About our client – and an ongoing journey
Our client, a medical and dental supplies company (MDSC), is based in New York State. With more than 25 distribution centers, it ships products around the world.
Our original MDSC article involved outdated systems being handled expertly by older, but retiring, employees. MDSC could not attract younger workers for the old systems.
Prolifics helped solve that immediate issue by implementing LegaSuite – a tool that acted as a bridge between a MDSC’s existing applications and a user-friendly, web-based interface.
It was this initial work that impressed MDSC and secured for Prolifics the integration projects of this next success story.
Challenge – getting systems to talk to each other
While LegaSuite solved an immediate, pressing issue for specific systems, MDSC still had:
- Systems like SAP
- Various websites and databases
- A number of different Windows applications
These systems didn’t necessarily speak to one another – they needed integration.
MDSC was doing a lot of integration already, but these efforts usually involved passing files or reading and writing directly from databases.
This type of integration is known as point-to-point integration, where individual pieces of data flow from system to system.
For every business use case where data needs to flow from one system to another, someone would have to handwrite code that:
- Extracts that specific data from one system
- Pushes it into another system
- Repeats this for every single integration
This could reach hundreds or even thousands of point-to-point integrations – all of which would have to be maintained.
The company wanted a more modern approach to their integration platform so data would be more readily available, and their business would be more flexible, dynamic, and faster.
What we did – the modern world of APIs
The modern approach uses application programming interfaces (APIs).
The API-led approach has each system create its own interface that offers its data for any other system to access.
MDSC chose MuleSoft to provide the integration software (middleware) for building APIs to connect systems, applications, data, devices, and other platforms.
Many clients choose MuleSoft because it is:
- Cloud-based and centralized
- All-inclusive and scalable
- Quick and easy to start with
They can run it as software as a service (SaaS) or even integration platform as a service (PaaS) – simply paying a monthly fee while MuleSoft manages the infrastructure.
Our implementation
- Prolifics first brought in architects to discuss our integration expertise and MuleSoft capabilities.
- We then built a series of APIs to integrate two core systems – SAP and JD Edwards – with other systems, along with other MuleSoft implementations.
- A testing team built a number of automated test cases to test the new APIs.
- The automated testing was left in place so MDSC could rerun test scripts whenever they made changes or added new APIs.
Result
We started MDSC on their API-integration journey, making MuleSoft the standard within their company.
The automated testing saves MDSC considerable time and money over their previous manual testing provider.
Now, data is more readily available, and MDSC’s business is more flexible, dynamic, and faster.
Example: Faster order processing
Field reps taking orders no longer have to send them via email or for batch processing.
Now, the reps’ order-taking application automatically calls an API that places the order into the sales system immediately – wirelessly from the laptop in the field.
This enables real-time visibility:
- Reps can tell clients exact inventory availability and shipping times
- Instead of saying, “I’ve put in your order and I’ll let you know what’s going to happen.”
By getting real-time data through modern integration, information flows faster – helping speed up business and increase revenue.
If you’d like to know more about our MuleSoft expertise and integrating your systems, email us at solutions@prolifics.com.
To find out more about MDSC’s success, download the full case study.
About Prolifics
Prolifics is a digital engineering and consulting firm helping clients navigate and accelerate their digital transformation journeys.
We deliver relevant outcomes using our systematic approach to rapid, enterprise-grade continuous innovation. We treat our digital deliverables like a customized product – using agile practices to deliver immediate and ongoing increases in value.
We provide consulting, engineering, and managed services for all our practice areas:
- Data & AI
- Integration & Applications
- Business Automation
- DevXOps
- Test Automation
At any point our clients need them.
Email: solutions@prolifics.com
