Bohler-Uddeholm is a leading international specialty steel and materials company and worldwide market leader in tool steel (High Performance Metals Division), bimetal strips, cutting and creasing rules, rule die steel (Precision Strip Division) and blades for gas and steam turbines (Special Forgings Division); worldwide number 2 in high speed steel (High Performance Metals Division) and worldwide number 3 in welding materials (Welding Consumables Division).

Challenges

• Custom integration of SAP for specialized and stylized documents
  
  

• Complex authentication security structure for multi-variant user levels.

• Port to all levels of corporate Web applications: Internet, Intranet, Extranet.

Azavar Delivered Results

• Annual savings exceeding $100,000.

• Leverage existing SAP and data warehouse capabilities for greater cost-saving benefits.

• Successful migration of all customers to portal for self-service data to increase customer service.

Technology

• CSS
• JavaScript
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Microsoft Windows Server
• .NET
• SAP
• SSL
• XML
• XSLT

Solution

BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM functions in a SAP environment, and wanted to be able to direct its customers online to access invoices and steel product certificates. They needed a solution that would integrate with their existing SAP environment, be secure yet accessible.

Azavar™ Technologies created an extranet that integrated seamlessly with the SAP environment while allowing BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM to manage the various security levels. BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM administrators can monitor registration requests while registered customers can quickly and easily access invoices and certificates that pertain only to them. The registration process is also simplified. A request is made using only a customer identification number and a previous invoice number, making it easy for BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM to verify information and grant access.

Successfully streaming sensitive information rather than having it stored on a server was another security feature developed and integrated by Azavar. By streaming information from the SAP environment used by BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM, the risk of server breakdowns and hackers is considerably reduced.

The user interface is simple and matches the branding populated throughout the BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM website. Users can see a list of past invoices, check their certificates and even find technical information, presentations and whitepapers published by BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM that relate to customer products.

Its ease-of-use, security and management ability made it easy for BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM customers to migrate to the extranet. As it is a Web application, customers can access it from anywhere with an Internet connection, which cuts down on the amount of time spent on the phone or exchanging emails to check an invoice or find the right certificate. The solution developed by Azavar saves BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM over $100,000 annually in administrative costs.