Smiltenes Piens: Integrated EDI Brings Efficiency and Savings

In 2017, Smiltenes Piens, a leading dairy producer, sought a more efficient way to manage growing order volumes. Processing over 3,300 orders monthly, their manual processes were unsustainable and required 3-4 staff to handle tasks like entering orders and invoices. To modernize, they adopted the Horizon ERP system and began looking for a fully integrated EDI solution.

The Need for a Better EDI System

Before 2017, Smiltenes Piens relied on a Web-EDI system that lacked integration with their ERP. While some larger clients sent EDI orders, the company still had to manually transfer these into their system. This process undermined the efficiency gains expected from using EDI.

“Large clients like Rimi and Maxima often placed substantial orders, sometimes containing over 50 different products,” explains Ilze Ābele, the company’s EDI coordinator. “Handling such complex orders manually came with a high risk of human error. We needed a solution that could seamlessly integrate with our Horizon ERP.”

Recognizing these challenges, the company realized the need for a modern EDI solution that was both cost-effective and fully integrated with Horizon, enabling them to streamline operations and reduce manual work.

Telema EDI: The Recommended Solution

As Smiltenes Piens explored options for a new EDI provider, their ERP support company, RGP SIA, strongly recommended Telema. As a Certified Partner of Telema, RGP endorsed the Telema EDI Supplier solution for its seamless integration with Horizon, cost-effectiveness, and robust functionality.

“The recommendation from our ERP partner RGP SIA made the decision much easier,” recalls Ilze. “We needed a solution that would completely eliminate manual data entry while integrating effortlessly into our new ERP system. Telema ticked all the boxes.”

A Smooth Implementation Process

Once the decision was made, the implementation of Telema EDI Supplier proved to be quick and straightforward.

“Telema’s team provided clear and detailed communication right from the start,” says Ilze. “They guided us through the process step-by-step, and any issues we encountered were promptly resolved. Their professional support made the implementation far simpler and faster than we had anticipated.”

Within a short period, Smiltenes Piens had a fully automated system in place that processed all four primary trade documents: orders, invoices, delivery notes (DESADV), and receipt advices (RECADV).

Measurable Benefits: Time Saved, Costs Reduced

Since implementing Telema EDI Supplier, Smiltenes Piens has achieved a substantial reduction in manual work, saving over 150 hours of labor each month. This improvement translates into direct cost savings of more than €1,200 monthly, allowing the company to operate more efficiently. Currently, the Telema EDI system handles approximately 500 documents each month, with plans to expand the scope of its usage in the near future.

“We’re now able to process a significantly higher volume of orders with fewer people,” Ilze explains. “This efficiency has freed up valuable resources, enabling us to focus our attention on more critical tasks that drive growth and innovation for the business.”

In the Future More Partners via EDI

Smiltenes Piens has set clear goals for the future: they plan to onboard at least 5-10 more trading partners to EDI in the coming year, increasing their EDI usage to 20% of their total document volume. With Telema EDI Supplier solution in place, they are confident that scaling their operations will be smooth and efficient.

Why Telema?

When asked to sum up Telema in three words, Ilze says, “Simple, fast, professional.” For Smiltenes Piens, the benefits extend beyond automated integration. The company has also appreciated the overall ease of working with Telema. The system’s simplicity, the speed of document processing, and the professionalism of Telema’s team have all played a key role in their success.

“Telema’s Certified Partner Program was critical in helping us quickly integrate with the Horizon ERP system,” Ilze explains. “We would highly recommend Telema’s integrated EDI solution and could never imagine returning to Web-EDI. The integrated solution has drastically reduced manual work, improved data accuracy, and saved us both time and money.”

Find your EDI partner

Smiltenes Piens’s experience with Telema highlights the importance of selecting an EDI solution that integrates seamlessly with your existing ERP systems. By partnering with Telema, Smiltenes Piens have automated a large part of their order processing, significantly reduced costs, and improved overall efficiency. This has positioned them well for future growth and streamlined their operations for long-term success.

About Smiltenes Piens

Smiltenes Piens is a dairy company founded in 1881 and based in Latvia. With traditions and skills developed and improved for more than a century, the company has become one of the leaders of the milk processing industry in Latvia. Smiltenes Piens uses Horizon as their ERP software. With 138 employees, their turnover in 2023 was 27 million euros. They use Telema EDISupplier solution to receive orders and send invoices with 25 trading partners and 78 delivery points.

If you’re looking for an EDI solution that can streamline your operations and integrate seamlessly with your ERP, Telema is the partner for you. Let us help you transform your processes with EDI.