Collaborative scenarios that enable seamless business communication down to the dealer level are a key IT architecture requirement within industrial machinery and components . This scenario supports both the integration of dealer employees via portal application and the integration of dealer management systems directly via web-based services. It covers brand management processes such as marketing and lead management as well logistical processes such as equipment management, service parts management, and warranty management. A knowledge management platform allows the brand owner to exchange latest product or service information.

These applications can be used as a stand-alone component or combined in a pre-configured business package for the SAP Enterprise Portal. Using the dealer portal, an importer or wholesaler can provide Internet access to the entire dealer community. Internet applications are available for locating and ordering equipment and spare parts, as well as for warranty claims processing.

The importer can create and maintain an extranet site for dealers in order to provide multi-media content about new products, new repair instructions, service bulletins, competitor information, campaigns, etc. The importer can also provide information about bank rates, used equipment evaluations, and so on, from external Internet service providers, such as news agencies and banks. Another valuable component is the business intelligence platform, which enables the importer to provide dealers with business statistics, such as national sales or the dealers number of warranty claims compared to the national average).

Via exchange technology (XI) you can also integrate to the Dealer Management System (DMS) itself. No matter whether the DMS supports XML/SOAP or batch file communication XI is the right solution for that. Regarding the heterogeneity of DMS networks today, integration is still combined with some effort . However, as homogenization is in process and standards like STAR evolve, DMS integration is a great opportunity to reach better collaboration with the dealer network.

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