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Solution
Global Data
Synchronization
PRODUCTS
Cactus GDS
Accelerator for BizTalk
Server; Commerce
Server; BizTalk Server 2004
INDUSTRY
Retail
“Cactus has proven itself
to be a highly proficient technology
vendor. By achieving global data synchronization
, UWG expects to achieve significant savings in our supplu chain."
Greg Vick
Executive director, supply chain and e-commerce systems, Unified Western Grocers
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Unified Western Grocers deploys
Cactus GDS Accelerator
to improve business efficiency
Company Brief
Unified Western Grocers, Inc. is the largest retailer-owned wholesale grocery
distributor in the Western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries, which
generated approximately $3 billion in sales during fiscal 2004, offer
independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the
supermarket industry. The food wholesaler and cooperative supplies a full line
of groceries, as well as its own bakery and dairy goods. In addition to
name-brand items, its offerings include private labels Cottage Hearth, Golden
Creme, and Western Family. Unified Western Grocers guarantees that food
and general merchandise reach mostly independent grocery stores in nine
western states and several countries in the South Pacific. The co-op also
provides member support services such as store remodeling, financing, and
insurance. The company was formed in 1999 when Certified Grocers of
California merged with United Grocers of Oregon.
Critical Issue
Inaccurate product dimension information is a real problem across the industry
and 5-10% of most items have material errors in this data. In the case of UWG,
inaccurate case and pallet dimension information was creating inefficiencies
in the allocation and use of warehouse and truck space. As a result, UWG was
seeking to drive supply chain efficiencies between its suppliers and
Distribution Centers (DC's) and improve warehouse and transportation
logistics.
Cactus Solution
Cactus worked with Unified in 2003 to develop a certified data synchronization
solution for UCCnet™ (1SYNC) using Microsoft's UCCnet developer toolkit. As
part of an early adopter program, Unified has now upgraded to Cactus GDS
Accelerator for BizTalk Server, allowing the retailer to take advantage of the
software's added features, including a product information (PIM) consolidation
database and use of Web services to enable richer back office integration
capabilities, while keeping up to date with changes to 1SYNC and other data
pools.
Solution Benefits
UWG plans to recognize significant benefits in the elimination of product information errors and driving this clean
information through a single source to derive 'one version of the truth'. This data drives business document
exchange with its TP's (PO's, ASN's, Ship Manifest's, Invoices, etc.); populates their PIM and WMS (Warehouse
Management System) with accurate information and lays the foundation for RFID. Better product category
management was achieved through access to all available itemization while warehouse and transportation logistics
were improved thanks to more accurate case and pallet dimension information for warehouse and truck space
allocation. An added benefit to Unified of deploying Cactus GDS Accelerator is that it puts in place a foundation for
the management of EPCglobal data in future RFID implementations.
Results
Since the implementation, UWG has synchronized with two suppliers: Purina Pet Care and Procter & Gamble (two
huge suppliers with thousands of trade items) and plan to increase that total to 8 within 6 months.
"Through their earlier work with Unified, Cactus has proven itself to be a highly proficient technology vendor, and
making the decision to upgrade to Cactus GDS Accelerator was an easy one," said Greg Vick, Executive director,
supply chain and e-commerce systems, Unified Western Grocers. "By achieving global data synchronization, we
expect to achieve significant savings in our supply chain by reducing data errors and through better integration with
our existing business processes."
UWG is synchronizing several hundreds of trade items and expect to reach several thousands in the next six months.
Cactus GDS Accelerator for BizTalk Server
Cactus GDS Accelerator for BizTalk Server 2004 allows retailers like UWG to quickly and easily connect to 1SYNC
and the GS1 Global Registry, and integrate accurate real-time data into existing management systems, laying the
foundation for successful RFID deployments.
Utilizing the robust integration capabilities of BizTalk® Server 2004, Cactus GDS Accelerator provides a cost-effective
way to quickly connect to 1SYNC and the WWRE and manage communications with trading partners. This solution
can reduce the costs and business impact associated with trading-partner integration for manufacturers and
retailers.
Through consistent, timely updates (in step with each data pool's regular update schedule), Cactus GDS Accelerator
for BizTalk provides retailers with cost-effective way of keeping their collaborative commerce platform up to date.
For more information on Cactus GDS Accelerator for BizTalk, visit:
http://www.cactuscommerce.com/GDS or
http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/evaluation/cactus/default.asp
Who is Cactus Commerce
Cactus Commerce is an e-business software and services provider dedicated to helping
companies bring more efficiency to their complex business processes with integrated B2B
solutions that lay the foundation for the move towards RFID. A Microsoft Gold Certified
Partner, Cactus develops and delivers rapidly deployed, cost-effective and extensible TPI,
GDS and RFID software solutions. Cactus complements its packaged software offerings with
an array of professional services and unique industry expertise, enabling companies to take
full advantage of their existing and future technology investments.
Cactus Commerce
35 Gamelin • Gatineau • QC • Canada • J8Y 1V4
T 819.778.0313 • 888.CACTUS.0 • F 819.778.6008
© 2005 Cactus Commerce Inc. All rights reserved. Cactus Commerce and “e-business. All business.” are trademarks of Cactus Commerce Inc.; Microsoft, Windows, and
BizTalk are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other product and company names herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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