Data loss costs businesses in the U.S. billions of dollars every year — more than 18 billion to be exact. And it’s not an issue that just affects a few.  On an annual basis, more than half of all businesses will lose data. That’s why solutions that prevent data loss are so fundamentally important to ensuring an organization’s future success.

SEEBURGER Managed File Transfer (SEE MFT) for SAP® is the first single, integrated file transfer solution to provide full security, governance and regulatory compliance for the transfer of large or sensitive files.  Not only does SEE MFT for SAP prevent the loss of critical business files and data being transferred in and out of SAP and other applications, it also provides an audit trail that even Hansel and Gretel would envy.

So go ahead and believe.  Because while data loss is as real as it gets — secure, efficient file transfers are now available.  SEE MFT for SAP is your complete solution for files transfer management, and as part of the SEEBURGER Business Integration Suite it’s already optimized for trading partner management and supply chain operations. Learn more today by reading the white paper.

Many of us long for less stressful workdays.  We want things to run smoothly and efficiently.  Yet many CIOs and business users have nagging doubts about how secure company data is.  Forrester found that 81 percent of senior IT managers need heightened file transfer security options.  Our survey about data and file sharing practices at 200 companies also showed that security is the number one concern of CIOs.

Many of the businesses we surveyed were exposed to risk, and compliance with security mandates often fell short.  They often relied on FTP, email and flash drives that lack the policy, governance and tracking capabilities needed for true security.  That brings me to Managed File Transfer (MFT).  Using a holistic approach to data security that takes unique business needs into account, MFT supports the secure transfer of critical business data. It enables:

• Collaboration: Files and data are shared in a system that offers a single view of all file transfer activity.  Users can still “send” files from Outlook, for example, but data is transferred through the system.
• Data sharing: Files can be shared with both internal and external business partners and customers.  Whether human to human, human to system, or system to system, the sharing process is simplified.
• Cost savings: Replacing a tangled web of FTP servers and Web-based services reduces administrative overhead.  Plus, eliminating the need for CDs, flash drives, paper and more really adds up over time.

In our discussions with many best-run companies, we’ve found that MFT is still a pretty new concept that needs explaining.  That’s why we’ve created a simple and straightforward infographic that provides a visual overview of how MFT works.  It also highlights some of our key research findings.  After you check out the infographic, I encourage you to visit our MFT solutions page for access to white papers, videos, case studies and more. It’s time to get your peace of mind back.

Download a pdf of the infographic

The Web. Email. FTP. SFTP. With so many ways to share files these days, it might seem a little redundant to throw another method into the mix. SEEBURGER Managed File Transfer (SEE MFT) for SAP is anything but redundant though. It’s the first comprehensive solution for managing file transfers in and out of SAP to work directly with SAP Netweaver — and it has plenty to offer. Among other things, SEE MFT for SAP:

• Protects data. You decide who gets to access what, and can track files from point A to point B.
• Ensures compliance. Enjoy end-to-end visibility, a full audit trail and built-in policy management.
• Saves money. Now personnel spend time on critical business and IT tasks, not babysitting files.

Don’t delay securing your SAP data. You will reap many benefits by implementing a managed file transfer strategy. Customer service can be easier and more consistent. Compliance can be assured. New partner on-boarding doesn’t have to be a major headache. Want to know how SEEP MFT for SAP can help? Read the recent press release.

Order-to-Cash has been a sore spot for many supply chain companies due to a heavy dependence on manual data entry and paper hard copies. When a lot of orders come in, the process is costly. Recently we sat down with Thomas Ebert, SEEBURGER BU Head, Discrete Industries, to discuss the SEEBURGER Order-to-Cash (OTC) Solution Extension for SAP.

Q.         Order-to-Cash Process – Why is improving or accelerating so important for the success of a business?

A.         Despite the fact we live in a very technical world today, many orders still come in on paper or via email. This creates a lot of work for companies. An Order-to-Cash SAP solution extension helps standardize and automate the process so it won’t matter what kind of orders you receive. This is really important, because traditionally orders require manual checking for missing information and so forth. This requires a lot of resources.

