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Winshuttle

Score7.1 out of 10

60 Reviews and Ratings

What is Winshuttle?

Winshuttle is an SAP-focused data management and robotic process automation platform. It is designed to enable the building and adaptation of Excel and SharePoint-based interactive forms and workflows for SAP without programming.

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Winshuttle Studio users can develop scripts and update records in SAP in 3 simple steps - Record, Map and Run.

A fine tool for SAP batch input operations

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We have been using Wnshuttle for SAP Process Automation in different Departments including Finance, Logistics, Customer care among others. We use it for bstch input operations. It helps also with data quality control and avoids the development of customized Z Programs to keep using the standard SAP Transactions which ultimately eases SAP system upgrades.

Pros

  • Batch input operations
  • Generates a detailed report of the records updated
  • Robot Process Automation

Cons

  • Limited functionality for some SAP transactions involving data grids.
  • Works only for SAP Gui Client, not for SAP web UI like SAP CRM.
  • Could offer concurrent licenses

Most Important Features

  • Batch input operations
  • Query tools for reporting
  • Attended Robot Process Automation

Return on Investment

  • FTE improvements
  • Data Quality improvements
  • Timely operations

Alternatives Considered

UiPath Enterprise RPA Platform

Other Software Used

UiPath Enterprise RPA Platform

Winshuttle, You have to test

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

The user interface which means GUI is too easy to use. Many user-friendly scripting features reduce the need to write complex scripts. Editing the script is also very easy and too simple like a piece of cake. And we use it for SAP Finance automation. Winshuttle application feasibility with other applications is too good.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • User Friendly
  • Automation

Cons

  • Parallel excel jobs
  • Debug

Most Important Features

  • Easy to use
  • Automation
  • Flexibility

Return on Investment

  • Debug option should be improved

Alternatives Considered

Red Hat Decision Manager (formerly JBoss BRMS), IBM Business Automation Workflow and SAP Business Warehouse (SAP BW) (formerly SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse)

Other Software Used

Red Hat Decision Manager (formerly JBoss BRMS), IBM Business Automation Workflow, SAP Business Warehouse (SAP BW) (formerly SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse)

Usability

WinShuttle Love

Pros

  • User friendly for non-IT to use.
  • Log all positive and negative messages within a load.
  • Saves a lot of time when creating and updating data in SAP.

Cons

  • Cannot use Excel when WinShuttle is in use.

Return on Investment

  • The ROI that WinShuttle has is great - you save a lot of time and money when you are using WinShuttle.

What we "WIN" with Winshuttle Studio for Salesforce

Pros

  • Reshuffling of assets depending on the business situation. Winshuttle enables an easy query, overwriting and push back of data into the live system.
  • Clear message when the upload has failed.
  • Transparent KPI reports and dashboards.

Cons

  • Searching for duplicates in the live system - missing functionality.
  • Performing updates on more than 2 layers on the system.
  • Condition builder limitation of characters.
  • TXT format pulled to the condition builder instead of Excel.

Return on Investment

  • I have no insight in the business impact of using the tool.

Winshuttle is great for what you know you need it for, but it is 'Fantastic' for what you DID NOT know you needed it for.

Pros

  • One of the issues solved with Winshuttle Transaction; we receive a very large expense file with over 100,000 lines that used to take 2 to 3 days to input manually into SAP. This process now takes minutes. And the issue with SAP's restriction of 999 lines per posting is dealt with by having a second script linked scripts to continue to on with the data to post within the 999 limitations of SAP. This saves our accounts payable person time and wear and tear on their hands.
  • Another excellent use of Winshuttle products is using Winshuttle Query, in the area of audit/monitoring of data. When making a sale via a credit card, we can only accept USD. There have been some issues where the person taking the order and doing the charge will accept it in Canadian currency, and this has caused some accounting issues. So to watch that this does not happen, I set up a query to 'watch' a particular field in that process and if that equal field CAD then sends a message. The "CAD CHECK" Query is a little process, but it helps to save time at the end of the line, during close. A small problem solved.
  • Now for the large application using Query; the need for SAP data into Excel format was a very large 'pain' issue. The way to get the proper data from SAP into a place where it could be pulled into a formatted template was what was requested by the business owners. I built an SQL Database Tables and Views based on tables and particular fields from SAP. I then created the Winshuttle Queries that would pull the data nightly into files that would then be pulled into the SQL database. This data would then be pulled forward into the front end reporting tool. Winshuttle is helpful for the business user because they did not have to cut and paste all their data from their SAP Report Writer reports into their Excel files
  • We use Winshuttle products in various departments - Finance, Controlling, Accounts Payable, Customer Service, Product Costing to mention a few. One of the other ways that I use the product is to support the business with a very large ad-hoc process. The QM department needs to unblock orders for use. Updating Purchase Price 1. There are many ways to use Winshuttle products. My motto for Winshuttle products is: "Winshuttle is great for what you know you need it for, but it is 'Fantastic' for what you DID NOT know you needed it for. Winshuttle is like the insurance policy of data control. You have to get this product! Because you don't know everything you need this product for but when you own it you will find out!"

Cons

  • I have found that the Winshuttle product and the people at Winshuttle really 'own' their product. There is always room for adjustment and business demands are always changing. I have found that Winshuttle as a company listens to their customers idea's and tries to work those idea's into the product. The product and the company as a whole has stretched, grown changed and adapted to these ideas that the customer base has offered.
  • As in all products, there is a learning curve. The previous versions of Winshuttle Transaction and Query were two separate executable programs. When using both products simultaneously - bouncing between the two - Transaction and Query - would slow things down. Winshuttle has just released their new Studio 11 which now offers a more contiguous GUI 'feel'. The access to both products is now in one place. There is a small adjustment period to get acquainted with the new Studio 11 version but it is easy for both the seasoned Winshuttle user and the new user to feel comfortable with the tool.

Return on Investment

  • When buying a software product some of the considerations for ROI are deployment, product support (external and internal) and when referring to end users: productivity, learning curve and up-time. Not every factor of an ROI equates to money; the Winshuttle product allows for some technical creativity. The "How else can I use the product today?" question can be entertained when owning the Winshuttle products. A company can plan, plan and calculate away but sometimes there are hidden positives about a product that are not known at the time of consideration to purchase. The Winshuttle software offers a chance for the technically creative side of ideas to come into play. The product is only limited by how much you want to stretch it over your ideas.

Other Software Used

SAP Business Warehouse