Questions for eSpline

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This is an joint offering from eSpline and our partner Configit Software. It was originally introduced as an Early Adopter program at the Spring CWG conference in Salzburg, Austria May 8, 2007. The program is voluntary and you must be a SAP Variant Configurator user and willing to provide one or more of your configurable product models in order to participate. If an NDA is required we will be happy to review and execute it.

To-date we have tested over 55 SAP VC product models and it is no longer an Early Adopter application. The extraction technology, Avenue from VC, that is a part of SilverMine Plus and Configit's VT Distiller Suite was released to the general public in early 2008.

Why do we need product models? We want to test more of a variety of SAP VC configurable product models. That is where you come in. Allow us to test your product models - the hard ones, the small ones and complex ones - and we will provide you the SAP VC user the results of the test process: a configurator with your product model that operates outside SAP, a XML representation of your product model, an analysis report about your product model, and a hyperlinked documentation of your product model.

You interact with the SilverMine Plus wizard, a program that guides you through the steps of the export of your configurable product model(s) from SAP. The wizard provides you with the necessary instructions and an end-user license, and asks you to login to your SAP system. Then, via a read-only process, for each configurable product (e.g.. KMAT) you specify, SilverMine exports a knowledgebase to an XML file. You may select 1 to 5 KMATs for submission to the SilverMine program.

After selection, your product models are extracted by eSpline's Avenue from VC. Avenue from VC's output is an XML representation of the VC configurator product model. The extraction process will take a little time, longer if you are on a remote network. Smaller models may take a few minutes. Larger models take longer according to size and network speed. For the initial testing, we are not asking for product models with a Bill of Material. That comes later. [If you select a product model with a BOM, we will ignore the child materials, in this program.] Then, we continue the process by taking you to a secure site called FilesAnywhere. You are asked to enter your email address on this site and then upload your extracted models, using a secure transfer protocol.

We take your data security very seriously and will not be using your product models for anything other than testing our process. No third party will have access to them or will we provide access to your product models. If need be, we offer a Non Disclosure Agreement or will review your company's NDA. Once the Beta program is completed, we will delete your product models if you require it.

Once the models are uploaded to a secure portal we are notified that new information has been added. eSpline and Configit Software then take your exported models from the portal nd load the converted model [XML] into VT Distiller Suite where the models are distilled, analyzed and compiled into a configurator that will illustrate the compiled model functioning with the same behavior as your SAP VC. But, the configurator will operate outside SAP on a PC, on a CD or in MS Outlook as an email.

We will notify you when this process is completed and schedule a convenient time with you to review the output of the process in a web session. The output includes your (1) VC product model shown in a Configit configurator operating on the web, (2) a hyperlinked documentation of your model, (3) an XML representation of your product model and (4) reports noting where your product models could be improved.

Then we give you the VT Distiller Suite configurator for you to show others. Run it in Microsoft's OUTLOOK as an email, or run it on the internet. To join SilverMine email us at info@eSpline.com. or go to SilverMine.

Yes, "Avenue from VC" exports the SAP VC Kb. This is one of several software applications that are included in the eSpline product family and it is used for downloading and exporting SAP configurable product data, including materials, characteristics, object dependencies, and all other objects to make these ready for importing into other eSpline products and other partner software applications

"Avenue from VC" performs a series of reads to your SAP Variant Configurator knowledgebase to gather configurable product data and optionally export all the SAP configurable product data/KMATs or simply export a user selected product model. It stores the exported data and makes it available for re-use.

Avenue from VC has many uses for a SAP Customer as well. It can be used to export the SAP VC Knowledgebase so that information can be reused for other customized applications.

Visit us again in the future and you will find additional standard applications that will use this capability.

One example of how "Avenue from VC" is used; by an eSpline partner where it is an embedded, licensed product for Configit Software's "VT Distiller Suite for SAP". Their application receives the exported data of "Avenue from VC" so the Configit application can map, transform and compile the exported VC product model to operate on mobile devices outside of SAP.
Learn More on VT Distiller for SAP from Configit...

Yes, "Avenue Instance2Instance" will export the SAP VC Kb and move the Kb to another SAP instance. It is yet another of the software tools developed by eSpline. It is intended for a company moving SAP Variant Configurator product model data easily and quickly from one SAP instance to another SAP instance. Avenue i2i is still in development. But, watch for its release announcement.

