Our Customer’s Challenge
Aclara Technologies Inc. decided to embark on a significant transition from JD Edwards to SAP as its enterprise ERP system. To facilitate this migration, they engaged Team D3 to seamlessly replicate the Autodesk Fusion Manage integration that Team D3 had originally developed for JD Edwards, adapting it to the new SAP environment. As part of this comprehensive JD Edwards to SAP implementation project, Aclara required a Jitterbit expert from Team D3 to update several existing Autodesk Fusion Manage interfaces, ensuring they communicate effectively with SAP instead of JD Edwards. Furthermore, a new interface was required to be constructed between SAP Variant Configuration (VC) and Fusion Manage, effectively replacing the outdated interface with a previous generation of Fusion Manage.
Our Project goals
The required integration to SAP would necessitate mapping Catalog Number attributes, Bill Of Materials properties, Catalog Number Change attributes, transforming XML messages from SAP VC to a new BOM data source, and modifying existing Jitterbit operations for that new data source. Finally, it would be necessary to modify existing application connections to build and ensure that payloads would maintain the integrity of the content of messages being transmitted between a client (such as a web application or mobile app) and a server.
Our Solution
Phase 1 of the integration and implementation project included an “assessment of needs” and “requirements gathering” with the resulting information used to define the scope of work to be performed in the creation and application of all facets of the solution. The client had Autodesk Fusion Manage connected to the JD Edwards ERP system and was dedicated to an enterprise-wide “go-live” commitment to transition to SAP as their corporate ERP. Team D3 stepped in to modify all the existing connections while also consulting with Aclara on specific process flows as well as guiding them through strategic decisions that would impact the functionality of the handshake between Autodesk Fusion Manage, SAP ERP, and Salesforce. Team D3 coordinated with Aclara, parent company Hubbell, as well as external consultants (IBM) to make this happen.
The Business Outcome
The project was seamlessly synchronized with Aclara’s JD Edwards to SAP transition, resulting in an on-time rollout with minimal disruption to daily business operations. Aclara Technologies successfully transitioned to SAP ERP, maintaining business continuity throughout the process.
The overarching project objectives achieved were as follows:
Detailed Planning: A comprehensive planning phase ensured a thorough understanding of requirements and streamlined project execution.
Collaborative Approach: Collaboration among internal and external stakeholders facilitated effective decision-making and implementation.
Continuous Communication: Regular communication channels were maintained to address any challenges while ensuring alignment with project objectives.
Iterative Development: Iterative development cycles provide flexibility and adaptation to evolving requirements.
Thorough Testing: Rigorous testing procedures were implemented to validate the integrity and functionality of the integrated systems.
Conclusion
The successful integration of Autodesk Fusion Manage with SAP ERP by Team D3 played a crucial role in Aclara Technologies’ seamless transition from JD Edwards to SAP. Through meticulous planning, efficient execution, and collaboration with Aclara’s team and external consultants, Team D3 ensured that all facets of the project were addressed effectively. As a result, Aclara experienced minimal disruption to their daily operations, providing them with a smooth changeover. Finally, Aclara continues to stay connected to Team D3 through an ongoing support relationship should there be a need for any modifications or additional feature additions.
