ComputerWorld
April 17, 2003

VWR harnesses GridTalk
Scientific supplies distributor VWR International selects GridNode's GridTalk communications software to automate previously batch-based EDI transactions with RosettaNet protocol and processes.
By Tan Ee Sze

Singapore business process automation software provider GridNode has announced the successful completion of RosettaNet-based business processes automation and integration for VWR International, a leading global distributor of scientific supplies. RosettaNet is a global business consortium which is creating an ecommerce framework to align processes in the IT supply chain.

VWR International, a Merck company with worldwide sales of more than US$2.5 billion ($4.35 billion), has a highly diversified business which spans a spectrum of products and services, customer groups and geography. The company offers more than 750,000 products, from more than 5,000 manufacturers, to over 250,000 customers throughout North America and Europe.

VWR's primary customers work in the pharmaceutical, life science, chemical, technology, food processing and consumer product industries, and its affiliates operate in 18 countries.

The company selected GridNode's GridTalk communications software to automate previously batch-based EDI (electronic data interchange) transactions with RosettaNet protocol and processes to gain the benefits of secure, real-time business-to-business process automation.

"Since VWR has thousands of trading partners in a variety of different industries, it is necessary for us to work with flexible and reliable communication technology solutions for our mission-critical internal and external needs," said Mary Ann Donlon, manager of Electronic Integrations, VWR International.

According to Donlon, GridNode deployed the out-of-the-box RosettaNet business automation solution in just three days. Using a highly-optimised, distributed architecture for business-to-business (B2B) integration and collaboration, GridNode's peer-to-peer (P2P), XML-based (extensible markup language) product suite enables supply chain data to be exchanged, synchronised and analysed in real-time via the Internet infrastructure. The company also offers a RosettaNet Basics-compliant solution for enterprises of any size to connect directly to their trading partners.

VWR International is at http://www.vwr.com and GridNode is at http://www.gridnode.com.