General Consultant Discussion

 View Only
Back to discussions
Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you recommending for EDI?

  • 1.  Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-15-2021 16:47
    I have a customer who needs EDI.
    Or at least their customer is asking/requiring them to use EDI to receive POs and send confirmations, advance ship, etc...

    I contacted True Commerce and to be kind the sales process has been a bit arduous.
    I'd describe it as largely a series of attempts to "sell the stack" of True Commerce as opposed to meet this customer's EDI requirements.

    The initial contact started off well enough with some advance pricing but now it's a series of meeting and bringing in this person and that person ( reminds me a lot of the Avalara shuffle ).

    Am I just having an off experience or is there a different preferred EDI provider that you have used?

    ------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-15-2021 17:33

    MapaDoc – now owned by SPS Commerce.  I turn everything over to them, and they take care of everything in the EDI world.

     

    Sue Bennett | President

    Bennett/Porter & Associates, Inc.

    P. 503 620 3484 | F. 503 620 2765

    12559 SW 69th Ave | Portland, OR  97223

    Email address | www.benpor.com

    Bennett/Porter Blog | facebook | twitter

     

    The information in this email and any attachments is considered confidential. This information may be subject to legal, professional, or other privilege. It must not be disclosed to any person without our authority. If you are not the intended recipient you are not authorized to and must not disclose, copy, distribute, or retain this message or any part of it. Please return this message to the sender immediately and delete any and all copies from your system.

     

     






  • 3.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 01:37
    Although I do not have clients on Mapadoc, they are who I will use for the future.  As for my clients using True Commerce, the experience and support is not good.

    ------------------------------
    [Michele] [Herzog] [CPA,CITP, CGMA]
    [Overland Park] [KS]
    [816-520-1365]
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 07:09
    When we have a voice in the decision, we recommend SPS . The process is simple and they take control of what is needed for the client to meet their needs.

    ------------------------------
    Madeline Stefanou
    RKL eSolutions, LLC
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 08:46
    Sorry to say we cannot recommend TrueCommerce. We have two implementations ongoing for over one year each and not complete.  It was in NO WAY turnkey. Good job of sales.  Poor job of everything else.

    ------------------------------
    alan niergarth
    Velosio LLC
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 09:13
    I have many clients using Mapadoc and find they are good to work with and efficient. I highly recommend SPS for Mapadoc.

    ------------------------------
    Bruce Kern
    SWK Technologies Inc.
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 09:30
    Edited by Brian Kelly 09-16-2021 09:30
    I am very interested in the responses to this thread.  There was a time when TrueCommerce was outstanding in terms of sales and support.  I remember when they got bought out by Highjump, there was a period where it was a mess, and then it got better again.  At some point, it started going downhill, and it sure seems like implementation and support has fallen off a cliff.  Have we hit bottom yet?

    As for SPS/Mapadoc, we heard from a customer who decided to switch from TrueCommerce that the implementation with SPS has been a disaster.  After months of not being able to get anywhere close to transacting, they have pulled the plug and will stay with TrueCommerce.  This experience makes us hesitant to recommend anyone.

    ------------------------------
    Brian Kelly
    Accounting Systems, Inc. (ASI)
    Columbia SC
    803-454-6262
    http://www.asifocus.com/
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 09:42

    I'm sorry you had that experience, Brian.  We haven't had that many sales of EDI since SWK sold MapaDoc to SPS, but we've worked with Bill Gaustad at SPS for years, and he has always been thorough and very helpful.  (Hopefully that won't change!)  My experience with True Commerce has been very negative (only had one sale with TC, was on the demo with them hearing the promises they made, which they couldn't fulfill when the sale was made).  It is definitely a challenge these days trying to find folks who fully support the enhancements for Sage 100...

     

    Sue Bennett | President

    Bennett/Porter & Associates, Inc.

    P. 503 620 3484 | F. 503 620 2765

    12559 SW 69th Ave | Portland, OR  97223

    Email address | www.benpor.com

    Bennett/Porter Blog | facebook | twitter

     

    The information in this email and any attachments is considered confidential. This information may be subject to legal, professional, or other privilege. It must not be disclosed to any person without our authority. If you are not the intended recipient you are not authorized to and must not disclose, copy, distribute, or retain this message or any part of it. Please return this message to the sender immediately and delete any and all copies from your system.

     

     




    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 09:43
    @Brian Kelly from the 20,000-foot level I feel like True Commerce might have gotten too big in the same way I feel Avalara is getting too big. In my opinion their target customer is the larger corporate finance department though they will come down to the smaller Sage 100 customer level. The experience I've had with Avalara is constantly shifting people and there's no one person who does much to guide the implementation other than to shift you to another person.

