Toshiba Service Centre Spares Order Processing
To replace an existing proprietary Viewdata spares processing system with
a web based system allowing Toshiba dealers 24x7 access to spares availability
and to spares order processing. The system was implemented using WebSpshere
application server accesing an IBM  iSeries as a database server. The system was developed in four months
and has been running live since September 2001.
| Application |
Spares Order Processing |
| Business Benefits |
Lets dealers manage and place their own orders and check availability of
spares. |
| Software |
IBM WebSphere Application Server, Standard Edition
IBM DB2® Universal Database for iSeries
IBM HTTP
Server |
| Hardware |
IBM iSeries |
Background
Toshiba Information Systems Consumer Products Division had a Viewdata system
which allowed dealers to identify faults, order spares and check the progress
of their orders. Once Price and Availability had been confirmed, the order
could be held pending end-customer agreement, or released for immediate
processing. The system was available 24 x 7 and frequently used by dealers
out of normal business hours.
The Viewdata system had been in use for several years, was familiar and
worked. However the system was based on a proprietary network and required
the use of specialized hardware such as Viewdata terminals. This hardware
could not be maintained indefinitely and was nearing the end of it's practicable
life.
The solution
KDP Software partnered with Toshiba Information Systems to replace their
existing Viewdata application with a web based application that would allow
dealers to place spare part orders, view order progress and to inquire
on order history. This solution replaces the existing Viewdata system which
allowed access to their existing spares database.
The new system takes advantage of the existing spares parts database on
the iSeries, allowing all other existing back end functionality to run as
previously. The system runs under IBM's WebSphere Application Server and
is entirely written in Java.
System Functionality
The new web based spares order processing provides all the functionality
of the existing Viewdata system. These functions include the following:
- Search for part numbers by model/part description
- Order spares, receiving immediate feedback on price and availability
- Hold orders for later processing
- Cancel held orders
- Release held orders for processing
- View all orders and their status
- View all outstanding orders
- View orders by reference or order number
- View orders for a part
- View an order detail with outstanding quantities, dispatch details and
the ability to reduce outstanding quantities.
Using The Internet
The Internet has now become a standard network for not only serving static
content such as web pages but also dynamic content delivered from existing
database to the users browser. To access and use the new spares order processing
system a dealer no longer needs to use proprietary hardware and software.
Putting Dealers In Control
The primary purpose of the spares ordering system is to allow the dealers to control their own order entry/enquiries at a time that suites them. Functions such as part availability
and ordering are usually accomplished through a call center. Some dealers
will obviously still wish to use this approach. The eventual aim is to transfer all part inquiries
and ordering to the new system, except in such cases where dealers order through EDI.
About WebSphere
The IBM WebSphere Family was designed to help users realize the promise of e-business. The WebSphere Family is a set of software products that helps customers develop and manage high-performance Web sites and integrate those Web sites with new or existing non-Web business systems.
For more information
Email KDP at info@kdpsoftware.co.uk Or
Call us on +44 (0) 1273 712830
For more information about Toshiba in the UK, visit:
http://www.toshiba.co.uk
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