Arrowhead Engineering Products

Client Need

Arrowhead Engineering is a medium-sized distributor of non-discretionary, mission-critical aftermarket replacement parts. Due to their rapid growth, they face challenges in onboarding a backlog of trading partners onto their EDI system, leading to communication delays and manual data entry errors.

Challenge: Arrowhead Engineering has a substantial backlog of trading partners waiting to be onboarded onto their EDI system. The manual process of onboarding is time-consuming and prone to errors, resulting in inefficient communication, delayed orders, and customer dissatisfaction.

Solution: To address this challenge, Arrowhead Engineering decides to implement an automated EDI onboarding solution to streamline the process and accelerate the integration of their trading partners.

Implementation

1. Automated Onboarding Workflow: Echolink Solutions developed an automated onboarding workflow that guides trading partners through the necessary steps to connect to their EDI system. The workflow includes information collection, document exchange requirements, and testing procedures.
2. Self-Service Portal: A self-service portal was created where trading partners can access the necessary resources, guidelines, and templates for EDI integration. This portal ensures that partners have clear instructions on data formats, communication protocols, and testing procedures.
3. EDI Integration Tools: Echolink Solutions provides trading partners with integration tools that facilitate the transformation of their existing data formats into EDI-compliant formats. These tools help reduce manual data entry and formatting errors.
4. Testing Environment: A dedicated testing environment is set up where trading partners can validate their EDI transactions before going live. This environment allows partners to identify and resolve any integration issues before full deployment.
5. Support and Training: Echolink solutions offers training sessions and technical support to trading partners, ensuring that they are comfortable with the new EDI system and can troubleshoot any integration challenges.

Results: By implementing the automated EDI onboarding solution, Arrowhead Engineering achieves the following results:

• Reduced Onboarding Time: The automated workflow significantly reduces the time required to onboard new trading partners, allowing Company ABC to catch up on their backlog more efficiently.
• Minimized Errors: The use of integration tools and standardized templates decreases the likelihood of data entry and formatting errors.
• Faster Communication: Automated document exchange accelerates order processing and communication between Arrowhead Engineering and its trading partners.
• Improved Customer Satisfaction: Reduced communication delays and errors lead to improved order accuracy and faster deliveries, resulting in higher customer satisfaction.
• Scalability: The automated onboarding solution can be easily scaled as the company continues to grow and onboard new trading partners.

Conclusion

 This case study demonstrates how an automated EDI onboarding solution at Arrowhead Engineering can efficiently address the challenge of onboarding a backlog of trading partners. By streamlining the integration process, reducing errors, and improving communication, Arrowhead Engineering can enhance its operational efficiency and provide a better experience for both its trading partners and customers.

Tools & Technologies

True Commerce, Oracle NetSuite