Accelerating global growth with efficient, cost-effective trading partner

Global growth, EDI challenges

For The Master Lock Company, fast-paced global growth means onboarding and transacting with more partners each year. How could the company empower its lean EDI team to manage the rising requirements?

International expansion can be a powerful tool to drive revenues and increase market share — but it also brings challenges. Operating in new geographies often means onboarding significant numbers of additional trading partners, each with its own specific local requirements.

This was the situation facing The Master Lock Company (TMLC), the largest global manufacturer and marketer of padlocks and personal safes. Harnessing both organic growth and strategic acquisitions, the company has launched international operations in new markets across Asia, Central America, and Europe.

Master Lock Company

The Master Lock Company is recognized around the world as an authentic, enduring name in padlocks and security products. Since its founding in 1921, the company has continually set new standards for lock design, application, and performance. Headquartered in Wisconsin, USA, TMLC is the largest global manufacturer and marketer of padlocks and safes.

Migrating EDI to the cloud

Based on its positive experiences with the IBM Sterling Gentran platform, TMLC decided to migrate its EDI platform to IBM Sterling Supply Chain Business Network — a security-rich, cloud-based solution for trading partner integration.

IBM Sterling Supply Chain Business Network is enriched with IBM Sterling Business Transaction Intelligence, which provides cognitive analytics capabilities to help businesses gain deeper insight into EDI processes using visual reports and queries written in natural language.

• [Cost Reduction - Data Management]
  

  Avoids increase in EDI headcount, improving operational cost-effectiveness

• 50% faster onboarding for acquired trading partners helps support business growth