WaterTech Corp. - Seamless Integration of SAP Business One with E-commerce Platforms
Business Challenges:
1. Manual Order Processing:
- The old process involved printing shipping labels manually and matching them with orders in their old WMS. The sales team was responsible for creating and sending these shipping labels, creating a very cumbersome and slow process.
2. Limited Inventory Visibility:
WaterTech had no real-time inventory visibility across multiple warehouses. This led to discrepancies, with customers having no knowledge of the exact stock status across different locations. The lack of transparency meant that if products were located closer to the customer, they wouldn’t know about it, and customers often experienced delays or inaccurate delivery expectations.
- Salespeople sometimes had to update inventory numbers on the e-commerce platform manually over the weekend to prevent inaccurate stock levels. This created frustration both internally and externally.
3. Inefficient Shipping and Logistics:
WaterTech also struggled with coordinating logistics efficiently. They relied on third-party logistics (3PL) partners and had no automated way to send shipping information, which caused further delays in order fulfillment.
- Moreover, the shipping process was not streamlined, with employees manually entering data into systems. This resulted in slow order fulfillment and delivery times, making the process more prone to errors and delays.
4. Lack of Automation and Scalability:
The lack of automation was a massive bottleneck, preventing WaterTech from scaling operations as demand increased. The system couldn’t accommodate dynamic workflows for substitutions of products when inventory was low or adjust to the needs of the business as it expanded into new countries.
Solution Implementation
In collaboration with APPSeCONNECT, WaterTech Corp. implemented an integration solution that addressed these challenges head-on, significantly transforming their operations:
1. E-commerce Integration with SAP Business One:
APPSeCONNECT seamlessly integrated WaterTech’s ERP system (SAP Business One) with their e-commerce platforms (Amazon, BigCommerce, Shopify, and others). This integration automated order synchronization between the platforms and the ERP system, eliminating the need for manual data entry and dramatically reducing errors in order processing.
- As a result, the system was able to automatically capture and process orders from various platforms, improving speed and accuracy.
2. Real-time Inventory Synchronization:
APPSeCONNECT enabled real-time inventory synchronization across WaterTech’s multiple warehouses. This allowed customers to see accurate stock levels and prevented overselling. This feature was crucial in maintaining transparency, particularly when WaterTech started expanding into new markets such as Europe.
- As part of the solution, WaterTech could now synchronize their stock levels across all e-commerce platforms. No more manual updates from sales teams, which meant fewer errors and less frustration for everyone involved.
3. Automated Shipping with Veeco Integration:
With APPSeCONNECT’s help, WaterTech integrated with Veeco, which provided automated shipping labels. This integration ensured that shipping information was processed efficiently, reducing manual data entry and speeding up the fulfillment process.
- It also allowed WaterTech to maintain a smoother, error-free shipping process, making sure that labels were generated automatically and tracking data was updated seamlessly.
4. 3PL Integration:
The integration with 3PL partners enabled WaterTech to streamline its communication and coordination. The data exchange between WaterTech’s ERP system and 3PL partners was automated, ensuring a smooth and accurate order fulfillment process.
- This integration also helped WaterTech in synchronizing data and delivery statuses, resulting in more efficient logistics management.
5. Custom Workflow Development:
APPSeCONNECT’s team offered a high level of flexibility in developing custom workflows to meet WaterTech’s specific needs. For example, WaterTech could now ship products from multiple warehouses, substitute units when one location ran low on stock, and adjust to the dynamic requirements of growing markets.
- When WaterTech started expanding to Europe and added new e-commerce channels, APPSeCONNECT supported them with customized workflows, ensuring scalability and flexibility.
Results & Benefits
The implementation of APPSeCONNECT’s integration solution brought immediate and long-term benefits to WaterTech Corp.:
1. Reduced Order Processing Time:
Automated order synchronization helped WaterTech streamline their order processing and reduce the time spent on manual data entry. This improvement allowed the company to handle much larger volumes of orders without delays.
- The orders were processed instantly, and the connection between their ERP system and e-commerce platforms ensured that no data was lost in transit.
2. Improved Inventory Accuracy and Visibility:
Real-time inventory updates provided WaterTech with complete visibility across multiple warehouses. This allowed them to meet customer expectations more effectively and offer a more seamless shopping experience.
- WaterTech could now ensure that customers saw accurate stock levels, which led to fewer customer complaints and more timely deliveries.
3. Enhanced Customer Experience:
The automated systems gave customers more visibility into their orders, from shipping to tracking. With quicker order processing and more timely deliveries, WaterTech significantly improved its customer service.
- The ability to reduce delivery times and provide better tracking meant customers were always aware of the status of their orders, enhancing their overall experience.
4. Scalable Operations:
WaterTech benefited from the scalability of APPSeCONNECT’s solution. As the company expanded into new markets like Europe and began using new platforms such as Shopify, APPSeCONNECT ensured that their integrations could scale seamlessly without additional strain on resources.
- This flexibility enabled WaterTech to remain nimble, even as demand increased and new business challenges arose.
5. Streamlined Logistics:
With the integration of 3PL and Veeco, WaterTech could fulfill orders more efficiently. The improved flow of information between their ERP system and 3PL partners ensured timely delivery and minimized delays.
6. Competitive Advantage:
The flexibility of APPSeCONNECT’s integration solution allowed WaterTech to stay agile and responsive to customer demands. This gave them a competitive advantage in a market where customers increasingly expect fast, reliable service.
Testimonial
Tamsir Ba, Head of Global Supply Chain and Operations at WaterTech Corp., shared his thoughts on their experience with APPSeCONNECT:
“APPSeCONNECT has been instrumental in transforming our operations. The seamless integration with SAP Business One helped us immediately eliminate the manual process of order entry and processing, making a huge difference in our operational efficiency. But what I love most is the continued growth of our partnership with APPSeCONNECT. Their flexibility has allowed us to make custom adjustments as needed, whether it’s integrating with new platforms or adding workflows to handle multiple warehouse locations. APPSeCONNECT has given us a competitive advantage and allowed us to scale effectively, all while providing exceptional customer support.”
“We’ve been able to reduce errors, speed up order processing, and give customers a better experience. APPSeCONNECT has been there every step of the way, supporting us as we grew and changed. It’s been a true game-changer.”
Conclusion
The successful integration of SAP Business One with APPSeCONNECT allowed WaterTech Corp. to transform its operations by automating order processing, improving inventory accuracy, and providing better customer visibility. With these advancements, WaterTech was able to scale efficiently, improve customer satisfaction, and maintain a competitive edge in the market.
The partnership with APPSeCONNECT has not only addressed immediate operational pain points but has also laid the foundation for future growth. WaterTech continues to rely on APPSeCONNECT as a trusted partner in their digital transformation journey.
United States
Industry:
Manufacturing (Cordless Pool Cleaners)
ERP System:
SAP Business One
E-commerce Platforms:
Amazon, BigCommerce, Shopify, Veeco, 3PL Partners
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