AG Cilander

Integration in the manufacturing industry

Automation of multiple ERP-Systems using TRANSCONNECT^®

INFO

AG Cilander is one of the world’s leading providers of high-quality finishing for textile. To enable the synchronisation of data flows between the two historically grown ERP systems and to additionally automate processes, TRANSCONNECT^® was introduced as a central integration platform.

Initial situation

As a traditional and innovative textile company based in Herisau, Appenzell, AG Cilander is one of the world’s leading providers of high-quality finishing. The 180 employees of this medium-sized company cover all stages of the finishing process: from pre-treatment to dyeing and high-end finishing to the final inspection in the company’s own test laboratory. Grown from history, there are two ERP systems specially tailored to scenarios. While the Intex Textil ERP, short Intex, is tailored to the fashion industry and accommodates the administration of textile master data for orders, the ERP system Abacus is additionally used for accounting. Interfaces were painstakingly developed in-house to enable the bidirectional exchange of data streams. In the course of an ERP integration project, a suitable solution was sought on the market in order to simplify this synchronisation between the ERP systems. Under the premise of centrally linking the entire systems of the existing IT landscape and automating the processes, the integration platform TRANSCONNECT^® was introduced. TRANSCONNECT^® is primarily intended to ensure that the systems communicate with each other with as little maintenance as possible. And more concretely, to ensure that interfaces do not have to be maintained exponentially in the future, but only once centrally. In addition to the integration scenario of the ERP systems, the introduction of the new shopware6 webshop should be realised as soon as possible.

Solution

Since the introduction of the central integration platform TRANSCONNECT^® and the creation of suitable interfaces, all systems and processes can be controlled, monitored and maintained centrally from the platform. Thus, the accounts receivable documents and master data (vouchers) are now automatically transferred from Intex to Abacus, from one ERP to another. In parallel, Abacus moves the accounts payable documents and master data (customer data) into Abacus. These processes are triggered, among other things, by orders placed via the newly introduced Shopware6 webshop. Depending on whether the order is from a new or existing customer, the master data is synchronised directly with the Intex ERP system. Further projects are currently being planned. For example, the CRM Salesforce as the leading system will automatically transfer the customer master data into the ERP system in the future. Furthermore, other systems, such as TexWare, are to be connected to the system landscape via the TRANSCONNECT^® integration platform.

“Our IT landscape is growing exponentially. It quickly becomes unmanageable. To keep control of our processes, we needed automation solutions. Since we are agile in our approach to change at Cilander, TRANSCONNECT^® was a perfect fit for our requirements.

Now we have full transparency over all interfaces. And start every further digitisation project with the motivation: Don’t make a change too complicated, just start!”

Jörg Thalau, Head of IT, AG Cilander

Advantages of the solution

Reduced effort in data, interfaces and systems maintenance.
Processes run more securely due to the automation of the integration platform and are less prone to errors.
With Shopware6, a legacy system was successfully connected to modern systems.

With TRANSCONNECT^®

… you comprehensibly open up your interfaces and reduce the complexity of the system landscape.
… you keep the operating costs for the development and maintenance of interfaces low.
… you are optimally prepared for market changes and crises.