Integration
TESCO has a significant number of customers that use SAP, and the level of integration required varies from customer to customer.
Meter Manager performs the functions where it is faster and better suited to do the task, and then, via interfaces, propagates the data to SAP.
TESCO has also worked in situation where customers have opted to allow Meter Manager to assume some of the functions previously performed by SAP.
Description
Meter Manager offers multiple “out of the box” methods of integration
- File-based – whether scheduled, or triggered by the arrival of a file
- Web service based – for real-time integration
- TESCO has existing file formats for integration with all major meter manufacturers. These formats support all AMI data elements.
For TESCO’s existing customers, MM already uses web service calls to perform the following SAP functions:
- 101 Goods Receipt when a new device shipment has been received
- 261 to fulfill orders
- 301, 303, 305 to transfer stocked material between meter shops and warehouses
- 309 to change counts by stock number
- 321 to decrement quality inspection count and increment available count for a stock number
- 343 to restock a previously RMA device
- 344 to RMA a stocked device
Meter Manager is an “out-of-the-box” software suite that accommodates client’s needs (different business requirements) through configurations and switches, and not customization.
Integration is accomplished through Meter Manager Touch Points – these are specific places in the application where allowances are made for integration. This code is isolated from the rest of the application, and can be customized for each customer, while the main application is not changed.
Meter Manager can leverage existing interfaces that you already have in place. Many utilities have implemented Meter Manager while reusing existing interfaces to mainframe, SAP, Oracle, and other systems, by having Meter Manager use the exact format of the previous interfaces.