B> Supported Software`s latest CONNECT product range from Sterling Commerce is being used as the vital middleware component in a new SAP initiative by CNA, part of the extensive Wooltru Group.
The leading national newsagent has begun rolling electronic point of sale (EPOS) systems to 120 of its top selling stores to provide more fully automated back office functionality and connectivity to new group SAP financial and retail systems.
Thirty of these are already utilising Sterling Commerce`s CONNECT: Remote software to leverage group WAN infrastructures via UUInternet Africa (UUIA) internet connections to effect more efficient data transfers to CNA`s head office systems.
The rest will be completed by December 1999.
According to CNA IT executive, Marc Weber, the technology is being implemented to guarantee delivery of data across often poor quality telephone lines.
CONNECT: Remote offers a more reliable alternative compared to other direct dial-in solutions, he says, enabling the most efficient use of inferior, low speed connections.
"Branches are connected to an Internet backbone, while at head office two CONNECT: Remote servers tap into the backbone and establish connections to the branches at scheduled times," he explains.
Data received at head office is then automatically re-routed and distributed to the group`s new SAP platforms and/or mainframe, distribution and data warehousing systems using CONNECT: Direct. This is Sterling Commerce`s high performance enterprise data exchange solution for automated point-to-point information delivery across multiple platforms.
Now widely accepted as a de facto standard, it offers unparalleled automated functionality for secure, reliable, large volume data exchanges between internal departments and offices and external customer and client sites. "CONNECT: Direct will assist CNA in performing secure and reliable distribution of information between various systems to manage production activities across multiple platforms" Weber said.
Together, the two CONNECT products provide the vital middleware facilitating CNA`s current migration to EPOS and SAP.
"We looked at competitive products and benchmarked a number of options. However, Sterling Commerce`s CONNECT range performed best in terms of reliability, flexibility and integration with our different company systems," comments CNA technical analyst, Douglas Hill.
"It also has excellent reference sites within the banking industry, for instance, and is very well supported by Supported Software."
Hill highlights the system`s secure delivery mechanism which helps guarantee CNA stores` daily EPOS data transfers averaging 500K each, and ensures data integrity.
"This had been a major concern," he continues. "Our stores differ in size and stock holding from one area to another and not all need a full on-line capability. However, in some areas, ISDN lines are not even available making reliable, secure data transfers difficult.
"Sterling Commerce`s CONNECT software has provided a very high quality solution."
CNA`s EPOS and SAP implementations are part of a broader move to leverage group financial and information systems throughout Wooltru (South Africa`s largest fast moving consumer retailer) and build technology for successful electronic commerce and Virtual Private Networking.
Mainframe functions have been outsourced to IBM, and a new company, Affinity Logic, has been established within the group to manage its SAP migration as well as provide centralised information technology, financial and logistics skills and services.
The CNA SAP Retail implementation alone is distinguished as the first of its kind in Africa, and one of the most extensive in the world.
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