1

WHITE PAPER 2015

Transtream Plug & Play eCommerce Shipping

2

Executive Summary

Notwithstanding middleware vendors’ claims to the contrary, there is no getting around it: systems integration is hard. And integrating cloud apps with other cloud apps, enterprise apps, and local data sources and devices can be even harder. While communication standards have helped facilitate web connectivity and data exchange, integration projects are still inherently complex and time-consuming because integrators need to develop an understanding of how content and business

rules from one system should be represented within the context of another.

Meanwhile, the demand for integration continues to grow. CIOs are being swept up in what Forrester Research calls “the integration tsunami”, and are struggling to incorporate the profusion of web services, APIs, mobile, and SaaS apps that line of business managers want to use to drive revenue, reduce costs, and create competitive advantages. Nowhere is the need for integration more evident than in the dynamic eCommerce market. Merchants are under pressure to provide

consumers with more omni-channel delivery choices.

A new approach is needed.

Whether installed on premise or accessed from a cloud, Transtream multi-carrier management software enables eCommerce retailers to roll out powerful shipping solutions across the enterprise, including warehouses, stores, and websites. Transtream’s “HubCapp” tool can be used to embed rating, shipping, tracking and returns “Widgets” within existing eCommerce websites, SaaS apps, and other HTML

pages as though they were native to the parent app. In minutes, not months.

The result for end users is a seamless user interface that combines the best of both worlds: the richness of eCommerce apps augmented with out-of-the-box, robust

shipping capabilities.

For retail CIOs, HubCapp is not a replacement for middleware, but rather a new, more agile approach for achieving faster results without the expenditure of valuable resources on complex integration projects. For carriers and other logistics solution providers, HubCapp removes real-time connectivity obstacles by making their services more readily available for consumption within eCommerce and enterprise

applications.

3

eCommerce integration strategies lack the agil ity to keep pace with omni-channel shipping demands

CIOs have pursued a variety of strategies to remove the barriers that naturally exist among disparate information silos. Some have invested heavily in large enterprise platforms, using development resources to modify applications to adapt to specific business requirements. Others have adopted a middleware strategy to merge best in class applications. Mainstream middleware tools are very capable of delivering results, but often only after significant investment of time and resources.

Meanwhile, competition drives change faster than long-term integration project durations. The proliferation of SaaS, mobile and web services promising fast time to market advantages entice line of business managers to end run IT, only to then discover that users are unable to access data locked within enterprise applications. New technologies end up competing with enterprise apps as the systems of record, resulting in replicated or unsynchronized data.

It’s only a matter of time before the COO knocks on the CIO’s door, looking for more integration help.

Today, integration rivals security as the primary barrier to cloud services adoption. New Cloud-Based Integration (CBI) platforms enable connectivity between cloud apps, or between clouds and on-premise enterprise systems, or provide integrators with an aggregate view of disparate API feeds. But these tools often require a long learning curve for CBI integrators to develop the expertise necessary to consume cloud API data in a way that delivers the desired result.

For example, an eCommerce merchant may decide to use middleware tools to integrate a cloud-based shipping app with orders aggregated from a variety of eMarketplace API’s (eBay, Amazon, etc.). Connecting to APIs may be relatively straightforward, but the integrator is still faced with a dilemma: either develop order management business rules within the middleware platform, or order management capabilities within the shipping app.

Data connectivity is one thing; translating expertise from two domains into one useful application is another.

Critical Issues: • Long project timelines • Delayed time to benefit • High integration costs • High total costs of ownership • Inefficient user experience • Cloud and enterprise data conflicts

4

But what if you could compose a user interface that could seamlessly embed shipping app UI components within the context of an order management app UI – without having to rebuild either app from the API-ground up? What if you could integrate on-premise enterprise data sources and devices into the same user interface, in real time? The result would be a composite UI, combining the best of all worlds.

Transtream is an industry leading multi-carrier software platform that enables some of the largest shipping operations in the world to ship anywhere, from anywhere, including warehouses, stores, offices, mail centers, or websites. Transtream’s cloud integration technology, called HubCapp, makes it easy to embed Transtream apps (“Widgets”) within eCommerce and other websites, in minutes, not months.

Transtream Widgets represent a more customer-centric, personalized approach to integration

Transtream starts with the end user experience in mind. In addition to providing a powerful API for back-end integration, Transtream provides a front-end integration option. Transtream Widgets “plug and play”, enhancing existing UI’s with rating, shipping, tracking, returns, and other transportation capabilities. This new integration approach enables eCommerce merchants to quickly provide customers with a wide range of delivery choices and visibility.

Transtream Widgets augment HTML pages with content from disparate data sources

Transtream, together with HubCapp connectivity tools, achieves 3 important functions:

5

1) Connect . Transtream is designed to connect and synchronize disparate data sources, including:

• HTML pages: Transtream tools enable designers to identify HTML pages, click on data elements, and then make them available for use within other apps or services.

