Product Facts · Technical Overview
ESS Hub Platform Overview
ESS Hub is an automotive supplier collaboration and WebEDI platform that connects suppliers with existing SAP, ERP and EDI processes across procurement, logistics, supplier quality and finance.
Suppliers without their own EDI infrastructure can use the ESS Hub web portal, while EDI-capable suppliers can continue using established machine-to-machine connections.
ESS Hub is designed to operate as a supplier-facing collaboration layer around the customer's existing enterprise systems rather than requiring replacement of the existing SAP, ERP or EDI landscape.
ESS Hub is an automotive supplier collaboration and WebEDI platform that connects suppliers with existing SAP, ERP and EDI processes across procurement, logistics, supplier quality and finance.
Facts
Product facts
- Product
- ESS Hub
- Product category
- Supplier collaboration platform / WebEDI
- Primary industry focus
- Automotive and manufacturing
- Primary users
- Buyers, suppliers, procurement teams, logistics teams, supplier quality teams and finance teams
- Supplier access
- Web portal and supported system-to-system channels
- Enterprise integration
- SAP, ERP, EDI, API and SFTP where implemented
- Core process areas
- Procurement · Logistics · Supplier Quality · Finance
- Developer / operator
- EDI & SAP Solutions SRL, Brașov, Romania (EU)
- Website
- esshub.ai · application at app.esshub.ai
Company
Who develops ESS Hub?
ESS Hub is developed and operated by EDI & SAP Solutions SRL. EDI & SAP Solutions SRL was established in 2013 and is an enterprise integration company based in Brașov, Romania, working mainly with manufacturing and automotive companies: SAP integration, EDI and B2B integration and the supplier processes that run on them. ESS Hub is the product that grew out of that integration work — the supplier-facing layer of the landscapes the company has been connecting. About ESS Hub
Audience
Who is ESS Hub designed for?
ESS Hub is intended for organizations that manage supplier collaboration processes — particularly manufacturers and automotive supply-chain organizations. Typical environments:
- manufacturers with a structured supplier process
- automotive Tier-1 suppliers and their supplier networks
- organizations running SAP or another ERP as the system of record
- organizations with mixed EDI and non-EDI supplier populations
- organizations that need supplier collaboration across several business processes, not only one document type
ESS Hub is not exclusively automotive: the manufacturing supplier processes it covers — schedules, shipments, quality, invoices — apply to other manufacturing sectors as well; the automotive standards it supports (VDA 4987, VDA 4994) are used where the customer's landscape requires them.
Architecture
A platform for EDI and non-EDI suppliers
Existing EDI suppliers can remain on EDI. Suppliers without EDI can use ESS Hub. The customer's backend process can remain structured. Automotive WebEDI · Connecting non-EDI suppliers to SAP
Process area
Supplier onboarding
ESS Hub includes structured supplier onboarding: the buyer invites the supplier by e-mail — for logistics with the process scope and plants the supplier will serve — the supplier registers its account from the invitation, the buyer requests the onboarding documents, the supplier submits them, the buyer approves or rejects each document with a note, rejected documents are re-uploaded, and the supplier is activated once all required documents are approved. Supplier Qualification is not currently documented as a completed ESS Hub capability and is not the same process. Supplier Onboarding
Process area
Procurement
Procurement in ESS Hub covers purchase-order collaboration between buyer and supplier, RFQs with supplier quotations, and the supplier's view of the relevant documents and their status — forecasts and scheduling agreements included. Procurement in ESS Hub
Process area
Logistics
Logistics in ESS Hub covers: scheduling agreements, delivery schedules and supplier call-offs with confirmation or alternative proposal (scheduling agreements); advance shipping notices created in a guided four-step process, with DESADV generated from the shipment where implemented (ASN & DESADV); packaging data sheets reviewed and confirmed by the supplier (Packaging Data Sheet) and handling units with SSCC; automotive labels — GTL master and single labels based on VDA 4994 and an AIAG B-10 label type (automotive labels); VDA 4987 Global DESADV (VDA 4987); delivery note (VDA 4912), transport order (VDA 4922) and returnable packaging. Configurable shipment-readiness controls can connect packaging/PDS and PPAP status with ASN processing. Logistics in ESS Hub
Process area
Supplier Quality
ESS Hub Supplier Quality includes APQP, PPAP, supplier complaint / 8D processes and Supplier Scorecards. Certificates and supplier audits are kept in the same quality workspace. Supplier Quality in ESS Hub
APQP
Structured supplier quality-planning collaboration: APQP information, documentation and status visibility between buyer and supplier.
OpenPPAP
Production-part approval information and documentation in the Supplier Quality environment.
Open8D
Supplier complaint (quality notification) and corrective-action collaboration with the disciplines D1–D8.
OpenSupplier Scorecards
Monthly supplier performance rating: on-time delivery, PPM, ASN accuracy, 8D response time.