Q.        Order-to-Cash Process – What have you observed about the cost to businesses of inefficiencies in the process?

A.         I’ve seen us cut costs and accelerate the process for the more than 70 percent of incoming sales orders that are still manually entered. With such a high volume, you have a good opportunity to cut these costs and accelerate the process through automation. The SEEBURGER Order-to-Cash SAP Solution enables us to save you time and significantly reduce costs.

Q.         What about Order-to-Cash solutions that operate outside of SAP?

A.         There are some companies that have Order-to-Cash solutions, but none of them do it completely inside SAP like ours does. We see a lot of customers who have run those solutions that now want to consolidate onto one system. With our solution, everything you need is within the SAP system you already use every day. This means also there’s little need for training, because the users are already familiar with SAP.

Q.        What is it like for the user once information goes into SAP?

A.         On the technical side, the user starts one transaction in SAP and completes it on a central screen in SAP. Our solution guides you step by step through the whole Order-to-Cash process. Of course, many business users already know SAP’s usual functions. But SAP has a lot of different work steps and transactions. What we do is provide something like a guided tour.

Q.        So what is the top benefit for IT managers? 

A.         It’s standard software available as an SAP add-on. You can install it within standard SAP without the need for additional third-party software, an industry solution, CPG, or whatever. Once you pay the maintenance fee you’ll always receive updates and future new releases for free.

Q.        What are the benefits for the person who has responsibility for the supply chain business process?

A.         I can’t state enough that the biggest benefit for business users at the end of the day is time and cost reduction. A massive reduction of the manual handling of paper-based orders saves a lot. Also, it’s a nice to be able to say to trading partners and customers “hey, send me your order online, in an email, on paper, etc. It doesn’t matter — I have the solution.” Easy orders make for better business.

The SEEBURGER Order-to-Cash Solution Extension for SAP is a best practice solution that reduces process costs and the time spent processing orders. It provides seamless optimization and transparency of the Order-to-Cash process — from order receipt, to delivery, to invoicing. Visit our SAP extensions solution center to learn more.

SAPInsider Webinar on Consolidating and Modernizing B2B/EDI Applications

An outdated, legacy B2B/EDI system is a tangled web that can really drain resources and hold a company back. Such was the case at Magna International, one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers. It needed an effective way to streamline and more efficiently connect with customers, trading partners, financial institutions and others.

By consolidating and modernizing its B2B and FTP landscape onto a central platform, Magna was able to create greater efficiencies, cut costs and increase its competitive edge. The company now has true operational transparency, and a high level of performance that can grow with the business — as its chosen solution provides tried-and-true best practices and high performance in a user-friendly system.

Watch the free SAPInsider on-demand webinar to learn more about Magna’s journey, and about modernizing and consolidating your own business integration environment. Magna International’s EDI Systems Manager Scott Brunlow, and Dave Sufecool, Director of Solutions Architects at SEEBURGER, will let you in on what you need to know.

The Modernization and Consolidation Webinar is part of the SAPInsider Webinar Series.  Visit our blog for additional information and resources related to Modernization and Consolidation.

SAP is a wonderful supply chain management application. But what good are insight and problem solving capabilities if only your IT department and EDI specialists can access them? A gap in the supply chain management process leads to higher costs, long wait times and customer service problems — the ultimate triad of business problems. You could also be violating SLAs. This means fines, penalties and lost business.

The fact is business departments need insight into the B2B supply chain without having to rely on busy IT resources. With the supply chain management best practice solution, the SEEBURGER B2B/SCM Monitor for SAP, you’ll get:

• Real-time problem resolution: Business users can access information in real-time without taking up the time of an IT or EDI specialist. You’ll be able to provide better customer service, faster.
• Transparency: Business users will also be able to access complete, current insight into transactions progressing through SAP. You’ll see accountability and response times improve.
• Collaboration: Business and IT users now access the same view of transactions with centralized monitoring within SAP. You’ll enjoy faster resolutions, higher quality data and more efficiency.