• Local Data: Transtream connects cloud apps with local databases or pre-built app connectors, in real time, thus eliminating batch upload processes that can leave enterprise systems out of synch.

• Web Services, SaaS APIs: Transtream supports pre-built connectors to popular SaaS apps. HubCapp SDK enables 3rd party developers to create their own connectors with local or cloud end points.

• Peripherals, Devices: Transtream also connects to local devices, including scales, scanners, printers, Webcams, and mobile. Transtream represents a new approach to realizing the Internet of Things.

2) Compose . Transtream composite application tools (“Composer”) enable integrators to create or modify existing Widgets for incorporation within other HTML pages. Composer can configure Widgets to take on the style and branding elements of the parent page, making them operate seamlessly. Composer can also add text, buttons, graphics, and other UI elements to adapt new capabilities to existing UIs.

Composer provides drag and drop tools to create Widgets and map data sources, including parent pages.

3) Orchestrate : HubCapp communication processes are carried out securely, across

enterprise networks or the Internet, in real time, reducing data synchronization issues common to other middleware technologies.

6

Transtream is as powerful in the warehouse as it is in stores and eCommerce websites.

Transtream can be deployed on-premise or accessed from the cloud. Transtream apps and Widgets will run on any desktop or mobile browser. The following use case illustrates how Transtream orchestrates transportation functions across a retailer’s entire enterprise.

Scenario 1: Transtream enhances shopping cart experience

A retailer, Madison Island, wants to reduce shopping cart abandonment by providing several delivery options including (less expensive) delivery to pickup locations for urban customers. The presentation of options needs to be simple and consistent with the retailer’s eCommerce brand.

Transtream rating and delivery options Widget plugs into Madison Island’s Magento eCommerce website and is configured to take on the styling of the shopping cart page. Customers select among convenient delivery locations and complete their checkout process. Transtream saves the delivery address information for shipment processes downstream.

Transtream Widget seamlessly integrates carrier delivery options

7

• Scenario 2: Transtream automates warehouse shipping

Madison Island’s operations manager wants to automate warehouse shipping for UPS, FedEx, and USPS using their existing NetSuite order fulfilment workflow. Madison Island has access to outside consultants with the skills required to execute integrate NetSuite with Transtream APIs, but they realize that the consultants don’t have domain expertise to manage carrier compliance, implement production shipping workflows, or connect to on-premise scales, scanners or thermal label printers. And it would be too time-consuming and expensive.

Instead, they use Transtream to enhance NetSuite’s front-end order fulfilment process with a pre-built shipping Widget. The end user never has to leave the NetSuite process flow. They just click on a button and Transtream Widget accesses order information from a pre-built NetSuite connector, connects to peripherals required to complete the shipment, and then updates the order record with shipping charges and tracking number. For international or hazardous material shipments, Transtream automatically generates compliant forms and reports. An email is automatically sent to the customer.

• Scenario 2: Transtream automates store shipping

Madison Island wants to ensure that it can sell inventory within its stores, provide customers with plenty of fast, flexible delivery options, but still minimize the cost of “free shipping”. They realize that the ability to ship directly from local stores is a way to achieve those objectives.

Transtream integrates with Madison Island’s local POS system and provides a step-by-step shipment processing workflow, carefully guiding less experienced store personnel through carrier rate selection and label production. Transtream is scalable and can provide access via desktop and mobile devices to thousands of stores, globally.

• Scenario 4: Transtream automates customer returns

Madison Island wants to build customer loyalty by making the merchandise returns experience as simple and convenient as possible, while at the same time reducing the burden on customer services.

The retailer’s Web designer IT doesn’t have a lot of experience with reverse logistics processes and needs something that can be easily implemented.

8

Transtream’s return Widget plugs into the customer service area of Madison Island’s eCommerce website. Customers simply log into the website, select their order, and the Transtream returns Widget creates a label and sends a pickup request to the carrier. Customers have the alternative to select a drop off location. A tracking widget provides customers with the ability to track package returns.

Best of all, the returns Widget creates more traffic on Madison Island’s eCommerce website, enhancing SEO and upselling opportunities.

Transtream delivers benefits across the retail enterprise

Retail IT Retail eCommerce

Faster, less expensive project timeline Remove customer adoption obstacles

Robust, streamlined user workflows Real time local data, device integration

Faster time to benefit Maintain control over branded app

Reduce cost of ownership Reduced cost of implementation

Reduced training Reduced training

Ability to change as needs change Faster time to market

Conclusion

To succeed in an increasingly competitive environment, businesses must be able to make best of breed technology help employees work the way they need it to work. Connectivity and agility is key. Transtream multi-carrier management software together with HubCapp connectivity represents a new, more agile integration strategy in support of the customer-centric enterprise.