Darmstadt/Karlsruhe, November 2019 – Making data exchange as simple, secure and flexible as possible for development partners, joint ventures and suppliers – this is the objective that DSC Software AG and PROSTEP AG are now pursuing together. The new OpenDXM GlobalX SAP ECTR integration enables users to exchange native CAD data, drawings and other documents directly from the SAP ECTR user interface via PROSTEP's managed file transfer solution, OpenDXM GlobalX.
The SAP Engineering Control Center, SAP ECTR, developed by DSC is the standard integration platform for authoring tools in SAP and provides a central engineering cockpit for product lifecycle management in SAP. The idea is to use a single system to manage and control all the relevant data, documents and processes throughout the entire product lifecycle. This creates a central repository for product data that is consistent throughout the enterprise from development to logistics and manufacturing through to service. SAP ECTR is thus an ideal collaboration platform and one that is now even more attractive to development partners, joint ventures and suppliers thanks to the new OpenDXM GlobalX SAP ECTR integration.
The web-based data exchange platform OpenDXM GlobalX from PROSTEP, a PLM consulting and software firm, provides users from any department in a company with an easy-to-use interface and ensures maximum security for managed file transfer (MFT) using multilevel data encryption. In addition to web browser interfaces and integration in Microsoft Outlook and Windows Explorer, OpenDXM GlobalX also provides integrations for the PLM systems 3D EXPERIENCE, Teamcenter, Windchill and SAP CAD Desktop – and now also for SAP ECTR.
To initiate a new data exchange operation, users can create a folder directly in the SAP ECTR desktop window and fill it with the desired documents - easily and quickly via drag-and-drop, using the search function, or by selecting, for example, assembly components directly from the SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer. Once the set of data to be sent has been defined, information about the selected documents is sent to the OpenDXM GlobalX PDM wizard so that the send request can be completed. The user can now use the OpenDXM GlobalX PDMwizard to select which contents in the folder are to be shared with which persons. The relevant people are then notified by e-mail that the data has been made available, or the data is delivered to them automatically via Odette File Transfer Protocol (OFTP) in an ENGDAT. This means that even extremely large volumes of data involving multiple gigabytes can be exchanged in encrypted form between companies at any time easily and securely.
"An extremely user-friendly integration for SAP ECTR, which makes exchanging PDM data as easy as sending e-mails, has been developed within the framework of very professional and successful collaboration with DSC," says Udo Hering, head of product management at PROSTEP AG. "We have thus further expanded our comprehensive range of PLM integration services for our customers and with DSC have gained a very important partner in the SAP environment."
Dominik Maier, Senior Vice President Products & Development at DSC Software AG, adds: "The new integration is another step towards expanding SAP ECTR as an integration platform, also in the context of specific data exchange processes. It enables users to quickly and easily exchange defined content with specific target groups and offers a high level of flexibility for effective, up-to-date processes."
