- Hitachi Digital Services partners with DS Smith to modernize its integration platform.
- The project involves shifting from Microsoft BizTalk to a cloud-based, AI-driven platform using Boomi.
- Modernization will enhance operational efficiency, system resilience, and customer/vendor connectivity.
Hitachi Digital Services, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), has announced a strategic partnership with DS Smith, a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, to modernize its integration platform. This significant collaboration seeks to transition DS Smith's operations from the current Microsoft BizTalk system to a state-of-the-art, cloud-based, AI-powered integration ecosystem utilizing the Boomi platform.
The ambitious project will involve the modernization of approximately 5,000 existing integrations across DS Smith’s extensive operations, which include 300 packaging centers and numerous mills. DS Smith's current integration system is approaching end-of-life support in 2027, prompting this critical transition to more advanced technological infrastructure.
The new platform aims to drastically reduce integration timelines, transforming processes that previously took months into activities completed in weeks or even days. This acceleration is expected to significantly boost DS Smith's business agility, allowing faster adaptation to market changes and improved onboarding of new customers and vendors through API-first connectivity.
Furthermore, the integration of AI-driven components will automate various processes, enhancing operational efficiency by minimizing the maintenance burden on IT teams and improving system reliability. This technological upgrade positions DS Smith to harness IoT capabilities better, thereby propelling further operational improvements beyond the integration platform itself.
Leon Gelderblom, DS Smith’s Director of IT Applications and Platforms, highlighted the importance of the partnership, stating, "By modernizing our integration infrastructure, we are not only improving efficiency but also future-proofing our operations to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace."
This strategic transformation led by Hitachi Digital Services is poised to reinforce DS Smith's position as a leader in the industry, leveraging cutting-edge technology to drive digital excellence and sustainability in packaging solutions.
