Supply chain management
View Patent ↗A system and a method for managing a supply chain are provided. A request for a transaction involving an enterprise and at least one partner in a supply chain is received from an end-user or the partner. Real-time data relevant to the transaction is accessed from an existing partner system. A context for the transaction is generated using the real-time data. The request is processed in the context for the transaction.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, using a computing device, a business request from a first partner;
retrieving, over a network, using the computing device, real-time supply chain data relevant to the business request from a second partner, wherein the real-time supply chain data is retrieved via a coordinator component integrated with a system of the second partner;
generating, using the computing device, a context for the transaction using the real-time supply chain data;
processing, using the computing device, the business request according to business rules associated with the first partner and the context, the business rules defining a workflow comprising a plurality of tasks to be performed by the second partner;
routing, over the network, using the computing device, the plurality of tasks to the coordinator component integrated with a system of the second partner;
receiving, over the network, using the computing device, from the coordinator component integrated with a system of the second partner, a response to the plurality of tasks; and
routing, over the network, the response to the plurality of tasks to a coordinator component integrated with a system of the first partner.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is converted into XML format prior to processing the request according to the business rules associated with the first partner.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the response to the plurality of tasks is converted into XML format prior to transmitting the response to the plurality of tasks to the first partner.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing the context in a network repository associated with a service provider.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is a transaction type selected from the group consisting of: purchase order, service request, installation request, warranty matter and replacement request.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the context comprises the transaction type, an identification of the first partner, an identification of the second partner, a date on which the request was initiated and a date on which the second partner completed the plurality of tasks.
7. A system for managing one or more transactions involving an enterprise and at least one partner in a supply chain, the system comprising:
a database, accessible to at least one computing device, the database operable to store real-time supply chain data relating to the one or more transactions, the database operable to maintain a respective context for each transaction; and
a data access layer, implemented using the at least one computing device, the data access layer operable to provide access to the real-time supply chain data relating to the transactions on existing systems of the enterprise and the partner;
a network domain gateway, implemented using the at least one computing device, the network domain gateway in communication with a network execution component operable to administer the one or more transactions for communication with a partner coordinator component integrated with an existing system of the partner to provide real-time data from an existing system of the partner,
an execution process engine, implemented using the at least one computing device, the execution process engine operable to execute a respective workflow in the context for each transaction using the real-time data, each workflow comprising a plurality of tasks to be performed by the enterprise or the partner in order to fulfill the respective transaction;
a plurality of process manager components, implemented using the at least one computing device, the plurality of process manager components operable to manage the workflows, wherein at least one business object is generated for each workflow;
a plurality of business object managers, implemented using the at least one computing device, the plurality of business object managers operable to manage each business object; and
a policy manager, implemented using the at least one computing device, the policy manager operable to maintain one or more business policies relating to the partner.
8. A computer readable storage media for tangibly storing thereon computer readable instructions for a method comprising:
receiving, using a computing device, a business request from a first partner;
retrieving, over a network, using the computing device, real-time supply chain data relevant to the business request from a second partner, wherein the real-time supply chain data is retrieved via a coordinator component integrated with a system of the second partner;
generating, using the computing device, a context for the transaction using the real-time supply chain data;
processing, using the computing device, the business request according to business rules associated with the first partner and the context, the business rules defining a workflow comprising a plurality of tasks to be performed by the second partner;
routing, over the network, using the computing device, the plurality of tasks to the coordinator component integrated with a system of the second partner;
receiving, over the network, using the computing device, from the coordinator component integrated with a system of the second partner, a response to the plurality of tasks; and
routing, over the network, the response to the plurality of tasks to a coordinator component integrated with a system of the first partner.
9. A system comprising:
at least one processor;
a storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the at least one processor, the program logic comprising:
logic executed by the at least one processor for receiving, from a first partner, a business request from a first partner;
logic executed by the at least one processor for retrieving, over a network real-time supply chain data relevant to the business request from a second partner, wherein the real-time supply chain data is retrieved via a coordinator component integrated with a system of the second partner;
logic executed by the at least one processor for generating a context for the transaction using the real-time supply chain data;
logic executed by the at least one processor for processing the business request according to business rules associated with the first partner and the context, the business rules defining a workflow comprising a plurality of tasks to be performed by the second partner;
logic executed by the at least one processor for routing, over the network, using the computing device, the plurality of tasks to the coordinator component integrated with a system of the second partner;
logic executed by the at least one processor for receiving, over the network, using the computing device, from the coordinator component integrated with a system of the second partner, a response to the plurality of tasks; and
logic executed by the at least one processor for routing, over the network, the response to the plurality of tasks to a coordinator component integrated with a system of the first partner.