Corporate BIP / Odette International Ltd.
Jörg Walther
Histórico da relação entre a empresa e o INESC TEC
In the years 2010 – 2012 Odette was the leading partner in a consortium contracted by the European Commission – DG Enterprise: Assisting SMEs to participate in global digital supply chains in the automotive sector in the Single Market.
INESC TEC was one of the partners in this project. Together we developed standardised, XML based messages for the exchange of business information between partners in the automotive industry (EDI light). Additionally, the project team defined a web service for the practical data exchange and related functions, such as validity checks and archiving. INESC TEC developed the reference implementation of that web service (the auto-gration Connector).
Áreas de Negócio
Odette is a pan-European collaboration and services platform working for the entire automotive network. We bring together supply chain professionals and technology experts to create standards, develop best practice and provide services which support logistics management, e-business communications and engineering data exchange throughout the world. Our mission is to improve the efficiency and enhance the competitiveness of the European automotive industry within the global economy.
Ano em que colaborou com o INESC TEC
Since 2010.
Título do projeto
1. Assisting SMEs to participate in global digital supply chains in the automotive sector in the Single Market commonly known as auto-gration project
2. Since 2012 – Maintenance of the auto-gration connector
Unidade(s) do INESC TEC com que colaborou
Manufacturing Systems Engineering Unit (UESP)
Responsável pelo projeto (INESC TEC)
César Toscano
Testemunho relativo ao Projeto
The auto-gration project was part of an initiative of the European Commission to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in key industries in order to improve their competitive situation on a global market. According to the Commission’s perception, a better integration into digital processes in the supply chain is a key enabler and opens new markets and business opportunities for said SMEs.
In this context, the project team developed a lightweight infrastructure for electronic data interchange (EDI). By deploying modern technologies such as XML syntax, web services and platform independent programming, the proposed solution could be adopted easily by all involved partners, namely the ERP vendors of SMEs, potential interoperability service providers and large business partners.
As part of the project, it was essential not only to define the theoretical basis for such integration, but also to demonstrate the applicability to SMEs in the automotive industry. More than 100 companies were involved in the pilot programme and got connected to their trading partners. It was crucial to provide the tools and means for a practical deployment of the reference architecture in an operational, day-to-day business scenario. The auto-gration connector, developed by the INESC TEC team, was a cornerstone for these pilot implementations. The team members from INESC TEC, led by Mr. Cesar Toscano provided their excellent skills in modern software architecture, security features and rapid program development.
Beside this highly specialised contribution to the project deliverables, we appreciated the overall collaborative approach and numerous contributions of INESC TEC team members to the other packages of the project, such as market analysis, marketing and awareness creation, organisation of the auto-gration conference and user support during and after the project. Based on our good experiences during the project Odette we contracted INESC TEC after the official conclusion to maintain the connector software and to implement new user requirements. Also these activities have been carried out with utmost diligence and quality. We are happy to recommend the team of INESC TEC as a reliable and professional partner in complex development projects such as the one we had the pleasure to cooperate in.
