B2B Integration

Hi All,

One of our customers is having IBM Transformation Extender (ITX), and primarily using it for EDI to EBCDIC Data transformations, HIPAA compliance checks and interaction with Mainframes.

They are contemplating for IBM ITX replacement with IBM Sterling B2B Integrator (SI), since they already have it in their landscape.

Does the IBM SI support conversions EDI to EBCDIC and vice versa, also will it be right replacement for ITX ?

Thanks

Robin Thomas

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Robin Thomas
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Robin,

We use IBM Sterling B2B Integrator in our IBM i environment (also EBCDIC).   The mapper supports ODBC connections both as input and output, so there shouldn't be an issue with EDI to EBCDIC transformations.  We have also written a custom jar file to allow us to use SQL statements back to the database within an extended rule in the mapper.  In addition, SI's business processes have database connector service that allows SQL statements within those processes.

--Phil Catlin

Based on my knowledge, there are a few things you may watch out for.

1. While ITX HIPAA Compliance Check handles HIPAA SNIP level 1 to 7 out of the box, I believe B2Bi can only handle 1 to 2.  Check with your HIPAA person to see which levels they are using.
2. While you can customize level 3 to 7 validation for each/group of Trading Partner in ITX, I am not quite sure how it would be handled by B2Bi.
3. If you happened to have many ITX maps, converting them to SI maps could be time assuming.