The purpose was to enable EDI exchange of shipping, delivery, order, and fulfilment data, ensuring a fluid and uninterrupted experience for online customers for one of the world’s largest manufacturers of golf balls. The company has been a long-standing client of Transalis, utilising their EDI (electronic data interchange) to maintain connectivity with 12 retail trading partners.

Key outcomes at a glance:

This global leader in the golfing sector, employing over 3,000 people. It owns an array of well-known brands, selling top-tier golf equipment, clothing, and accessories worldwide as well as being the world’s largest golf ball manufacturer.

The Senior IT Manager for EMEA headed up the integration project internally. We asked him about the project and his experience working with the integration team at Transalis.

The company wanted to outsource the warehousing and fulfilment of online customer orders in the UK and Europe to two third-party (3PL) logistics companies. This strategic move away from managing their own warehouses and internal fulfilment operations aimed to boost efficiency and reduce costs. The company needed a seamless mechanism to exchange transactional documentation between the 3PL entities and its ERP system to maintain and enhance the customer experience.

To ensure seamless transactional document exchange with the two 3PLs, the company required the integration of all parties’ digital systems via a custom API, enabling EDI messaging in a virtual environment.

The company prides itself on the experience it offers its customers. It was imperative that the move to a 3PL fulfilment model maintained and improved existing processes, thereby protecting customer loyalty in a fiercely competitive market. Particular points of focus were:

Transalis, already a trusted partner of the company, demonstrated outstanding technical capabilities, quality support, and a commitment to delivering projects within a set timeframe and budget. The IT Manager explains, “Our main challenge was ensuring data consistency. Transalis was proactive in identifying and addressing any discrepancies quickly, which allowed the project to progress smoothly and without delays.”

With a proven track record of integrating dozens of clients with 3PL providers, Transalis’ integration team already knew the pitfalls to avoid, ensuring a smooth transition. They provided the company with a comprehensive plan outlining the full process. The integration team engaged with all parties to explain the process and kept the team and the two 3PL partners informed and reassured at every stage.

The business was clear from the outset about what they were looking for and were not disappointed. The IT Manager continues, “We set high expectations for this project, aiming to transition from traditional EDI to a robust API integration. Transalis not only met these high standards but exceeded them. Their implementation team demonstrated exceptional skill and a commitment to transparency that truly set them apart.”

The project began in July 2023 with a 6-month delivery timeframe. It was critical to the business that the project was completed on time, fully tested, and operational by January 2024, in time for the start of the golfing season.

Transalis completed the project in November 2023, two months ahead of schedule and on budget.

“The collaborative spirit of the Transalis team was evident as they worked seamlessly with multiple vendors to drive the project to success. They adeptly handled challenges, maintained alignment with our goals, and ensured smooth coordination across all teams involved, Communication with the Transalis team was consistently clear and concise. They simplified complex processes, facilitating a seamless project flow and timely updates.”

The project has allowed the company to be far more efficient with internal warehouse spacing by integrating products and shipments more effectively. “Before, it was a very manual process, prone to errors.”

The business’ IT Managers says of the experience: “I would absolutely recommend Transalis. Under the leadership of Huw Davies, the Client Services Director, his team has consistently shown a high level of dedication and proficiency. We are already planning to expand our collaboration with them by integrating more 3PL providers.”

Trust Transalis to deliver seamless integration and superior support tailored to your unique needs. Contact us today to discuss how we can support your business and ensure the effortless flow of data and documents across all your supply chain touchpoints.

Book a meeting with one of our integration experts at a time that suits you, or call us on 0845 123 3746 (UK) or +44 1978 369 343 (international callers), or email direct at sales@transalis.com.