Digital Data & Documents in Wholesale Distribution
In this specialist article, you will learn how to keep an overview of your document exchange with the craft sector using FIS/OpenDocumentExchange.
Product Manager at FIS
What is FIS/odx for Open Document Exchange?
The FIS solution for the ODX process enables a smooth and clear exchange of electronic document data between wholesale distribution and craft sector.
Data format “ORDER-X” for electronic purchase orders is used. Therefore, wholesale distribution manages its document flows with the craft sector digitally via a central platform (e.g. for the transmission of order responses, delivery notes and invoices).
All business documents and required information are available in real time and directly synchronized with the data in the SAP ERP system. This means that the information required from wholesalers is directly delivered to the craftsmen’s software systems. This creates transparency, traceability and the basis for automated processes.
Keep an overview with our user-friendly apps for managing and monitoring document flows and business partners. In this way, you will manage your electronic documents in an easy and automated way.
What functions does FIS/OpenDocumentExchange include?
FIS/odx forms the industry standard solution for the exchange of Order-X files between wholesale distribution and craft sector. The tool is used to exchange documents and data between the business partners in an easy and automated way – i.e. via a single central platform.
The user-friendly launchpad creates full transparency on the ODX functions and can be used as a start screen for the different applications.
Its characteristic values are maintained individually in the wholesale distribution app. Furthermore, it is possible to map the individual organizational units of the wholesaler’s organization.
The business partner maintenance app is used to define the craft companies involved in the application and to configure the corresponding authorizations. As a result, access is limited and users are only provided with data that is relevant for them.
Keep an eye on your documents
The document monitors of FIS/OpenDocumentExchangeoffer a clear listing of your documents sent and, in this way, ensure greater transparency and traceability.
The detail pages of the respective SAP document contain information on status tracking for ODX transmission. This enables you to quickly retrace which user queried the document at what point in time.
Full control due to clear dashboards
The clear FIS/odx dashboards ensure full control over the data exchange and make your document management transparent at a glance.
By selecting different filters, such as time, craftsman, status and message type, the “Document cockpit” analysis tool enables individual evaluations of the message flow.
The API usage statistics show the accesses of the craftsmen to the wholesaler’s information, e.g. whether the order status has been queried or the message number within a defined period of time.
How do craftsmen benefit from FIS/odx?
Your business partners from the craft sector also benefit from using FIS/odx for Open Document Exchange: Business documents are available on a mobile and real-time basis, which also increases the transparency and speed of crafts processes.
The craftsman software is quickly and easily connected by our experts via an interface. In this case, all necessary documents, such as order responses and delivery notes, are digitally available for crafts enterprises or craftsmen in their own software.
In this way, craftsmen can query the status of the documents at any time and always keep an overview of them. User-friendly apps reduce the daily workload of employees. Fully automated “background processes” significantly reduce manual efforts – this means that no manual intervention is required any longer for these processes.
What are the benefits of FIS/odx?
Paperless communication in a mobile application without media changes
A standard format and a central platform for all parties involved
Always up to date due to quick information exchange
User-friendly mobile app; easy onboarding of business partners (e.g. craftsmen); automated document transfer between participating systems
Use of FIS/bxp Business Extension Platform; consequently, no separate infrastructure is required
As a reliable SAP partner with “Gold” status, FIS provides a scalable platform
Document status that is transparent for wholesalers at any time; key figures for document processing in one single dashboard
End users or business partners (craft sector) are decoupled from the SAP ERP system of wholesalers
Cost-efficient subscription model incl. maintenance and updates ensures the use of the latest software version
Satisfied customers due to simplified cooperation between wholesale distribution and craft sector; considerably reduced efforts for companies involved
Conclusion
Every day, wholesalers receive numerous documents from business partners, such as vendors, manufacturers and craftsmen. Usually, their data and document exchange is not sufficiently standardized and digitized yet. Therefore, it is very time-consuming to keep an overview, enter data correctly in the SAP ERP system or automate processes.
The FIS/odx Open Document Exchange solution ensures a smooth data and document exchange between wholesale distribution and craft sector. This is how you make your processes fit for tomorrow’s trading.