Transforming Shipping Operations With Oracle APEX at Nidec Leroy-Somer

The Overview

Services: Oracle APEX Development 

Solutions: EBS Extension , ERP Extensions, Legacy Modernization

Industry: Manufacturing

This manufacturing company, Nidec Leroy-Somer, a leading producer of motors, drives, and generators, sought to modernize its shipping operations. As part of a broader effort to upgrade its manufacturing processes, the company implemented the Manufacturing Model within Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS). It was then that they encountered several operational gaps. One significant gap was their reliance on a 25-year-old Delphi-based application for logistics and shipping, which led to delays, inefficiencies, and a lack of real-time data.

In collaboration with Talan (formerly Insum), they used Oracle APEX to modernize and streamline their shipping interface within Oracle EBS, greatly improving overall operational efficiency.

Partners Helping Partners

In 2020, Talan successfully collaborated with a partner (Kato Engineering) of this manufacturing group (Nidec) in Mankato, Minnesota, where they installed Oracle APEX and Handshake for EBS, a Talan-developed integration tool between Oracle EBS and Oracle APEX.

This project laid the foundation for future work, as it was through this partnership that Leroy-Somer’s program manager was introduced to the Talan team.

By leveraging the existing Oracle tools, the company realized they had the right technology at their fingertips—they just needed the right expertise to fully implement and customize it. Talan provided the guidance and support necessary to unlock the full potential of their Oracle EBS system and Oracle APEX platform, helping to streamline their shipping operations efficiently.

The Challenge

idec Leroy-Somer faced several critical challenges with its legacy shipping and logistics application:

• Legacy System Inefficiencies: The outdated Delphi-based system caused delays in shipment processing, lacked real-time data, and required manual intervention for many tasks.
• Manual Processes: The shipping process relied heavily on manual input, leading to errors, inefficiencies, and increased processing time.
• Limited Visibility: Without real-time data and centralized management, Nidec Leroy-Somer struggled with tracking shipments and validating processes across geographically dispersed locations.
• Lack of Standardization: Different teams managed shipping requests in varied ways, resulting in inconsistent workflows.

The Solution

Talan developed a custom Oracle APEX solution integrated with the company’s existing Oracle EBS system to address the challenges. Key elements of the solution included:

• Oracle APEX Development: Replaced the legacy Delphi application with a modern Oracle APEX-based shipping interface that seamlessly integrates with Oracle EBS.
• Customizable Workflows: Introduced customizable workflows, allowing the company to standardize shipping requests, validation processes, and documentation.
• Real-Time Data Access: Enabled real-time shipping data tracking, allowing stakeholders to monitor and validate shipments more efficiently.
• User-Friendly Interface: Delivered a simplified and user-friendly interface that reduced manual errors and improved the user experience.
• Full Integration With Security Compliance: Ensured complete integration between Oracle EBS and Oracle APEX with robust data protection and compliance.

The Technology Used

This solution leveraged Oracle APEX integrated with Oracle EBS to modernize Nidec Leroy-Somer’s shipping interface. APEX, Oracle’s low-code development platform, enabled the rapid development and deployment of the new system, while Oracle EBS provided a robust foundation for managing business processes.

The integration ensured real-time data flow and streamlined operations, reducing manual intervention. Oracle APEX’s flexible customization and user-friendly interface allowed the company to enhance workflow efficiency while maintaining strong security and compliance standards.

The Results

The implementation of the Oracle APEX shipping interface led to significant improvements in Nidec Leroy-Somer’s shipping operations:

• Reduced Processing Time: Shipment processing times dropped from several minutes to seconds.
• Improved Efficiency: Real-time data access and automated workflows streamlined operations.
• Higher User Satisfaction: Manual workload was reduced, delays were eliminated, and team feedback was highly positive.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Ongoing collaboration ensured the project was delivered on time and met evolving needs.

“The Talan (Insum) team did an outstanding job supporting us with what initially seemed like a small improvement, but ultimately led to a significant transformation within our company.”
— Rahul Chaudhary, IT Transformation Program Manager, Nidec Leroy-Somer

Future Opportunities

The project’s success with Oracle APEX has opened the door for further enhancements. Nidec Leroy-Somer is now exploring additional opportunities to use APEX to simplify other complex processes within Oracle EBS, driving continued operational improvements and business growth.