    The experience I'm having with True Commerce is that it seems impossible for them to get to the demo without pulling in more people (ala the Avalara shuffle ). Maybe it will get better but for now, I'm concerned because ​after having one or two meetings with TrueCommerce they said they needed a "discovery" call ( which I questioned why now and not at the start ) and then that call lasts all of 5 minutes and they schedule another call to "demo".  I'm not looking forward to the process. 

    We have one trading partner who has asked us to automate PO. We don't have any third-party solutions at all that need to be tiptoed around. On the surface - except for the $$ - this seems about as cookie-cutter as EDI gets. 

    To some extent, I feel blindsided by the experience, and having made the recommendation to the customer I am afraid if there are problems my customer relationship will be at risk.


    ------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 09:34
    I keep suggesting we should be running group surveys asking for this type of feedback as I just got myself knee-deep with TC and probably wouldn't if I had this feedback ( which could all be completely anonymous for all I care ). I have zero idea why we aren't doing it except it seems to be easier just to react to thing than think forward.

    ------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 09:41
    Perhaps quarterly mini-"Meetings of The Minds" online virutal meetings to share the good, bad and ugly of our experiences on these type of topics?  It would have to be consultant members only because we would want to speak freely about all third-party add-ons successes and disasters.  @Anne Sawyer​, add this to your list???

    ------------------------------
    Brian Kelly
    Accounting Systems, Inc. (ASI)
    Columbia SC
    803-454-6262
    http://www.asifocus.com/
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 11:28
    Love this idea - Added!

    ------------------------------
    Anne Sawyer
    Executive Director
    90 Minds, Inc.
    CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 10:06
    Who if the best contact for SPS?

    ------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 10:15

    (previously responded back under wrong thread - doh!) 

    A few years ago... or a couple I'm not sure... I did a presentation on Mapadoc when we were having the Affiliate Insider series. I have always loved SPS (even before they acquired Mapadoc) . When it comes to Sage 100 I will probably always lean towards Mapadoc. In the Acumatica space now, its been a mixed bag with both so when working with Acumatica clients it just comes down to the functionality of the integration and often times just what were the customer's previous experiences (if any). At the end of the day though - I try to get customers to look at both and then let them make the call. I of course give my opinion and experiences as a reference but I leave it up to them to decide so they know what options are out there.

    I always reach out to Bill Gaustad. He usually gets me to the right person but I always start with him.  bgaustad@spscommerce.com (though I haven't reached out to him in a while so not sure of his current role there) 



    ------------------------------
    Nicole Ronchetti
    DSD Business Systems
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 11:26
    I have to agree with the sentiments re True Commerce. There was a time when they were good and the implementations went well. Tech support was readily available and knowledgeable. Now, depending on the issue you may or may not get a timely answer, if an answer at all. The wait time for some issues is intolerable, others are quick, hard to rely on a company like that. I will be looking to Mapadoc for the next install.

    ------------------------------
    Greg Stiles
    S & W Microsystems
    Torrance CA
    310.787.1010
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-16-2021 11:31
    and they keep buying other companies and only getting bigger - with resources more spread out. remind you of any other ISV's?

    ------------------------------
    alan niergarth
    Velosio LLC
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 17.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-17-2021 14:18
    Edited by Moira Goggin 09-17-2021 14:18
    Bill at SPS is still a great contact, for Sage channel, you want to reach out to Matt:

    Matt Wassing

    Sr. Channel Sales Manager - Sage
    Cell: 651.308.7937
    Customer Service: 888.739.3232

    mwwassink@spscommerce.com

    Bill's contact information:

    Manager, Channel Sales
    P/F: 651-400-1373
    C: 612-799-8958

    bgaustad@spscommerce.com

    I echo the sentiments on True Commerce, their support is thin and often delayed. TC sits outside of Sage while MAPADOC is installed inside of Sage and sometimes that's a big enough difference since a consultant can often troubleshoot issues on the Sage side.  This also allows you to gain experience working in the EDI environment and can help identify opportunities to maximum your services and the customer's resources.

    A point to make on "EDI" - what a customer often calls EDI is not always true EDI, sometimes it is a simple flat file exchange or, it could be an API interface.  Take the time to see if a VI job, BOI interface, or something like OrderDesk.com can meet the needs.

    ------------------------------
    Moira Goggin
    Chismet Consulting Corp.
    Long Beach CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 18.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-17-2021 08:46
    Until about 15 years ago, I used to recommend Map-a-Doc exclusively.  I went out to NJ for training, created my own maps, etc.  When I discovered True Commerce would give us a few free maps with the initial purchase and subsequent trading partners were $500 I was sold.  It all seemed easy at first until I had my first bad, very bad experience a couple of years ago.  There's lots of reasons for a bad implementation, and it typically can be boiled down to bad project management and incompetent consultants.  I now show both SPS and TC to my customers.  I have found the upfront cost of SPS to be significantly higher than TC.  We all know that the software cost is just the beginning, so I am just pointing out the difference and I would not make a decision based on the up-front cost alone. 

