REDMOND, Wash., July 15, 2003 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that GLAXIS, the technology solutions unit of PPG Industries, chose to build its electronic hub on Microsoft® BizTalk®
Server, connecting the auto replacement glass (ARG) value chain, which enables a faster and more efficient connection between ARG partners. The solution links retailers, insurance claim administrators, glass distributors and manufacturers to enable them to process insurance claims, check inventory, and send and receive orders. PPG Industries is a manufacturer of a diversified group of products, including original equipment and aftermarket glass for motor vehicles and aircraft. GLAXIS wanted to streamline communication industrywide, so it turned to Microsoft and BizTalk Server to create a fully integrated software solution that would electronically connect ARG partners through their existing software systems.
“Our ARG value chain solution allows partners to send and receive data regardless of how they store it because of BizTalk Server’s support for XML and other standards,”
said Paul Recrosio, sales and marketing manager at GLAXIS.
“By providing the tools to integrate and automate our business, BizTalk Server has enabled ARG partners to quickly connect with each other through our enterprise and without a large capital investment or extensive redesign of business processes. This directly benefits customers because the time spent processing insurance claims has been reduced, and retailers can spend more time focusing on their customers and providing value-added services.”
Historically, much of the communication among retailers, insurance claim administrators, glass distributors and manufacturers was conducted by phone and fax. These manual transactions were very time- and labor-intensive, causing inconvenient process delays. If a customer requested anything beyond the typical scope of work, such as dealer glass or a special tint, the retailer would need special authorization from the insurance company, which often resulted in a delay while the request was processed.
Built on a Microsoft BizTalk Server-based hub, the GLAXIS solution enables partners to use their existing point-of-sale (POS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) or other standard business software to connect once to GLAXIS and, through that connection, communicate directly and securely with preferred business partners, without a large capital investment or process overhaul. BizTalk Server has empowered GLAXIS to integrate more than 150 companies with more than 600 glass shop locations.
“GLAXIS used BizTalk Server to build a solution that enables its ARG customers and trading partners to increase productivity and corporate agility by allowing them to use their current technology to connect to each other,”
said Steven Martin, product manager for BizTalk Server at Microsoft.
“Using IT strategically, GLAXIS has helped the ARG value chain run much more efficiently, which is important in today’s business environment.”
BizTalk Server provides organizations with the core engine, development tools, adapters and vertical accelerators needed to integrate and automate their business. With award-winning schema creation, document mapping and business process automation tools, as well as industry-leading support for standards such as Extensible Markup Language (XML) and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), BizTalk server enables organizations to dramatically reduce the time it takes to integrate applications, both internally and with trading partners.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft and BizTalk are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .
