Middleware
Middleware
Workflow / BPM
EASYProcess includes a built-in module to easily create workflows using Business Process Management (BPM). From simple to complex approval hierarchies, users can create their own business processes as needed, utilizing approval hierarchies from HR systems such as JD Edwards/PeopleSoft or Active Directory. These processes fully integrate with JD Edwards, SAP, or other enterprise resources that your company may utilize.
Built-in mechanisms allow for delegation, watcher assignment, and notification e-mails at various steps within the workflow. Pre-built Web Parts allow for review and approval reporting for those workflow items.
Examples of business processes that can be created within the workflow module of EASYProcess include:
- Procurement/Requisition Approval Workflows
- Purchase Order Approval Workflows
- New Address Book, Customer, or Vendor Approval Workflows
- Vendor Invoice Approval Workflow
EASYProcess uses workflow modules in several of its own enterprise products.
Complex Form Creation
EASYProcess allows for rule enforcement against your ERP or any other data source. Electronic Form Fields change dynamically, and will adjust automatically based on user type, among other criteria. EASYProcess workflow can force proper entry from users as well; numeric values and phone number formatting must be correct before a user can continue to submit information for approval.
Approval Workflow
Current approval workflow utilized by your organization can be implemented seamlessly by EASYProcess. Hierarchies from any data source, especially your ERP, can be including as well; these hierarchies can contain as many or few levels as deemed necessary by your organization. New users, groups, and levels can also be created and implemented at any point in the approval process. Take advantage of standard EASYProcess workflow features, such as Watchers, Leave Delegation, Re-Assignment, or Escalation, or implement workflow features currently used by your business today.
Email and Reporting
Encrypted links can be sent to every level within the workflow via email which allows users to take action on submission directly from their inbox. In one click, an approver can authorize or reject a request, log in to the EASYProcess portal, and communicate with other users involved in the workflow process directly from email. Users can also receive emails for each completed step in the approval process, and view status reports of all-process requests.
Data Orchestration
Orchestration Services
Middleware should be more than mapping data from one data source to another. Unless you can manipulate that data, there are many restrictions on what can be done. EASYProcess allows for complex rules to be applied to data moving through an application.. A developer can adjust date formats, currency formats, and any mathematical calculation. Decisions can be made on that data and alerts or emails sent. Comparisons of all kinds can be made against data from any system within your enterprise. A growing list of these services is available here.
Orchestration GUI
Orchestration of data in EASYProcess happens within a user-friendly, graphical interface. Familiar flow chart icons are used to build the data flow with all of the necessary decision-making branching. The programmer drags and drops these elements onto the page and connects them in the direction that the logic requires. Your business rules are fleshed out in a straightforward, easy to follow, format. K-Rise Systems’ developers demonstrate this orchestration during our live webinars and conferences; a task that would normally take a programmer much longer than one hour to complete. Check out our online demonstrations in the videos tab.
Database Connectivity
Any Data Source
EASYProcess can connect with data sources of all kinds, from older legacy systems that might produce flat files, to the more complex data found in your JD Edwards or SAP installation. Using a variety of native drivers such as OleDb, ODCB, and ODA, EASYProcess can access all of your data sources. Please browse the tabs related to your ERP for more information.
Taking Action on Data
Being able to read data from different sources is important, however; being able to utilize and take proper action with that data is vital. It is imperative that employees have a resource to search and locate information regarding requisitions. EASYProcess will enforce rules from JD Edwards/SAP on a selected item and attach account information on it before submission to the next approver within the hierarchy. Another example of this is the complex task of three-way matching. With all of the data comparison (i.e. invoices, POs, shipping amounts, etc.) required, this can become a nine-step process taking nearly thirty minutes to complete. The Vendor Self-Service (VSS) Portal presents this information on one screen and allows for data entry within this screen as well. The portal then takes this data, feeds it into your system, and processes the transaction. By using the VSS Portal, the time to complete three-way matching decreases from thirty minutes to just one. Imagine this level of efficiency at your company.
