SBOeConnect 2.6- Preview of Connector Features
SBOeConnect 2.6 is the latest version of SBOeConnect- Magento eCommerce and SAP Business One Integration which is scheduled to be released in Q2 2013. Major Enhancements are upcoming with SBOeConnect 2.6 and this article depicts a glimpse of those enhancements.
In SBOeConnect 2.6, 3 major areas of enhancements are defined, Functional Enhancements, Technical Enhancements and User Interface Enhancements.
Functional Enhancements:
Error Detection, Error Handling and Resync Feature
When integrating 2 disparate systems- eCommerce storefront and SAP Business One ERP, detecting sync errors and rectifying them are vital, specifically for Sales Data as these are related to Financial Aspects of the organization. SBOeConnect 2.6 introduced an all new Error Log Viewer, now all Sync Errors which are generated/occurred mostly because of some data mismatch or missing data, will be added with proper error rectification details in the Error Log file. IT Admins can check the Error Log on daily basis, identify errors, remove those errors based on available error rectification guidelines and then can resync the data through a ‘Force Sync’ button available within the Error Log Viewer.
Improved Log Management and Log Back Up
A comprehensive Sync Log will be maintained which will store all successful data sync activities with date and time. IT Managers can track of all sync processes through these Sync Logs. Monthly/Quarterly basis these sync logs will be backed up and stored in a separate database automatically, to avoid oversized database.
Dashboard
SBOeConnect 2.6 introduces an all new ‘Sync Dashboard’ which will contain all the information about the past synchronization processes done in SBOeConnect. History of all processes executed by SBOeConnect can be viewed from this Dashboard at a glance by the user.
Downloadable Products
Downloadable Type of products are common in Magento hugely used in eRetail Micro verticals like – Selling eBooks, Posters, Songs and Videos, Images, Softwares and Apps, Games, where the products are not shipped rather Downloaded all from the Internet. Just after the successful payment, a download link and License Key (for Software, Games, Apps) are sent to the Consumer.
Downloadable Products can be maintained as Non-Inventory Items in SAP Business One side and SBOeConnect 2.6 fully supports Product and Sales Management of Downloadable Products in the web through SAP Business One.
Sync Limit
Every Business Environment has its own defined Hardware Resources and Internet Bandwidth capability. If we try to sync 1000 records at one time in a SAP Server where the available Primary Memory is 1 GB, the machine may halt.
So to cater an Optimal Sync Performance, SBOeConnect 2.6 introduces a Sync Limit feature. So now as per the Environment available, the Limit of the Automated Sync Process for each Sync Cycle can be defined. So in this way in a moderate server the Sync Limit for each Sync Cycle can be set as 50 whereas in a faster environment it can be set as 500 records.
This ensures 2 benefits:
- An Optimal Performance of the Server Hardware
- Proper Record Processing at the business side, if an organization has the manpower to process 20 Orders in a minute, then the sync limit can be set which suits their capability
UI Enhancement
SBOeConnect 2.6 comes up with numerous UI Enhancements; some of these are listed below:
- New Look and Feel, more user friendly User Interface
- Intuitive Icons
- Tooltips and Help Messages in every section
- Help section consisting User Manual within the Software itself
Technical Enhancement
Enhanced Architecture SOAP Communication for better performance and security
SBOeConnect 2.6 introduces an upgraded technology in the SAP Business One side which provides a way for developers to transact data in batches using SOAP and thereby reduces the overall transaction time for multiple data, leading to much improved performance.
XSLT Custom UDF/Field Mapping:
Business Specific Customizations are exists almost in every eBusiness, in SAP Business One side this is achieved through UDFs (User Defined Fields) and in Magento as Custom Fields/Attributes. So at the time of connector implementation these Custom Field mapping often involve good amount of Customization which was increasing time as well as cost.
SBOeConnect 2.6 introduces all new XSLT concept through which Custom Fields can be rapidly mapped between Magento and SAP Business One without any increase in Implementation Cycle and cost.
