Basic principles 1: Receive, process, send

Basic principles 1: Receive, process, send

 

Receive, Process, Send

 

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SmartBridge makes seemingly incompatible software exchange information with each other, in three basic steps:

  1. Receive
  2. Process
  3. Send

Or, in other words: data goes in, magic happens, processed data are sent out.

SmartBridge sits in the middle

SmartBridge needs input in the form of incoming data, it does not produce data without input.

Incoming data comes from either:

  • One of your internal systems, often your ERP system
  • 3rd parties, most likely your business partners

 

Example 1: From your business partner to your ERP system

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In the example to the left your business partner sends an Order document in EDI format. Your ERP systems needs to receive the order, but it only accepts text files (flat files).

Partner X begins the transaction by sending out the document, an order in EDI format, through either VAN or the internet (FTP/SMTP). The above process flow entails the following steps:

  1. SmartBridge retrieves the EDI document during a communication session through the communication module.
  2. SmartBridge will then convert the document into FlatFile format and store the results within a specific folder.
  3. SmartBridge will then execute a command batch, triggering the ERP system to import the document.

Note that Partner X may also be sending a batch of multiple documents, a scenario in which the system’s Splitter component will be required to extract the documents individually.

Example 2: From your ERP system to your business partner

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Suppose your ERP system wants to send out invoice documents to your business partner. The invoices are grouped together, in XML format.

The process starts with the ERP system producing invoices for your business partner, and placing the XML documents into a specific folder.

After that, the above process flow entails the following steps:

  1. SmartBridge monitors the folder and retrieves each XML individually.
  2. SmartBridge will then convert each invoice document into EDI format, and groups them.
  3. Finally, SmartBridge sends the documents to the business partner, using the configured communication module.

 

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