BDX is on the road to profit with IBS integration software

Customer Story

Swedish transportation company BDX uses IBS integration software to communicate, transfer transactions and synchronize processes with its business partners.

BDX offers turnkey solutions in the contracting and transport industries. The company operates over the whole of Sweden, but its major market comprises the Norrbotten and North Västerbotten regions.

BDX was formed in 2003 through the merger of four other transportation companies and now employs 1,200 people. The company is owned by 330 independent entrepreneurs, with a growing revenue at EUR 159 million.

The aim of BDX is to offer its customers cost-effective solutions safely, securely and reliably, regardless of the size of the assignment. BDX should be seen as a new company, dating from 2003 but with a history that stretches back more than half a century.

Vehicle integration

With 1,200 machines and vehicles to run, BDX needed the best software available to manage its business. BDX has been an IBS customer for more than 15 years using IBS financial management software. In addition, BDX has contributed to the development of IBS CockPit, a local transportation management system that gives a company complete control over its vehicles’ location, freight, costs and income.

One of the most important aspects of running a transportation business is the integration of information. Systems integration provides a vital competitive advantage and it has to be affordable, fast to deploy, platform-independent and easy to use, customize or change. BDX found that IBS Integrator is able to handle these requirements and was the perfect solution for the many areas of integration the company needed to address.

IBS integration software makes it possible for BDX to set up an IBS Integrator network. This network enables the company to configure a transaction and message switching system in order to safely communicate, transfer transactions and synchronize processes and databases worldwide. This can involve several companies and partners and include different machines or servers, business systems and databases. The network can be configured, executed and controlled remotely from one single point just by using a normal browser.

SMS server

BDX uses IBS Integrator as an SMS server for sending transport orders/tasks to assigned vehicles, as well as receiving and processing responses from them. At BDX, IBS CockPit triggers IBS Integrator automatically to deliver an SMS with information to a specific vehicle. The vehicle driver has the option of accepting or declining the order, and can also report back when an order has been completed.

“IBS Integrator ensures that our drivers work with accurate real-time data and improved response methods, providing our managers with the best possible information for planning and decision-making,” explains Stefan Mattsson, Systems Manager, BDX.

The integration software communicates directly with the central Telia message control in Sweden, which is responsible for delivering the messages to the respective cell phones. IBS Integrator is used to send messages and listen for incoming messages from Telia. Depending on the originator and contents of a message, an update is automatically transferred back to IBS CockPit. The IBS integration system is also used to send free-text messages to cell phones from inside IBS CockPit.

The communication protocol used with Telia SMS servers is completely written within IBS Integrator and the integration with IBS CockPit is handled through an existing XML interface. “Using IBS Integrator means there is no need for special vehicle communication equipment to handle incoming transport orders - anyone who has a cell phone can receive them,” notes Mattsson.

Easy electronic invoicing

BDX also uses the IBS integration system for creating electronic invoices to Skanska, a global construction services group and major customer. The Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) specification used for the electronic invoices is an implementation by Skanska of the official EDIFACT standard, designed specifically for all EDI-based invoicing necessary for construction services companies.

Invoices are generated in IBS CockPit. IBS Integrator automatically generates and sends the EDI files to Skanska. This means that both BDX and Skanska can process invoices and payments much faster and with less paper work.

Quick reporting distribution

At least 60 IBS Enterprise reports need to be distributed within BDX every month, and IBS has developed a special function to make this easier. This process used to be performed manually by converting the reports to PDF format and manually placing them on a PC server.

The new functionality now enables the PDF converter to name the PDF documents, and IBS Integrator uses this name to find out where they should be placed in the directory structure on the PC server. This automated distribution method, which is easy to use, has saved BDX approximately one full working day per month.

Integration with Lotus Domino

IBS Integrator is used in a data transfer integration solution to update market and sales statistics for BDX’s customers in various Lotus Domino databases. The statistics are gathered from three different companies and merged into one Domino database for easy access to all customer statistics through the BDX intranet. IBS Integrator updates the information automatically every night.

“Our sales statistics are now all in one place and easily accessible via the Internet. The result is instant access, reduced time spent in finding relevant data and the consequential increase in customer service,” comments Mattsson.

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