    Besides the sales rep, there are two True Commerce people that get involved in the implementation: The Implementation Specialist and the Integration Specialist.  If either of these two players are inexperienced or incompetent, you are going to have a struggle.  Here are two good ones I have worked with at TC:

    Tim Francart | Integration Specialist IV,  724.940.5520 opt 7 ext 2029  and Rebecca Bell | Implementation Specialist III, 724.940.5520 ext. 1578
    If you can get these people on your team it might help smooth over the process.



    ------------------------------
    Doug Higgs
    Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
    (312) 315-0960
    Chauffeur, Chef, and Personal Assistant to Sprinkles
    ------------------------------



  • 19.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-17-2021 10:05
    Edited by Doug Higgs 09-17-2021 10:06
    One additional comment regarding True Commerce implementations.  The bad experience I had a couple of years ago was also partially due to my client not doing the homework.  True Commerce asked the end user to watch a series of videos.  The videos was the training.  I believe an experienced trainer should walk through the steps and explain how to use the software in an interactive, live training session.  Asking the customer to review videos when they have a chance is asking for failure.  So, I will add to the list of reasons for a failed implementation: Poor project management, incompetent consultants, and poor user training.

    ------------------------------
    Doug Higgs
    Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
    (312) 315-0960
    Chauffeur, Chef, and Personal Assistant to Sprinkles
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 20.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-17-2021 10:54
    Good point @Doug Higgs.  We have learned the client MUST have an internal champion/project manager and not rely on TrueCommerce or us to fill that roll.  Management needs to allow that to be part of the job description for the internal resource and to focus on this during implementation.  It cannot be added as just something more they need to do on top of their regular duties.  if so, the chances for a successful TrueCommerce implementation would rise dramatically.  ​

    ------------------------------
    alan niergarth
    Velosio LLC
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 21.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 10-04-2021 09:23

    Doug,

    Thank you for  this info.  Very Timely!

     

    Thanks and have a great day,

    Scotia

     

    Description: KBS-645;small

     

    Scotia Saunders, CPA

    VP Business Development

    3132 Commerce Place, Suite A1 | Burlington, NC  27215 | www.teamkbs.com

    P:  336-524-0060 Ext: 100 | F:  877-781-0067 | E:  scotia@teamkbs.com

     

    Notice: This message and any attachments are the property of Keystone Business Solutions and are intended solely for the named recipients or entity to whom this message is addressed. If you have received this message in error please inform the sender via e-mail and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient you are not allowed to use, copy or disclose the contents or attachments in whole or in part.

     

     




    Original Message


  • 22.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-17-2021 13:28
    Sitting in on a True Commerce demo for an Acumatica client today... Kind of frustrating.... I think they missed the point about what the client was even looking to see.  I'm not even really quite sure the purpose of what they are showing. They seem to spend too much time always showing their transaction manager and don't seem to really understand how the ERP works (not uncommon with many integrations). This client was looking to see EDI at the PO level with their vendors, and also receiving in tracking information from their vendors and updating expected delivery dates. They were able to only show a fraction of that process... could only show how POs are sent to vendors. But all the other stuff they can do but just couldn't show it. Then they said that when vendors send tracking information that their integration automatically creates a PO Receipt and releases it. I said "so you bring the inventory in before it actually gets to the warehouse?" and they said "yup thats how all of our customers do it" - which seems absurd to me. And they had no real explanation to how we would handle that effectively. Just makes no sense. Terrible demo. Why would any business receive in inventory before it arrives at the doc? What happens when a vendor ships something and it gets stuck in customs for weeks? I don't understand how they are "supply chain experts" if they can't understand how receiving in goods too early causes a major problem...

    ------------------------------
    Nicole Ronchetti
    DSD Business Systems
    ------------------------------



  • 23.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-22-2021 12:17
    Had a demo with TC today - Greg Bellis did the demo on Sage 100 which I thought went well in terms of providing an overview of Sage/TC integration. The biggest issue seems to be that EDI itself is often cumbersome and the customer had a lot of questions about how they'd do things via EDI which might mirror their manual process of receiving a PDF of the PO.

    I don't think this is a TC issue but more an issue of the specific trading partner and how the mapping for them has been set up/specified.

    ------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ------------------------------



  • 24.  RE: Who are you recommending for EDI?

    Posted 09-22-2021 12:23
    Has anyone done a migration from TC to Mapadoc and if yes, how did that go?

    ------------------------------
    [Michele] [Herzog] [CPA,CITP, CGMA]
    [Overland Park] [KS]
    [816-520-1365]
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


Related Content