Snapsflow

Retail Solutions

Large Home Improvement Store Chain Automates Their Order Process

Our client was implementing a new system to automatically provide sub-contractors with project information when customers select and purchase custom home improvement projects, such as buying carpet or kitchen cabinets. The client was converting from a pen and paper system to a computer based system. They had all of the pieces in place except for a way to connect their UNIX based system to their RightFax server. They wanted to significantly reduce the time it took for employees in each store to communicate with sub-contractors.  The client crested a web application to automate the faxing of documents to outside contractors. There are thousands of contractors and the easiest way to communicate with them is by fax. Snapsflow allows them to send documents and their identifying information via web services. Once  transactions are completed and approved all documents are bundled for a project and sent to the contractor as a single fax.

Benefit/ROI
The customer was able to:

• Free up their in store associates from the burden of doing the paperwork for these projects allowing them to spend more time assisting customers
• Accurately track sent orders to enable faster handling
• Have all stores using a centralized and consistent process for communicating with their installation vendors.
• Achieve an ROI in less than 6 months

Process

The client was writing a custom Java based application that converted the hand drawn and filled out documentation of custom orders and installations from pen and paper to electronic format. The requirements of the system were:

1. To be able to take entered orders and associate them with the payment information to make sure that customers had paid for the order
2. To allow changes in the contractor being utilized
3. To bundle multiple orders from multiple stores to send to the contractor in a single fax or email
4. To notify the store when faxes are successfully sent or if there is a transmission problem (such as a busy signal or disconnected phone number)

The system was scaled to handle over 10,000 orders each day. Prior to the installation of the Snapsflow Solution,  individual stores were responsible for aggregating orders and sending them to the various vendors. We used RightFax, Snapsflow Engine with the RightFax and XML modules, and the Snapsflow XML listener to receive messages from the customer's order system. We also created SQL Server database tables to maintain order lists.

The Snapsflow XML Listener is used to receive the documents and XML information from their systems and RightFax is used to send the documents to the contractors. The Snapsflow XML Listener receives a Base64 encoded PDF document as well as XML information about the vendor number and order number when the order is created and when the order is paid for. It stores the PDF in a local directory and it creates or updates the database information to keep track of the orders. Three times a day the system requests updates about the orders from the customer's UNIX system by posting to a web service. This web service designates whether to fax, email, hold, or delete the document. The implementation took only a few weeks.

Collaboration Improves Lives

This simple axiom drives everything we do. It shapes how we approach problems, execute solutions and measure results. It’s not enough to be a real-time organization; you need to facilitate real-time collaboration. We do this using the Adaptive Exchange Methodology.

The Adaptive Exchange Methodology uses a stack of technologies called the Snapsflow Framework. Each technology is focused on overcoming specific challenges in achieving Real Time Collaboration. The Holon Framework was built, from the ground up, to be configured into combinations that lower the technical and human hurdles to collaboration while optimizing strategic agility and operational efficiency.