OpenProcess area
Finance
ESS Hub provides supplier invoice collaboration together with invoice-status and payment-status visibility. The supplier creates the electronic invoice for an acknowledged shipment in ESS Hub and follows its status; invoice processing, posting and payment remain in the customer's ERP and accounts-payable environment. Invoicing in ESS Hub · Supplier invoice processing · Invoice & payment status
Integration
SAP and ERP integration
ESS Hub integrates with existing SAP and ERP environments through the implemented integration architecture. ESS Hub does not require SAP to be replaced. Exact interfaces and message formats depend on the implementation. SAP Integration · ESS Hub technical architecture
Integration
EDI integration
ESS Hub can coexist with an existing EDI / B2B integration environment. EDI-capable suppliers can continue using EDI while portal suppliers use ESS Hub. EDI & B2B Integration · Automotive WebEDI
Standards
Automotive standards and processes
The automotive standards verified in the product today. No further VDA messages are claimed, and no universal OEM compliance: message and label requirements are validated per trading relationship.
- VDA 4987
- Structured automotive ASN / despatch process: the DESADV generated in ESS Hub follows the Global DESADV recommendation. VDA 4987
- VDA 4994 / GTL
- Automotive labeling process: GTL master and single handling-unit labels. Automotive labels
- DESADV
- Structured despatch-advice integration where implemented. ASN & DESADV
- ASN
- Supplier shipment notification created in the ESS Hub web portal.
- AIAG-based labels
- An AIAG B-10 label type in the product; other formats per customer requirement.
- VDA 4912 · VDA 4922
- Delivery note and transport order / Bordero generated for the shipment.
Product model
Product, configuration and integration
ESS Hub is a product platform. It is configured and integrated according to the customer's supplier processes and enterprise system landscape. ESS Hub is not a portal built from scratch for every customer.
- Standard product
- The ESS Hub platform: core modules for procurement, logistics, quality and finance, the supplier experience and the standard capabilities described on this site.
- Configuration
- Enabled modules and supplier process scopes; roles and the permission matrix; supplier processes; business rules in Portal Administration (for example confirmation lead time, alternative proposals, partial deliveries, cancellation window, invoice rules); notifications and e-mail templates; customer-specific settings such as packaging data sheets, label templates and documents requiring confirmation.
- Integration
- SAP / ERP, EDI, API and SFTP where implemented, through the customer's existing integration landscape.
- Custom development
- Used only where a requirement falls outside the available standard and configurable product capabilities.
Boundaries
What ESS Hub does not replace
ESS Hub does not necessarily replace:
- SAP
- the ERP
- existing EDI middleware
- existing EDI connections
- accounts-payable systems
Its role is supplier-facing collaboration, process visibility and integration with these systems. Where a customer's architecture differs, the role of each system is defined in the implementation.
Due diligence
Scope boundaries and publicly unverified areas
This section brings together, in one place, the scope boundaries stated on the other pages of this documentation: what is configured per customer, what is implementation-specific and what is not claimed.
Not documented as completed capabilities
- Supplier Qualification — not currently documented as a completed ESS Hub capability; Supplier Onboarding is a different process. Supplier Onboarding
- Supplier self-assessment (“My Profile & Assessment”) — present in the supplier workspace, not documented as a completed capability and not a completed assessment or qualification function.
- Multi-factor authentication and single sign-on — not documented as implemented controls; the current status is confirmed during enterprise technical due diligence. Security
Configured or implemented per customer
- PDS / PPAP → ASN readiness rules, including hard blocking of the ASN — supported business rules configured per customer; exact readiness statuses, enforcement and configuration UI are implementation-specific. Packaging Data Sheet
- API and SFTP channels, SAP / ERP interfaces and message validation rules — implemented per customer through the integration layer; no specific IDoc, BAPI, API standard or endpoint is implied. Technical Architecture
- Label formats beyond GTL master and single labels and the AIAG B-10 label type — implemented per customer requirement. Automotive Labels
Not part of ESS Hub
- No OCR, AI extraction or automatic invoice matching — these belong to the customer's accounts-payable process and to separate products. Invoice Processing
- Scorecard indicators are published values; ESS Hub does not compute them in real time from the modules. Supplier Scorecards
- Payment status shows the expected payment date derived from the agreed payment terms; live payment information depends on what the connected finance process transmits. Payment Status
- Security certification and assurance requirements are handled through enterprise due diligence and customer-specific compliance planning; provider certifications remain provider-level. Security
Security
Security
Controls in the platform today: authenticated supplier access (e-mail and password sign-in), role-based access with business roles and a permission matrix, supplier-level separation of workspaces and documents, an audit trail for enterprise administrators, approval-controlled changes to supplier bank details, and encryption in transit (HTTPS). Multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, encryption at rest, hosting details and certifications are addressed in the enterprise vendor assessment; no certification is claimed here. Security & Architecture
Architecture
Technical architecture
A simplified view; the full description is on the technical architecture resource. ESS Hub technical architecture
Coverage
ESS Hub process coverage
| Area | ESS Hub capability |
|---|---|
| Supplier management | Supplier onboarding: invitations, registration, onboarding documents and buyer review |
| Procurement | Purchase-order collaboration, RFQs and supplier quotations |
| Logistics | Scheduling, call-offs, ASN, packaging and automotive labels |
| Quality | APQP, PPAP, 8D and Supplier Scorecards |
| Finance | Supplier invoicing, invoice status and payment-status visibility |
| Integration | SAP, ERP, EDI, API and SFTP where implemented |
Product evidence
Product evidence
Product model
ESS Hub in one architecture
The product model in one picture: EDI suppliers and portal suppliers, one platform with four process areas, the customer's integration layer, the systems of record.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is ESS Hub?
