Winshuttle

What is Winshuttle

Winshuttle, which is now a part of Precisely, is a software platform specializing in SAP process automation and data management. Its core purpose is to empower business users, who may not have deep technical skills, to manage SAP data using familiar interfaces like Microsoft Excel and web-based forms. This eliminates the need for manual data entry or reliance on IT departments for data uploads and changes. The company was founded in 2003 and quickly became a leader in the SAP data management space. In 2021, Winshuttle was acquired by Precisely, a global leader in data integrity, combining Winshuttle's automation expertise with Precisely's broader data quality and enrichment portfolio.

Winshuttle Features

Winshuttle's capabilities are delivered through two main products:

• Automate Studio: This is the flagship Excel-to-SAP solution. It allows users to record SAP transactions and map the fields to an Excel spreadsheet. Users can then prepare large datasets in Excel and upload them directly into SAP, validating the data before posting. It is used for creating, updating, migrating, and extracting master and transactional data.
• Automate Evolve: This is a more comprehensive enterprise-grade platform for automating complex, multi-step business processes that involve SAP data. It includes features for creating sophisticated workflows with approvals, data stewardship, and governance. It is designed for processes like vendor onboarding, product launches, and financial record creation that require input from multiple people.
• SAP Data Extraction: Users can extract real-time data from SAP tables and transaction reports directly into Excel for analysis, reporting, or integration with other systems.
• Data Validation: The tools include robust data validation capabilities. Before uploading data to SAP, the software simulates the transaction to catch errors, ensuring high data quality and reducing failed postings.
• Governance and Compliance: All activities performed through Winshuttle are logged, creating a clear audit trail. This helps organizations maintain compliance with regulations like SOX by tracking who changed what data and when.

Winshuttle Pricing Plans

Precisely offers customized pricing for its Winshuttle products based on the specific needs of an organization. There are no standard public pricing tiers. The cost is typically determined by several factors:

• Product Selection: Whether the license is for Automate Studio, Automate Evolve, or a combination of both.
• Number of Users: The pricing model is user-based, with different license types for developers (who create scripts) and runners (who execute them).
• Deployment Scale: The cost will vary for departmental use versus an enterprise-wide deployment.
• Support Level: Different tiers of customer support and professional services are available.

Potential customers need to contact the Precisely sales team to get a custom quote tailored to their business requirements.

Winshuttle Free Plan

Winshuttle does not offer a free plan for its software. Given its enterprise focus and deep integration with complex systems like SAP, the product requires a proper implementation and licensing process. However, prospective customers can request a personalized demonstration from the Precisely team to see the software in action and discuss its potential benefits for their organization. In some cases, a limited-time proof-of-concept or trial may be arranged as part of the sales process.

How to use Winshuttle

Using Winshuttle Automate Studio typically follows a simple, three-step process: Record, Map, and Run.

1. Record a Transaction: The user starts the recorder in the Winshuttle Excel add-in and performs a transaction once in the SAP GUI (e.g., creating a new customer). Winshuttle captures all the fields and steps involved.
2. Map Fields to Excel: After recording, the user maps the captured SAP fields to columns in an Excel template. This creates a reusable script and a data template.
3. Prepare Data and Run: The user or their colleagues can then fill the Excel template with the data they want to upload (e.g., a list of 100 new customers). They then click the 'Run' button in the add-in.
4. Validate and Post: Winshuttle validates the data against SAP rules for each row. If the data is correct, it is posted directly into SAP. Any errors are reported back in the Excel sheet, allowing for easy correction and reprocessing.

With Automate Evolve, the process involves designing a workflow with web forms, approval stages, and connecting it to the automation scripts created in Studio.

Pros and Cons of Winshuttle

Pros:

• Empowers Business Users: Allows non-technical staff to manage SAP data, reducing the workload on IT teams.
• Increased Speed and Efficiency: Drastically reduces the time required for mass data entry and updates compared to manual methods.
• Improved Data Accuracy: Built-in validation features catch errors before data is posted to SAP, improving data quality.
• User-Friendly Interface: The integration with Microsoft Excel makes it intuitive for most business users.
• Strong Governance: Provides a complete audit trail for all data changes, enhancing security and compliance.

Cons:

• High Cost: Licensing can be a significant investment, especially for large-scale deployments.
• SAP-Centric: The tool is highly specialized for SAP and offers limited functionality for automating processes outside the SAP ecosystem.
• Requires Training: While user-friendly, proper training is needed to use the tool effectively and build reliable scripts.
• Performance: The speed of data uploads can be affected by network latency and the complexity of the SAP transaction being automated.

Winshuttle integrations

Winshuttle's primary integration is with SAP, which is its core function. It supports various versions of SAP ERP, including SAP ECC and SAP S/4HANA. Beyond SAP, its key integrations include:

• Microsoft Excel: This is the main user interface for Automate Studio, allowing for seamless data preparation and execution.
• Microsoft SharePoint: Automate Evolve can use SharePoint for document management and storing supporting files within workflows.
• Microsoft Office Suite: Integrates with other Office products for data import and export tasks.

For broader enterprise integration, the Automate Evolve platform provides API capabilities to connect with other business systems.

Winshuttle Alternatives

1. UiPath: A leading Robotic Process Automation (RPA) platform that can automate tasks within SAP. It is a more general-purpose automation tool, while Winshuttle is specifically designed for SAP data management.
2. Automation Anywhere: Another major RPA provider with strong capabilities for SAP automation. It offers a broader automation platform that can connect various systems, including SAP.
3. SAP Intelligent RPA (iRPA): SAP's native automation solution. It offers very tight integration with the SAP ecosystem but may be less intuitive for business users compared to Winshuttle's Excel-based approach.
4. Blue Prism: An enterprise-grade RPA tool known for its security and scalability. It can automate complex SAP processes as part of larger, end-to-end business workflows.
5. Magnitude Process Runner: A direct competitor that also focuses on Excel-based SAP data management, offering similar functionality for transaction automation and data migration.

Winshuttle API

Yes, Winshuttle provides API capabilities, primarily through its Automate Evolve platform. The APIs allow developers to integrate Winshuttle's automation and workflow functionalities with other enterprise applications, such as PLM, CRM, or custom-built systems. This enables the creation of seamless, end-to-end business processes that span multiple platforms.

Access to the API documentation and keys is typically provided to licensed customers of Automate Evolve. You would need to contact Precisely support or your account manager to get access.

An example of a conceptual API call to start a workflow might look like this:

POST /api/v1/workflows/start
Host: evolve.yourcompany.com
Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_KEY>
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "workflowName": "VendorOnboarding",
  "formData": {
    "vendorName": "New Supplier Inc.",
    "contactEmail": "contact@newsupplier.com",
    "taxId": "123456789"
  }
}

Winshuttle Affiliate Program

Winshuttle, as part of Precisely, does not offer a public affiliate program in the traditional sense (e.g., commission links for bloggers). As an enterprise software provider, its sales model is based on direct sales and a structured partner ecosystem.

They offer a comprehensive Partner Program for system integrators, technology consultants, and value-added resellers. Partners receive training, sales support, and financial incentives for selling and implementing Precisely solutions. If you are interested in becoming a partner, you should contact the Precisely partnership team directly through their official website to discuss the requirements and benefits.