SAP offers two alternatives to this functionality; manually moving all related configurable product model information in the proper sequence. Sequencing is very important. A large product model can take days to move.

Another offering from SAP is the PLM Product Workbench. This software is free and provides the capability to move Variant Configurator data from one instance to another as does ALE. It is an automatic function and reduces the risk to making mistakes. However, it typically requires a seasoned consultant to setup and to operate. There is a cost.

"Avenue Instance2Instance" doesn't take special training and doesn't require a consultant to install . It's a plug and play application with virtually no setup and does not require expensive consulting time to make it work.

No longer do you have to wait hours or even days to move your product model or KMAT to another instance. Whether you want to move configurable product data from a SAP Sandbox to a SAP Test instance or copy it from a SAP Quality Assurance instance to SAP Production, "Avenue Instance2Instance" will move it quickly, completely and then validate that it did right. Read More...

1. Contact Configit Software or eSpline and ask for an evaluation of VT Distiller for SAP

2. You will receive a knowledgebase [SAP VC] export program "Avenue from VC" developed by eSpline and guidelines on how to install and use it. Avenue from VC will read, translate and export your knowledge bases into an open and consolidated XML-representation.

Avenue from VC only needs read access to you SAP environment.

3. We offer a strict confidentiality agreement concerning any data we receive from you as part of the test. It is however sometimes necessary to enter a customer specific non disclosure agreement [Mutual NDA], before we can receive data.

4. The XML-files are zipped and e-mailed to Configit. In rare cases, data may exceed 100 MB (or the maximum size of your outgoing e-mail). In this case, data is either burned to a DVD and shipped to us or uploaded to a secure and password protected customer ftp account, where it can be downloaded by Configit.

5. We compile your product models and generate Virtual Tabulation [VT] files (with default configurators) for your data. The compiler also generates an analysis of your VC specifications and your SAP-VC product models will be available in an open hypertext documentation format.

c. Download the analysis report (which often detects errors, inconsistencies and potential problems in your SAP-VC code)

8. The results are evaluated with Configit Software and eSpline during a web based interactive session targeted to last about 1 hour. The evaluation will identify areas where we see how your company can benefit the most using VT Distiller Suite for SAP.

If you have further interest, we will prepare cost estimates for licenses, integration and implementation services for your scenarios identified during the evaluation.

You make the decision to conduct a three day on-site workshop to fully specify the top priority solution identified under 8 or you choose not to pursue this further.

eSpline consultants have delivered a variety of customized and standard workshops and courses specific to a customer's SAP VC, IPC and Advanced Mode needs.

SAP offers only an introductory course on the Variant Configurator and no courseware oriented to the IPC or Advanced Mode.

We don't require a 6 week commitment because we know that you cannot take your valuable knowledge workers and modelers away from their work for that long a time. We will schedule the workshops to meet you schedules and time commitments. If a person is new to the SAP VC, it will take several weeks effort to go through all the training, but they do not have to be scheduled back-to-back.

We offer SAP customer training on your location. Your employees are not required to travel unless they are coming to your training center from remote or satellite locations. We require a dedicated room for the training and a commitment that the participants will be focused on the training materials. The customer provides the SAP work stations and access to the SAP system.

The eSpline trainer will require access to your SAP system in advance of the sessions and will work with you to select your products to use as examples for modeling. This will require 2 to 3 days of preliminary setup for the workshops.

Workshops are priced according to the course and the number of student days plus our normal travel and out-of-pocket expenses.

Introduction into Variant Configurator modeling concepts, including classification. Hands-on creation and test of a simple single-level VC model. Recommended modeling approaches and techniques.

Follow-up course to the 5-Day Intro VC Modeling Course. Explanation of class hierarchies, their uses and downsides. Advance modeling techniques (constraints, variant tables). Linkages of Variant Configuration to SD/PP business processes.

Introduction of IPC Advanced modeling concepts. Extensive hands-on using a complex modeling example including Advanced Data Types (ADT), multiple instantiation, balancing and aggregation.

Explanation of what is IPC. In what scenarios it is used? There will be a focused, hands-on installation of IPC including creation and download of knowledge bases and pricing, testing, using Java Swing UI. This workshop includes an introduction to best VC modeling practices and discussions of IPC vs. VC differences. Demonstration of IPC JSP UI capabilities including customization.

