Praxis as a Systems Integrator

Any automated process solution must integrate with other business systems, and Praxis™ is no exception. Praxis interacts with a number of disparate IT systems, acting as a backbone or glue between the systems using standards such as Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), Web Services and Commerce XML (cXML).

By interfacing with IT systems, Praxis can perform the following functions:

• Automated receipt of order requests and list files from advertising agencies;
  
  
• Automated receipt of EDI/XML order requests and digital assets;
  
  
• Automated receipt of partner portal order files;
  
  
• Automated receipt of order requests from clients using CRM/ERP systems;
  
  
• Integration with hybrid portal/procurement systems;
  
  
• Integration with inventory systems;
  
  
• Integration with shipping and distribution systems to provide shipping information, tracking numbers and arrival information;
  
  
• Integration with invoicing systems;
  
  
• Integration with CASS/NCOA/IMB U.S. Postal Service certification systems;
  
  
• Integration with third party shipping/manifest systems.
  
  

Despite the broad capability of the Praxis architecture, ODT realizes that there are many instances when other systems can adequately perform certain tasks and it is not necessary to reinvent the wheel. In such cases, Praxis can make cross-platform (i.e. UNIX, Windows, Vendor Services) calls via its “callRemoteService Action” to trigger another system to perform an operation. Praxis can then take the result of that operation and continue the automated process. Interfacing with other systems in this manner expands the potential for automating a wide variety of processes in an organization. And the modular structure of Praxis means it is extensible and scalable (will grow as your business grows) without massive investment.