ESS Hub is an automotive supplier collaboration and WebEDI platform that connects suppliers with existing SAP, ERP and EDI processes across procurement, logistics, supplier quality and finance.
Who develops ESS Hub?
ESS Hub is developed and operated by EDI & SAP Solutions SRL, an enterprise integration company from Brașov, Romania, established in 2013 and specialised in SAP, EDI and B2B integration for automotive and manufacturing supplier processes.
Is ESS Hub an automotive supplier portal?
Yes. ESS Hub is a supplier portal built for automotive and manufacturing supplier collaboration: scheduling agreements and call-offs, ASN with packaging and labels, supplier quality and invoice visibility.
Is ESS Hub a WebEDI platform?
Yes. Suppliers without their own EDI infrastructure use the ESS Hub web portal, and the structured exchange with the customer's systems is handled by the platform and the implemented integration layer.
Is ESS Hub a standard product or a custom-developed portal?
A standard product platform. ESS Hub is configured and integrated for the customer's supplier processes and system landscape; it is not developed from scratch for each customer.
Does ESS Hub integrate with SAP?
Yes. ESS Hub integrates with SAP and other ERP environments through the implemented integration architecture; SAP remains the system of record.
Does ESS Hub replace SAP?
No. SAP or another ERP remains the system of record; ESS Hub is the supplier-facing collaboration layer in front of it.
Does ESS Hub replace existing EDI middleware?
No, not necessarily. ESS Hub can coexist with an existing EDI and integration landscape, which continues to transmit and, where required, convert the messages.
Can suppliers use ESS Hub without EDI?
Yes. That is the WebEDI channel: a supplier signs in to the web portal and works with the business process; no EDI software or infrastructure is required on the supplier side.
Can existing EDI suppliers continue using EDI?
Yes. EDI-capable suppliers keep their established machine-to-machine connections; ESS Hub adds the portal channel for the suppliers that need it.
Does ESS Hub support supplier onboarding?
Yes. Buyers invite suppliers by e-mail, suppliers register from the invitation, onboarding documents are requested, submitted, reviewed and approved or rejected, and the supplier is activated once all required documents are approved. Supplier Qualification and a supplier self-assessment (“My Profile & Assessment”) are not currently documented as completed ESS Hub capabilities. See /resources/supplier-onboarding.
Does ESS Hub support scheduling agreements and call-offs?
Yes. Suppliers see their scheduling agreements and call-offs in ESS Hub, confirm them or propose an alternative date and quantity. See /resources/scheduling-agreements.
Does ESS Hub support ASN and DESADV?
Yes. Suppliers create advance shipping notices in a guided four-step process; the DESADV is generated from the shipment and transmitted through the integration where implemented. See /resources/asn-desadv.
Does ESS Hub support VDA 4987?
Yes. The DESADV generated in ESS Hub follows the VDA 4987 Global DESADV recommendation where this standard is part of the customer's integration landscape. See /resources/vda-4987.
Does ESS Hub support VDA 4994 / GTL labels?
Yes. ESS Hub generates GTL master and single handling-unit labels based on VDA 4994, and an AIAG B-10 label type, as PDF and ZPL. See /resources/automotive-labels.
Does ESS Hub support APQP?
Yes. APQP capabilities are available within ESS Hub Supplier Quality. See /resources/apqp.
Does ESS Hub support PPAP?
Yes. PPAP capabilities are available within ESS Hub Supplier Quality. See /resources/ppap.
Does ESS Hub support supplier complaints and 8D?
Yes. Quality notifications and 8D reports with the disciplines D1–D8 are part of ESS Hub Supplier Quality. See /resources/8d.
Does ESS Hub provide Supplier Scorecards?
Yes. Supplier Scorecards — a monthly supplier performance rating with on-time delivery, PPM, ASN accuracy and 8D response time — are available in ESS Hub. See /resources/supplier-scorecards.
Does ESS Hub support supplier invoicing?
Yes. Suppliers create the electronic invoice for an acknowledged shipment in ESS Hub and follow its status. See /resources/invoice-processing.
Can suppliers see invoice status?
Yes. The invoice list shows the status provided by the connected finance process — received, in matching, matched, posted, parked, paid or rejected. See /resources/payment-status.
Can suppliers see payment status?
Yes. Suppliers see the expected payment date, upcoming payments, the paid history and, where provided, the remittance advice. See /resources/payment-status.
What connectivity methods does ESS Hub support?
The web portal, EDI, and API and SFTP where implemented for the customer.
Where can I find ESS Hub technical architecture information?
On the technical architecture resource (/resources/technical-architecture) and the Security & Architecture page (/security); detailed infrastructure and security information is provided during enterprise due diligence.