic refund if a return would be uneconomical.
  • Back processing of payments in case of returns or credit memos 

Payment process

  • Payment process, incl. clearing of open items
  • Automated posting of charges if they are considered for payment

Quotation costing

  • Individual generation of marketplace-specific prices on the basis of a base price provided
  • Re-pricing, based on competition

What advantages does the marketplace connection with FIS/TradeFlex provide? 

  • Efficient processes through comprehensive and deep SAP integration
  • Integrate new marketplaces with a few clicks and get started right away
  • Tap new sales channels and customer groups – also internationally
  • Automation of the marketplace business for minimum manual efforts
  • Process coverage from article selection to payment
  • One login for all marketplaces: central management of all seller portals and operations in one application
  • Full transparency of your marketplace business, incl. evaluations and reportings
  • Convincing customer service due to an overview of all activities on the marketplaces and in the SAP system 
  • Intuitive user interface and role-based access for high user friendliness and acceptance
  • Increased scalability and speed for your e-commerce 

What marketplaces are already available in FIS/TradeFlex? 

With FIS/TradeFlex, you can quickly and easily connect B2C and B2B platforms. Thanks to standardized processes, no development efforts will arise for marketplace connection: You select the marketplaces – FIS/TradeFlex implements the connection and automates the processes. 

The following online marketplaces and platforms are already available in FIS/TradeFlex. Your requested marketplace is not included? Please contact us. We constantly enhance our portfolio. We will be pleased to connect the marketplaces of your choice in a prioritized manner. 

  • Amazon
  • Allegro
  • AutoDoc
  • Cdiscount
  • Conrad
  • eBay
  • fnac
  • Fruugo
  • Galaxus
  • hood.de
  • Kaufland.de
  • MediaMarkt Saturn
  • mercateo
  • Metro
  • OTTOmarket 
  • Shop Apotheke
  • voelkner Marktplatz

What partnerships exist in the marketplace business? 

With FIS/TradeFlex, we are partners of online marketplaces and platforms. FIS/TradeFlex enables fast and easy connection of our partners as well as a seamless integration into your SAP system and process landscape. You additionally benefit from our expert knowledge about individual conditions on the marketplaces and platforms of our partners. 

What is the technological basis of FIS/TradeFlex? 

Based on SAP Business Technology Platform, i.e. the high-performance HANA database, distributors and manufacturers face the challenges of modern e-commerce with innovative technology. 

What certifications has FIS/TradeFlex obtained? 

SAP Industry Cloud:
Our FIS/TradeFlex e-commerce solution uses the Industry Cloud Portfolio solution by SAP. Industry Cloud offers SAP customers access to vertical solutions to achieve precise business results. SAP and its partners develop industrial solutions on SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP), which are fully compatible with other intelligent Suite applications.

SAP Certified Built on SAP Business Technology Platform:
Applications developed on SAP Business Technology Platform provide an integration potential with other SAP Cloud solutions. For this purpose, FIS/TradeFlex has been certified accordingly by SAP. 

Conclusion

FIS/TradeFlex is the central switching point for successful marketplace business in the SAP environment. The solution seamlessly connects your SAP systems with a multitude of online marketplaces – without any development efforts, but with maximum efficiency. Thanks to consistent process coverage from listing to back processing, intelligent automation and user-friendly interface, enterprises keep an overview at any time and noticeably optimize their processes. Be it the launch of a marketplace business or the optimization of existing marketplace activities: FIS/TradeFlex enables you to provide the technological basis for greater reach, increased sales and satisfied customers – centrally controlled, fully integrated and extendable at any time by new marketplaces.

FAQ – Frequently asked questions 

Yes, an implementation nevertheless makes sense. As this is a cloud application, you can connect FIS/TradeFlex to your SAP ECC system as well as to your SAP S/4HANA system after the transition without losing the application setup. 

Only a few Customizing settings in the ERP system are required for using FIS/TradeFlex. No specific developments are required in the SAP system. Once a seller account has been registered and created on the respective marketplace, this marketplace can be connected after a few settings.

Yes, this is possible. If no online shop is available, the data can directly be transferred from the SAP system. Normally, promotional data is adopted from a PIM system. When selecting a marketplace and if there is no promotional data, one has to bear in mind that this data is transferred through the marketplace. 

You can also use the FIS/TradeFlex application to connect international marketplaces and therefore quickly expand into other countries. In the application, you can select the existing content depending on the selling society and the marketplace in order to provide your customers with the best service.

First, your previous solution will continue to run as before and FIS/TradeFlex will be implemented in parallel. In this way, no data or sales potentials are lost. Even historical data (e.g. orders) can be implemented in FIS/TradeFlex in the context of a migration. We would recommend that you start the migration with a selected marketplace and migrate the individual connections step by step. As a project like this is very individual, we would be pleased to take some time in advance for a consultation meeting in order to develop the procedure that suits you best.  

To connect your online shop to SAP, FIS/ShopConnector is the appropriate solution. The front end of your shop will remain unchanged while the back end will be smoothly connected to the SAP processes. Learn more about FIS/ShopConnector here.