Email Connectivity
Outbound Emails
EASYProcess can send emails based on any number of triggers or as a result of activities by users. A customer making a purchase can not only generate a thank you and a receipt, but also notifies the sales representative of the transaction, including the amounts and even the other items that the customer viewed while browsing. EASYProcess can monitor file statuses and changes in JD Edwards or SAP, sending notifications to customers with those updates. Managers can be notified of employee requests for vacation or approval needs for requisitions
Inbound Emails
EASYProcess can monitor mailboxes, scan e-mails, and then perform the appropriate action. A requisition approval request has the option of containing links that users can click on to generate a response. That response is then communicated to EASYProcess and next actions are performed. For example, a next action might be updating the requisition status of an approved purchased order. Vendors can reply with itemized changes to a PO, which then can be updated directly within your ERP.
Email Content
Emails generated by EASYProcess can be very powerful. They can contain information from any data source in your system, attachments of excel spreadsheets or image files, and many types of links. These links could be simple response links that create a properly formatted email that, when sent out, are received by and acted upon by EASYProcess. More complex links can take users directly to a specific location requiring a specific action. For example, a vendor may be required to update quantity information on an invoice. A link will take the vendor directly to the proper place within your Vendor Self-Service Portal to make that update. The Vendor Self-Service Portal comes fully equipped with appropriate security as well as user “timeouts,” prohibiting access for specified periods.
Email Formats
Emails flowing to and from EASYProcess can be formatted based on context. Emails being sent to other employees may not need to be aesthetically appealing; simply contain raw data or text. Those emails being sent to customers may require certain logos, trademarks, and other company images. EASYProcess has the capability to standardize and customize e-mail format. Matching the look and feel of your company is another capability of EASYProcess’ seamless integration.
Web Services
Interactions with Web Services
EASYProcess allows for integration with any available web services. It is capable of:
- working with payment gateways
- calculating taxes in the cloud through Avalara Tax Services
- retrieving shipping information from UPS or other postal service companies
- updating SAP or JD Edwards data with information from SalesForce.com
This data can then be intermingled with data from other internal enterprise sources giving your users all the answers they need in one place and on one line.
Creating Web Services
Imagine being able to offer customers or vendors web services of your own. EASYProcess can securely give access to data within your systems through web services. Due to the level of flexibility in EASYProcess, you may even have web services that combine data from many of your own sources into one inquiry. This could be, for example, UPS tracking information on the same line as that of order information.
SalesForce Integration
EASYProcess can easily connect to the cloud, enabling you to connect with a variety of resources, including Salesforce.com. Salesforce.com offers customer relationship management (CRM) software and cloud computing from the leader in CRM solutions for businesses large and small.
Salesforce.com offers everything you need to grow your company, whether you’re an up-and-comer or a FORTUNE 100 corporation. With no software or hardware to install, you’re up and running-and seeing a positive impact on your business-quickly.
K-Rise Systems utilizes either Enterprise WSDL or Partner WSDL and once a connection is made, SalesForce.com methods are used (i.e. login, create, update, upsert, query, retrieve, etc.). More information on how EASYProcess does this can be seen here.
Import/Export Data
Read/Write to Excel
With EASYProcess, Excel file data can be uploaded and utilized, such as creating an E-Commerce catalog. EASYProcess also has the ability to export data from Excel, enabling quick and easy reporting.
Create PDFs
Creating PDFs is another way EASYProcess can fulfill your reporting needs. EASYProcess can send out PDFs or spreadsheets to customers or employees through email notifications.
iSeries
Program Calls
AS/400 RPG/CL/Cobol programs are called synchronously. Parameters can also be passed and retrieved.
Command Calls
EASYProcess has the ability to call AS/400 commands or submit jobs.
Emulator/Terminal Service Interface
This interface calls an interactive AS/400 program and submits transactions which uses existing business logic and avoids the re-write of RPG programs.
Database I/O
The EASYProcess standard database connectors fully support iSeries DB2/400 I/O. All standard database operations (i.e. read/write/update/delete) are supported. EASYProcess also supports IBM native .NET driver for faster database access.