·5-Day In-depth IPC Technical Workshop

Follow-up workshop to the 3-Day Introduction Workshop. Includes hands-on SAP J2EE server installation, deployment of IPC JSP UI and its customizing. Exercises in simple application flow modifications (new actions). Deployment considerations (monitoring, performance optimizations). Introduction into low-level IPC API's.

If your company has a specific training requirement not covered in our standard offering, please provide us with your specific requirements and we will be happy to help you define and tailor a Customized Training Workshop to meet your needs.

eSpline is one of a very few consulting firms specializing in complex configurable products. It is even more rare for a consulting organization that has deep experience with SAP VC and IPC.

When you attempt to find real live customer installation experience of the Advanced Mode configurator from SAP, there only a select few. eSpline is one of those select few consulting organizations.

We not only offer Advanced Mode Training Workshops, our consultants have been involved in the details of implementing the Advanced Mode version of SAP. We have one of the very few people that was a Project Manager for a very large, very complex product Advanced Mode project. We understand what Advanced Data Types [ADT] are and how to use them and how best to use constraints. If you are looking for expertise and experience for SAP Advanced Mode, you have found the right company, eSpline.

Currently, eSpline offers an SAP VC/IPC oriented software application targeted for SAP Customers. Have you ever used ALE to move configured product model data from one SAP instance to another? Takes a long time doesn't it? Did you do it the right sequence? How long did it take? ALE works, but it takes a long time if you have very complex large product models. It could take days to move and then validate that the information is correct and the same.

But, you say that the SAP PLM Product Workbench does all that too. This is not a well known product and is not commonly known to be available. The Product Workbench is a step above ALE and moves and validates the configured product data. But, there is a setup process that is difficult and not well known, yet. It usually requires a consultant to implement and to execute. Now enter eSpline's Avenue Instance2Instance.

This is designed to be a plug and play application for moving SAP configured product data from one instance to another or from a SAP system to another SAP system. Need to test a product model in production and a consultant is not available? Use Avenue Instance2Intance. Simply log into SAP, enter the specific model or the entire knowledgebase, enter from and to locations and watch it work. It moves data quickly and validates that it moved everything. Think minutes not hours or days to move data. It will save you time and money.

During the next few months there will be additional products here.... Check back with us.

Currently eSpline has two software applications for you and your customers. There are more in the development pipeline as well.

The first is an integration to SAP SD for your quotes and orders. But, you say I have one of these. Maybe so. But, SAP needs lots of information for complex configured products for it to direct how to build and ship product. Does your integration include the options that the customer selected? Does your integration include passing the pricing your configurator or application generated. Will SAP recognize that price as yours?

eSpline offers standard integration software that uses the standard SAP points of entry and also passes in your options or characteristics as SAP calls them. Are the values your customer or sales person entered passed to SAP? Not likely.

If your application is only passing the bare rudimentary data to SAP and there is a problem with how you interpret your product definition and how SAP defines the product, we need to talk. Let us show you have a configured order or quote can be the same in SAP and your application.

The second application downloads the SAP Variant Configurator knowledgebase. This is not just a simple download, it extracts ALL OF THE PRODUCT MODEL DATA and makes it available for re-use. The download includes variant tables, constraints, pre-conditions, object dependencies and any other SAP VC related information. We didn't forget the Bills of Material if you need them.

There are hundreds of SAP VC customers that have a very large investment into their product definitions and models and it is close to impossible to persuade them to alter their course. Let them keep the Variant Configurator and use that valuable product definition in your application when you need it.

eSpline defined and created a fast, robust capability to make the VC information available outside SAP. Contact Us to find out more.

There are many integration points to SAP, but you know that. A very critical integration point is getting your configured order or configured quote to SAP SD or CRM. If you use a product or sales configurator from another configurator supplier other than SAP, you are not likely sending all the characteristics, options, pricing, etc to SAP SD. Many large software middleware companies offer a solution, but not typically pass the characteristics or configured product data.

In order to use your SAP application best, it has to have information that it understands. eSpline can help you map, translate, and import your quote, order, product configuration data to SAP R/3 or ERP2004/2005.

eSpline offers an "Avenue" integration application for configured product orders and quotes created in a third party configurator application. It is tailored for passing configured product data to SAP SD so it understands your third party order and/or quote.

