WIMA: EDI Goes Online – WIMA Switches to Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) with Crossgate’s Help

The WIMA Group of Companies, a specialist of more than 60 years’ standing in film capacitors, will soon be electronically processing its order and invoice process using the EDI solution B2B 360° Services from Crossgate. Via its new SAP ERP system, it gives the firm ad-hoc access to Crossgate’s Business Ready Network, the transaction platform already used by more than 40,000 business partners in exchanging electronic data. With its business partners, which include globally active distributors and industrial groups, WIMA will use the Crossgate platform to exchange EDI data for its “order”, “order confirmation” and “invoice” processes. The demand-oriented EDI solution is set to make clear savings for the company in time, costs and resources, optimise its business processes and comply with its business partners’ requirements to perfection.

The WIMA Group is a pioneer in capacitor technology and is a direct supplier to the automotive, consumer and electronics, and lighting equipment industries. As part of its IT modernisation drive, the company decided to set up a completely new IT infrastructure based on an SAP ERP system. It also wanted a solution for its electronic data communication, finally deciding in favour of the demand-oriented EDI solution B2B 360° Services from Crossgate. WIMA is particularly impressed by the solution because it creates the highest degree of cost transparency through its fixed-cost model, and is tailored precisely to the group’s EDI needs. In addition, the solution slots perfectly into the SAP strategy chosen by WIMA.

With EDI into the future

Prior to the switch, WIMA processed its order and invoice processes entirely on paper, resulting in enormous outlay in resources, time and money for administering and sending documents by post. Its business partners, meanwhile, had begun asking when WIMA would switch to EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) in view of their electronic communication standards as global players.

As soon as configuration of the new SAP ERP system is complete, WIMA will use the B2B 360° Services to connect to the Crossgate’s Business Ready Network in just one step. It will give the film capacitor specialist out-of-the-box B2B capabilities from the very start, meaning it can exchange data in all formats directly from its new SAP ERP system with any number of business partners. The next step will be to successively connect to its major customers and suppliers, which include leading international distributors and industrials, to the Crossgate platform. Ultimately, WIMA will begin exchanging EDI data for the “order”, “order confirmation” and “invoice” processes with its business partners over the platform. The data mapped to the platform is translated into a universal metaformat that greatly simplifies and speeds up data exchange.

WIMA’s goals for the Crossgate solution are to enable it to process orders and invoices faster and easier than could ever be achieved by a paper-based solution. In this way, it will optimise its business processes and dramatically reduce process costs.

About WIMA:

WIMA has a long tradition in passive electronic components. Founded by Wilhelm Westermann in Unna (Westphalia) in 1948, within a few years it had become one of the leading producers of capacitors. WIMA is still in private ownership under the management of Dipl.-Ing. Dipl. Wi-Ing. Wolfgang Westermann. Based in Germany, it has four sites: sales and the central laboratory are in Mannheim, and the production plants in Aurich, Berlin and Unna. Continual technical progress and a qualified growth strategy have transformed WIMA into a global leader when it comes to top-quality capacitors.

About Crossgate

Crossgate offers the world's first Business-Ready Network, guaranteeing 100% integration of business partners, clients and suppliers. A single connection to the Network means electronic data exchange with any business partner regardless of their technical capability. In addition, Crossgate's B2B-360° Services provide clients direct access to all integrated business partners in the B2B transaction network via their SAP systems. With its legally compliant e-Invoicing Services, Crossgate also provides an innovative and 100% secure solution to cover the entire process of incoming and outgoing invoices, including signatures, global compliance monitoring, and secure automated long-term archiving. More than 40,000 business partners, representing over 10 industries, currently exchange documents and data via the Business-Ready Network.

Crossgate is represented at four sites in Germany, with operations in Atlanta, London, Milan, Paris, and AsiaPac. For more information, visit www.crossgate.com

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