Platform Management

The Platform component in the Pricefx architecture is the implementation of the four basic tiers of the Pricefx solution, in this case the Platform Management layer. The role of the Platform is to provide the environment for integration of data from 3rd party systems and the sharing of that data across all Pricefx capabilities.

Platform Management illustrates a data environment shared across Pricefx capabilities, including data integration interfaces with 3rd party systems. These are its key objectives:

• Provides capability to migrate key pricing data from customer’s environment into Pricefx.

• Allows connections to wide array of customer data structures through Integration Manager.

• PLATFORM tier provides capability managing and scheduling inbound and outbound integrations.

• Can automate importation of product, customer, transaction and pricing data from SAP, CRM, custom data platforms.

• Utilize Data Readiness Methodology to ensure consistent level of high-quality data.

Key Components of Platform Management

The key components in Platform Management are the Marketplace, Administrative Console and a complete set of Integration Options.

• Marketplace:

  • Pricefx Accelerators: Pre-built solutions to speed up the implementation and use of Pricefx.

  • Pricefx Integration Templates: Templates to facilitate integration with Pricefx.

  • Partner Apps, Extensions: Additional apps and extensions provided by partners to enhance the functionality of Pricefx.

• Admin Console:

  • Partition Management: Tools for managing different partitions within the Pricefx environment.

  • Integration Management: Features for managing integrations with other systems.

  • Core Release Management: Tools for managing core software releases.

  • Data Loading and Mapping: Tools for loading and mapping data within the platform.

• Integration Options:

  • Integration Manager: A tool for managing various integrations.

  • SAP BTP Integration Suite (iPaaS): Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) provided by SAP Business Technology Platform.

  • Boomi iPaaS: Integration Platform as a Service provided by Boomi.

  • REST API: RESTful API for integrating with other systems.

  • Frontend (iFrame) API: API for integrating frontend components using iFrames.

Key Insights of Platform Management

1. Comprehensive Management Tools: The platform offers a wide range of tools and features to manage various aspects of the Pricefx environment, ensuring flexibility and control for administrators.

2. Integration Capabilities: Emphasis on integration options indicates the platform's capability to connect with various external systems, enhancing its usability and functionality.

3. Marketplace and Extensions: Availability of accelerators, templates, and partner extensions suggests a robust ecosystem designed to extend the core functionalities of Pricefx.

Data Readiness Methodology

Prior to performing any data migration tasks, it is recommended that the Data Readiness Methodology be used to ensure correct and high-quality data is being imported into Pricefx. The DRM process is a proactice and prescriptive approach for ensuring consistent data quality.

• PROVEN process for providing clean, consistent and quality data.

• ENGAGE customers prior to project kickoff to complete key project pillar for data success

• MINIMIZE configuration delays resulting from unavailable, inconstant or incomplete data.

• ATTAIN key goals of data identification, data quality and data availability

Inbound Processing

Pricefx Platform component has the ability to import data from a wide variety of different source environment (SAP, Salesforce, CRM packages and custom applications) via extracted data stored in CSV files. These inbound processes can be quickly created using the Pricefx IntegrationManager product.

Outbound Processing

Pricefx Platform component has the ability to export data from a wide variety of different source structures in the Pricefx data model through the creation of CSV files. These files can be created using IntegrationManager templates. These IM templates allow us to quickly create a wide variety of data exports.

Scheduling

Using the Pricefx Platform component, we have the capability to define flexible scheduling on when our inbound or outbound data migration processes will be executed. After creating either inbound or outbound processes we can use the embedded CRON scheduler.

Data Migration Tools

Within the Platform component, there are three (3) major tools that provide the capability for inbound and outbound data migration:

IntegrationManager, that uses IM Templates to build inbound and outbound migrations using a low-code approach.

Boomi Adapter that uses Dell Boomi platform to connect to an application and perform inbound and outbound data integration through the use of a Pricefx adapter.

SAP Integration Suite that uses a Pricefx Adapter to integrate cloud or on-premise applications and execute inbound and outbound data integrations from SAP data structures.