Case Study: Integration Solutions for University of Southampton

 

Overview:

SOA Limited was engaged as a consultant by the University of Southampton to architect and implement integration solutions for their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, Agresso, and their Budgeting system, Agresso. The project involved providing support in testing the integrations and deploying them to various environments. Additionally, SOA worked closely with different teams within the organization to address specific integration requirements that required bespoke SOAP calls.

Challenges:

The University of Southampton had a complex IT landscape with multiple systems, and the challenge was to seamlessly integrate their Agresso ERP system with the Budgeting system. Furthermore, there were specific requirements for SOAP calls that were not already implemented in the Unit4 API. The project required a deep understanding of both systems and the ability to collaborate effectively with different teams to fulfill their integration needs.

Solution:

SOA Limited worked closely with the University of Southampton to develop robust integration solutions using BizTalk. The following steps were undertaken to address the specific requirements:

  1. Architecture Design: The SOA team collaborated with stakeholders from the University of Southampton to understand the integration requirements and design a comprehensive architecture. This involved mapping data flows and identifying integration points between Agresso ERP and the Budgeting system.

  2. BizTalk Integration: SOA leveraged BizTalk to implement the integration solutions. They utilized BizTalk’s capabilities to orchestrate and transform data between the systems, ensuring seamless communication and synchronization.

  3. Testing and Deployment: SOA provided support in testing the integrations to ensure data accuracy and system compatibility. They meticulously tested the solutions in different environments, including development, testing, and production. Once the testing phase was completed successfully, the integrations were deployed to the respective environments.

  4. Bespoke SOAP Calls: To address the specific requirement of bespoke SOAP calls that were not supported by the Unit4 API, SOA worked closely with different teams within the University of Southampton. They collaborated effectively to understand the requirements, design the SOAP calls, and integrate them into the overall solution. This involved extensive communication, problem-solving, and iterative development to meet the university’s unique needs.

Results and Benefits:

SOA Limited’s work with the University of Southampton yielded significant results and benefits, including:

  1. Seamless Integration: The integration solutions implemented by SOA ensured smooth and efficient data exchange between the Agresso ERP system and the Budgeting system. This enabled the University of Southampton to have accurate and up-to-date financial information, facilitating better decision-making.

  2. Increased Efficiency: By automating data integration processes, manual efforts were significantly reduced, resulting in increased operational efficiency and time savings for staff members involved in financial management.

  3. Customized Integration: The bespoke SOAP calls implemented by SOA allowed the University of Southampton to fulfill their specific integration requirements that were not supported by the standard Unit4 API. This tailored approach provided the university with the flexibility and functionality they needed to streamline their processes effectively.

  4. Collaborative Partnership:

  5. SOA’s collaborative approach and effective communication with different teams within the University of Southampton fostered a strong partnership. Their ability to understand and address unique requirements ensured a successful outcome for the integration project.

Conclusion:

Through their expertise in BizTalk integration, meticulous testing, and collaboration with the University of Southampton’s teams, SOA Limited successfully implemented integration solutions between Agresso ERP and the Budgeting system. The seamless data exchange and tailored integration approach provided the university with increased efficiency, accurate financial information, and a customized solution that met their specific needs. The collaborative partnership between SOA and the University of Southampton resulted in a successful integration project that delivered tangible benefits to the institution.