If you are configurator software supplier seeking a tighter, cleaner, more complete integration to the SAP SD for your configured quotes and orders, contact us for how we can help you too.

This is a process where a SAP Variant Configurator or Internet Pricing Configurator customer/user can test in advance a Beta version of eSpline software tools. In order to participate, the SAP customer will likely have a requirement that an eSpline software product/tool might fill or solve a problem. How do you know if we have a fit?

Contact Us either via email or telephone and we will initiate a call back to you with additional details on how the Beta Test Program works.

Basically, the SAP customer or partner expresses a desire to participate and we will require the execution a Mutual Non Disclosure Agreement before any detail discussions can begin. So to shortcut the process....

When executed/signed by authorized parties, we will begin a dialog about issues and requirements. We will ask you some questions about how you are using the SAP VC or SAP IPC [Classic or Advanced Mode]. The questions will be oriented around your product lines, what market do you sell your complex products, how are your product models defined and presented, do you distribute direct, thru distributor or dealers, what do you have implemented, your need for time to market and directed questions on how some of our software might possibly match your needs. What other SAP or configurator software tools are you using? How do you move product model information? How do you document your product definitions? etc.

The goal is to have an open dialog to determine if there is a match. If we both agree there might be a match, then, we will begin to discuss what is in the development schedule and explain the purpose of the software and help you understand the problems we are trying to solve. These conversations would be privileged and confidential.

If there is a match on requirements and still a desire to participate, we will make you aware of what we expect of you during the testing, reveal a targeted time for testing and define how we will manage the process and results. Before we provide the Beta software to you, there will be a requirement to execute a temporary license agreement.

When the software becomes available for the general public or to partners, we will offer your company a discount on the published price. The first 90 days maintenance will also be waived.

You will also have the opportunity to influence the definition of the product. If the software does not fully meet your requirements in its original definition we often are willing to explore a "customized" approach or possibly re-orient the design. A customized or re-direction of the design will have to be funded and we will offer a proposal for that if it is an option for you.

At any point in time, eSpline is involved in one or more SAP VC or IPC projects and often SAP, or existing and previous customers, or our partners or associates encounter new implementation opportunities or extensions to existing implementations. Because of our success in many SAP VC, IPC and Advanced Mode projects, they ask us for assistance in either filling immediate gaps in their projects or ask us to propose on a larger project.

You may not have a need for a company to run your VC or IPC implementation project, but you have a need perhaps for only one person with very specific and specialty experience. It has taken you a month to get it approved and now you need them to start next Monday.

You smile only because you know that is how it works, but it happens and we have had many calls asking if we can provide resources on short notice. In most cases, we can find you a resource.

That resource may not be on your door step in two days because most of our own resources are on a project and you know it takes time to get through legal departments with contracts or Statements of Work. However, part of eSpline's business is to supply consulting resources for long term as well as short term needs of SAP customers. We pride ourselves on finding an appropriate resource to fill your requirement.

If we don't have a eSpline resource available immediately, we do have access to other knowledgeable SAP VC and IPC consultants in North America and Europe. These are known resources that we have experience with and we know their capabilities and skills. We know that they speak the right language and can communicate well with your Project Team Lead. We know what they are capable of doing for your company and will provide only a resource that we believe will be right for your needs. The next time you have a need for a resource on a moment's notice call us.

Ideally, keep us in mind for your next staffing requirement and collaborate on skills needed and timing and we will be able to serve you better.

eSpline is always looking for experienced SAP VC and IPC skills. Submit your resume of skills including SAP project experience, we will contact you to discuss how you would like to participate. We look forward to seeing your credentials.

Attach your information and send it to us using the email address on the left....

eSpline implements the Configit Software "VT Distiller Suite for SAP" and is seeking CVs and resumes from skilled resources to assist in future implementation projects for Configit's software.

eSpline is a software developer and consulting organization that focuses on Configuration software solutions. Our expertise will also lead us to working with additional configuration solution providers especially where the ultimate customer has SAP for their ERP application.

We are planning to expand our implementation practices to include others as opportunities and partnerships arise. Several are in process. If you have customer experience with other applications please submit a CV or resume' with your experience, how you participated in the projects and how you believe you can contribute those skills to eSpline.

If you have focused implementation expertise with a known configurator solution provider and believe you could help us leverage new practice areas, we invite you to first submit your relevant information for our review. Attach your information and send it to us using the email address on the left....

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