Six million EDI transactions processed in 2023 with Famous Integration Services

In today's fiercely competitive and rapidly evolving market, enterprises are in constant pursuit of strategies to enhance efficiency and deliver unparalleled service to their customers. Enter Famous Integration Services, Famous Software’s robust EDI solution that has transformed the landscape of the fresh produce industry.

“When discussing our Famous Integration Services with current or prospective clients, their initial disbelief soon turns to awe. The reality is, we have dedicated nearly five decades to the development of a powerful technological framework, comprising products and services designed to streamline and automate labor-intensive tasks,” Heather Hammack, president of Famous Software said. “Famous Integration Services is an exceptional tool that allows users to seamlessly trade directly with customers and suppliers. And when we say seamless, we mean it. No order reentry, no re-keying information, everything flows directly into Famous ERP and then back to the customer.”

As the leading technology solutions provider in the fresh produce industry, Famous Software spent years developing this complicated EDI tool. Kirk Parrish, managing partner, underscores the meticulous effort involved: “Each piece of the puzzle is critical and unique. Costco’s requirements are different from Kroger’s, which are different from U.S. Foodservice or Amazon Fresh. We spent countless hours creating the infrastructure for this product to make sure that it functions well and allows for the flexibility needed in this industry.”

In 2023 alone, Famous Software processed 6 million transactions between customers and the over 70 trading partners within the FIS universe. Those numbers are likely to be even higher in 2024.

“An EDI tool like FIS can be a game changer. Communication is faster, clerical errors are reduced, invoices are processed more efficiently, order and product tracking are improved, manual paperwork is eliminated, and labor hours are reduced,” Hammack said.

Famous Integration Services operates by directly linking trading partners through the powerful FIS server, underpinned by advanced Oracle technology. Once transactions are processed, they are seamlessly routed to the relevant supplier or customer. Orders are automatically imported into Famous ERP, where they undergo confirmation by the recipient. The originator then receives this confirmation and can implement any necessary changes or adjustments. If modifications are required, the near real-time connection between systems, powered by the FIS server, facilitates swift and efficient adjustments.

With FSMA 204 right around the corner, many enterprises are looking for ways to streamline communication with trading partners. Hammack further describes FIS’ traceability benefits: “through this tool, customers can seamlessly pass traceability data.” FIS sends Advanced Shipping Notifications once orders are shipped so that full traceability can be maintained.

“Traceability has long been a cornerstone of Famous ERP,” Hammack said. “We invested heavily in enhancing our portfolio when the Produce Traceability Initiative was created and then expanded when Walmart announced their own blockchain-enabled initiative.” Built on the FIS platform, Famous worked closely with IBM to create an easy-to-implement solution to meet this emerging need.

“FIS efficiency is particularly exceptional with Famous-to-Famous transactions,” Hammack said. “The fresh produce supply chain requires additional traceability, and that data needs to be transferred electronically, in real time, with full traceability. We have the right tools in place to facilitate that data transfer with minimal effort required by the users.”

Famous Integration Services, established over 20 years ago, has adapted to meet customer and industry demands. Hammack said, “Our nearly 50-year presence in this business shows our industry knowledge and adaptability. We saw a need for an EDI solution for our customers and we built it from scratch to meet that need. We have always held an unbridled commitment to our customers’ success and this tool demonstrates that commitment.”