Read our new white paper today to learn more about these best practices and to take a more in-depth look at the business problem and its solution — SEEBURGER B2B/SCM Monitor for SAP.

It’s the first day of the conference and so far the show has been great. We’ve had excellent and insightful conversations with SAP customers visiting our booth and the reaction to today’s product announcement has been tremendous.  Today, we launched SEEBURGER Managed File Transfer for SAP.  It is a complete MFT solution for SAP NetWeaver and SAP data leakage.  Here are a few highlights:

• SEE MFT for SAP is the first complete tool for file transfers into and out of SAP that uses the power, flexibility and interface of NetWeaver and SAP

• The solution eliminates the need for costly, complex and cobbled-together infrastructure for managed file transfer (such as multiple FTP/SFTP servers or gateway- or application-specific MFT servers) – and the people to manage it
• IT centralizes, simplifies and streamlines the management of all your file transfers
• SEE MFT for SAP provides visibility of file transfers from within SAP for employees, partners, IT staff and administrators

To learn more, visit our web site at www.seeburger.com/managed-file-transfer/see-mft-for-sap or read today’s press announcement.

Sometimes cutting costs just isn’t enough anymore. Case in point, IT has been dealing with the same problem in the same way ever since the economic downturn. You’ve been told to cut costs however you can. As with many challenges that spring out of economic turbulence though, the solution was a little short-sighted. Years later you’re left wondering how to not just continue to cut costs — but actually generate revenue for the business.

It’s time to turn the page in this chapter. It’s time to modernize and consolidate EDI, B2B and file transfer environments onto one platform. Through modernization and consolidation you will be able to deliver a triple whammy of value to the business — lower costs, more revenue and less risk. Put simply, it’s all possible because you will:

• Reduce the number of applications, processes and platforms you’re running
• Replace legacy tools with modern ones on a single platform in an integrated environment
• Improve data  and file security with Managed File Transfer (MFT) automated processes

To learn more about how modernization and consolidation can put a smile on your CEO’s face while making your life easier, download our new white paper, How to Get Ahead of the Competition: Consolidate and Modernize Your B2B and File Transfer Environments.

Outdated B2B systems are holding a number of companies back today, and many don’t even know it. So try this. Imagine a scenario in which you spend 50 percent less than you used to on B2B-related administrative costs, and exchange data with your business partners using built-in enterprise application integration capabilities.

If this is only a fantasy and doesn’t describe your current situation, it’s probably a good time to start thinking about consolidating and modernizing your B2B environment. That’s where our new SAPInsider article can come in handy. It takes a look at the pressures companies with legacy B2B systems often face, the benefits modernization and consolidation projects can provide, and the requirements of a successful project.

Couple the fact a recent study found companies must reprioritize their B2B strategies with the reality that legacy B2B platforms are crippling the companies that use them — and the value of holistic, integrated business platforms becomes more apparent. A successful B2B modernization and consolidation project is the key to remaining competitive in today’s market.

If you’ve ever experienced the pains associated with needing to send sensitive data over an unsecure wireless network – this one is for you. SEEBURGER File Exchange (SEE FX), an award-winning enterprise solution for secure file sharing, is now available as a mobile solution for the iPhone and iPad.

SEE FX Mobile enables auditable, compliant file sharing between business users with enterprise-level protections and management controls. You can share files or folders of any size while protecting them with features like automatic encryption, policy enforcement, file tracking, synchronization and a whole lot more.

And because SEE FX Mobile is part of the SEEBURGER Business Integration Suite, it can be deployed as part of a truly comprehensive solution that combines all B2B processes into a single view. When leveraged with other component of the suite, SEE FX Mobile reduces overhead and streamlines supply chain communications even more.

Now for that special offer we mentioned earlier. We know it’s nice to give new things a try before deciding to buy them, so we’re offering a 30-day free trial of SEE FX and SEE FX Mobile for a limited time. Request your free trial online today and just say no to future unsecure data-related heartburn.

To learn more, read today’s press announcement.