A current Study by Bitkom Research and KPMG shows that 97 % of German companies are already using cloud solutions or would like to use them in the future - primarily for cost reasons. However, when it comes to electronic data interchange (EDI), many companies still operate an expensive on-premises solution. Yet an EDI cloud service can be a huge relief and make a significant contribution to maintaining a company's competitiveness in the long term.
For a long time, on-premises software was the only option for electronic data interchange. Companies had no choice but to install and operate the EDI system on their own hardware. What on the one hand means full system control, on the other hand represents a high cost factor. The enormous financial and human resources required for the maintenance and error-free operation of the sometimes outdated systems makes an on-premises solution increasingly economically inefficient, especially for medium-sized companies with small IT teams.
Furthermore, traditional EDI systems are extremely inflexible in their functionality and are difficult to integrate into other applications. However, if you don't want to be left behind in these times of digital change, you need limitlessly scalable solutions that fully meet the diverse partner requirements. Today, many scenarios (e.g. the provision of tracking information to end customers or parcel collection by external logistics companies such as DHL and others) are no longer based on EDI alone, but require the addition of API scenarios and thus the use of real-time communication. Only those who can easily meet the full range of requirements and guarantee a fast connection of business partners and smooth data transfer will remain competitive in the long term.
Why you should move your EDI operations to the cloud
An intelligent and resource-saving answer to the challenges of electronic data exchange is provided by agile cloud services such as CIS/4-Cloud – EDI from CONCETO. As part of the CONCETO Integration Suite for Cloud (CIS/4-Cloud), the solution is based on the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) and therefore offers all the benefits of a standardised, consolidated platform. Based on the one-platform approach, a wide range of EDI requirements can be fulfilled cost-effectively, even in complex IT landscapes.
Specifically, CIS/4 Cloud - EDI offers you the following advantages
- 1. cost savings and control
- 2. scalability and customisability
- 3. conservation of resources
- 4. security and stability
- 5. innovation and future security
1. cost savings and control
If you use a cloud service such as CIS/4-Cloud – EDI instead of an on-premises solution, you generally benefit from a clear cost advantage and a transparent cost structure:
- You do not need to purchase expensive software licences and dedicated hardware. Cost-intensive subsequent licences are also a thing of the past.
- Difficult-to-calculate expenses for the implementation and regular maintenance of the system are eliminated.
- Cloud computing is based on the pay-as-you-go (PAYG) principle, which means you only pay for what you actually use.
- As you receive all services at a fixed monthly price, you will not be surprised by any hidden costs.
- New features such as protocols or adapters are included in the basic monthly price and do not incur any additional costs.
- You can view your current consumption and costs at any time via the CONCETO Billing Engine integrated in CIS/4-Cloud – EDI.
2. scalability and customisability
On-premises solutions usually have a fixed range of functions that are difficult to adapt to the changing needs of your company. The situation is different with CIS/4-Cloud – EDI:
- The cloud solution can be scaled as required - both upwards and downwards. This means that the platform develops automatically in line with the requirements of your business.
- Additional business partners or data formats can be added at any time with little effort.
- A large number of EDI standard scenarios are already available as ready-made mappings and processes for optimised time-to-market.
- Minor customising is only necessary for any specifics, which are based entirely on your requirements.
- As an open-source Platform as a Service (PaaS), the Cloud Foundry environment in combination with APIs offers the option of easily combining existing forms of data exchange with new possibilities for digital integration.
3. conservation of resources
If you operate an in-house solution, your IT team has to take care of the maintenance, servicing and security of the EDI system in addition to many other tasks. Not so with the CIS/4-Cloud Managed EDI Service:
- As CONCETO provides you with a team of experts, your IT resources are significantly relieved. This leaves your IT team with more time for the actual core business.
- If there is a sudden increase in your workload, the CONCETO team can be quickly scaled up and can handle peaks with ease. This keeps your resources agile and flexible.
- Your IT team is also supported by CIS/4-Cloud Business Monitoring: it enables your specialist department to react independently to error scenarios and minimises costly and labour-intensive coordination tasks.
4. security and stability
Whenever cloud computing is mentioned, the question of data security and accessibility quickly arises. With the right service provider, there is no need to worry:
- With the Service Level Agreement (SLA), CONCETO guarantees you an infrastructure availability of 99.5 %.
- CONCETO only uses certified and tested solutions from renowned partners such as SAP and Microsoft.
- Your data is stored in a highly secure data centre within the EU or Germany.
- Daily full backups and interim backups, which are archived at a different location, enable data to be created and restored quickly.
- CIS/4 Cloud Business Monitoring and an alert engine ensure that errors in the system can be quickly detected and rectified 24/7.
5. innovation and future security
The efficient operation of an on-premises solution requires a great deal of specialised knowledge and can only succeed if your in-house IT remains constantly up-to-date. The CIS/4-Cloud EDI-Service can take on this task for you:
- The cloud service is constantly evolving with the innovations on the market and can always offer you the latest integration technologies.
- The trained team of experts is continuously expanding its expertise so that you benefit from the latest know-how at all times.
- In addition to the established adapter and protocol standards, you have the option of realising all API scenarios - for example SALESFORCE, Ariba, Amazon or 3PL integration.
- Full API management is part of the service and does not require any additional licences.
To summarise: Your future lies in the EDI cloud service
As you can see: The advantages of an EDI cloud service should not be underestimated and go far beyond the pure cost issue. With CIS/4-Cloud – EDI, you get a full service that not only relieves your IT resources, but also ensures greater security and agility. Instead of having to repeatedly invest in new technologies and licences yourself, you receive in-depth SAP and EDI expertise from a single source as well as expert know-how at a calculable fixed price. Trained specialists guarantee error-free EDI operation and take care of the programme-related interface expansion in SAP.
For you, CIS/4-Cloud – EDI ultimately means more interface expertise, less effort and a significantly shorter time-to-market when connecting partners. By being able to securely connect the latest digital technologies with your business, you can have a targeted influence on ensuring that your company can continue to compete successfully in the future.
