Overview
A global manufacturer providing cash technology solutions across the financial, retail, gaming, and CIT industries faced challenges in orchestrating their configure-to-order workflow effectively. With multiple variants across product lines, the order-to-manufacturing process was impeded by a lack of integration between Oracle CPQ and JD Edwards (JDE) systems. This resulted in delays, errors, and difficulties in managing order changes.
The client engaged Birlasoft to implement a scalable integration between Oracle CPQ and JDE to address these challenges. Using Oracle Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and JD Edwards Orchestrator, our team built a seamless integration that enabled real-time synchronization between the systems. This solution enhanced process efficiency with automated sales and work order creation, improved the accuracy of revenue and profitability reporting, and brought complete visibility across order progress. Read the details of this engagement below.
The Challenge
1. Mismatch between business requirements and existing BOM process
The client operated with a fixed Bill of Materials (BOM) system, which hindered their ability to effectively cater to diverse customer needs. Their business was better suited to a Configure-to-Order (CTO) process, which allows dynamic customization. This limitation necessitated a shift towards a solution that could seamlessly manage such configurations.
2. Siloed environment to manage complex product variants despite best-of-breed tooling
With multiple variants in their product lines, the client required enhanced configured item capabilities to manage these variants efficiently. They selected Oracle CPQ as the ideal platform to address their variant management challenges. However, JDE was their core ERP for sales order execution and financial reporting, which created a siloed operational environment.
3. Operational overheads due to disconnected systems
Maintaining variant information separately in both Oracle CPQ and JDE would prove counterproductive. It also increased the risk of data inconsistencies, operational delays, and higher administrative overheads. A tightly integrated CPQ-JDE ecosystem was essential to eliminate these inefficiencies and ensure seamless data flow between the two systems.
The Solution
1. Developed an integrated CPQ-JDE ecosystem for seamless operations
Birlasoft implemented a robust integration between Oracle CPQ and JDE using Oracle SOA Suite and JDE Orchestrator. This integration allowed the two systems to communicate seamlessly, automatically synchronizing configured item data. Notably, no changes were made to the standard JDE sales order application or master business functions, preserving the integrity and stability of the core JDE system.
2. Automated Configure-to-Order workflows
To optimize the CTO process, Birlasoft automated key workflows such as updating sales orders, managing configured item parts lists, and releasing holds. Oracle CPQ was used to configure items via select options, directly integrating with the JDE work order parts list. This avoided creating unique items or BOMs for every configuration, reducing friction in the CTO flow.
3. Centralized management of product family configurations
Birlasoft designed a system to maintain a unique item and BOM for each product family rather than for every machine type within a family. This centralization reduced the administrative overhead of managing multiple configurations and enabled better scalability for future product variants. The integration ensured that Oracle CPQ was the control point for product configurations and quoting process, while JDE remained the execution and reporting backbone.
4. Established real-time data synchronization and ensured system stability
The solution introduced real-time synchronization between Oracle CPQ and JDE, which ensured that order changes, status updates, and approvals were reflected immediately, improving process efficiency. The system has been operational for the past 21 months without significant bugs, demonstrating its reliability and resilience in supporting the client’s critical business operations.
The Impact
1. Empowered sales teams with autonomous operations
The sales team now creates quotes directly in Oracle CPQ, as the solution eliminates dependency on Customer Service and ensures accurate configuration without worrying about part numbers.
2. Streamlined order visibility across processes
A 360-degree view of order progress—covering entry, shipping, and invoicing—is now available in CPQ, enabling better collaboration and informed decision-making across teams.
3. Simplified product and cost management
The solution maintains BOMs at the product family level, reducing complexity while enabling lean management of product, pricing, and costing data without having to maintain multiple BOMs.
4. Real-time synchronization for clean order execution
Orders are automatically integrated with JDE work order parts lists, ensuring clean execution with minimal manual rework, reduced errors, and faster delivery to installers.
5. Automated workflows for efficiency and stability
The interface automates Sales Order and Work Order creation, with error notifications ensuring smooth operations. The system has run for 21 months with minimal maintenance or major bugs.
6. Accurate forecasting for procurement optimization
Forecasting now operates at the product family level, allowing precise component procurement planning, reducing delays, and aligning inventory with Configure-to-Order requirements.
Unlock the potential of integrated Oracle CPQ and JDE solutions to simplify processes, improve efficiency, and deliver exceptional results. Get in touch today to elevate your business operations with Birlasoft.
