In a dynamic presentation, JD Edwards brought together a panel of seasoned power users to reveal their top tips and tricks for leveraging Orchestrator to achieve daily business objectives. This insightful session covered a range of practical applications, including:
- Integrating Orchestrator into your development process
- Getting quick freight quotes
- Enhancing shop floor control
- Streamlining system integrations and automating processes
Keep reading for exclusive insights from experts with over 30 years of experience using JD Edwards.
Expert Tips & Tricks from the Field
Embedding Orchestrator in Your Infrastructure Strategy
Andy Lopez, Business Analyst Supervisor at Spirax Sarco SXS US, has spent 14 years working with EnterpriseOne, mastering integrations, upgrades, and iSeries infrastructure. His key advice for JD Edwards users is to strategically plan their infrastructure before becoming too reliant on single servers.
Andy points out the importance of evaluating the resiliency of your underlying systems, especially if you use dependencies like:
- Personal Forms
- Advanced Queries
- Form Extensions
- Scheduled Orchestrations
- Integrations
In his experience, having all instances pointing to a single AIS and E1 Web Instance posed a critical vulnerability. A single server failure meant a complete system shutdown, prompting Andy and his team to develop a more robust infrastructure solution.
To dive deeper into Andy’s strategies, watch part one of the INFOCUS presentation: Orchestrator Ignite Sessions.
Getting Fast Freight Quotes with Orchestrator
Carlos Pagotto, a JD Edwards Business Analyst at Geospace Technologies with over 30 years of experience, is a strong advocate for using Freight Broker, a tool powered entirely by Form Extensions and Orchestrator.
He compares Freight Broker to using a flight search engine—one that consolidates the best deals from multiple providers. For Carlos, this tool revolutionizes his workflow by automating the process of finding and comparing freight quotes, optimizing pricing, and improving delivery efficiency—all integrated seamlessly within JDE.
Explore Carlos’s approach in more detail in part two of the INFOCUS presentation, starting at 6:50.
Boosting Shop Floor Control Without Customizations
With 23 years of JD Edwards experience, Melody Bivona at Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corporation shows how Orchestrations can enhance shop floor control without requiring customizations.
Melody’s team replaced an outdated third-party application with a custom solution using Orchestrations and VBCS, streamlining data entry and improving operational visibility across divisions. The agile methodology played a crucial role in their success by breaking down the project into manageable tasks, enabling a smooth implementation in less than three months.
Catch Melody’s insights in part three of the INFOCUS presentation, starting at 12:35.
Mastering System Integrations and Process Automations
Jim Mackowiak, a Senior Distinguished Architect for Edwards Lifesciences and a JD Edwards community member since 1993, has leveraged Orchestrator to support multiple functions, from manufacturing and supply chain to finance. His team’s most notable orchestration automates fixed asset creation from sales orders, significantly streamlining the depreciation process.
Jim emphasizes the importance of setting standards for Orchestrator implementation, including change control, security, and training, to maximize its benefits. Looking ahead, his team plans to automate intercompany billing and further integrate JDE with other systems.
Learn more about Jim’s best practices in part four of the INFOCUS presentation, beginning at 22:58.
Key Takeaways
Orchestrator is fast becoming the go-to technology for JD Edwards users focused on system integration and process automation. By simplifying complex processes, generating REST APIs effortlessly, and minimizing development effort, Orchestrator allows leaders to shift focus from technical limitations to business growth opportunities.
To dive deeper into each of these user stories and tips, watch the full Orchestrator Ignite Sessions presentation.