What is an "Integration Fabric," and how is it different from a standard iPaaS? An iPaaS gives you a toolkit to build individual connections one by one. An Integration Fabric, like Shep's, is a complete, pre-architected network that uses a central 'blueprint' to connect your entire ecosystem. This results in faster, more resilient, and more manageable integrations than a traditional point-to-point approach. What is a Common Data Model (CDM), and why is it so important? The Common Data Model (CDM) is our universal translator. It's a pre-built, standardized 'blueprint' for all your business data (like an 'Order' or 'Shipment'). Instead of building dozens of complex, custom maps between systems, you simply map each system to this single blueprint once, which dramatically accelerates a project and ensures data consistency. My current integration process seems to work. What specific problems does Shep's Integration Fabric solve? Shep's Integration Fabric solves the hidden costs and complexities that traditional integration creates. This includes eliminating vendor "blame games" by providing a single platform, removing the slow and expensive process of onboarding new partners, and protecting your core ERP system from risky over-customization. We turn brittle, fragmented processes into a resilient, unified ecosystem. What types of companies are the best fit for Shep's Integration Fabric? Our platform is ideal for growing B2B companies that manage a complex network of trading partners. We specialize in helping distributors, manufacturers, and consumer brands who rely on seamless order fulfillment across multiple channels, warehouses, and suppliers.

What ERPs, e-commerce platforms, and other systems can Shep's Integration Fabric connect to? Our decoupled architecture allows us to connect to virtually any system that can exchange data, including modern APIs and traditional file formats like EDI, XML, and CSV. We have extensive experience connecting to leading platforms like NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Shopify, and major 3PL/WMS systems. How is your approach different from a platform that offers "pre-built connectors"? A pre-built connector only solves half the problem—it just connects to an application's API. It does not solve the much harder challenge of translating the unique data formats and business rules for every single trading partner. Our fabric combines connectors with our Common Data Model to solve the entire problem, eliminating that hidden, repetitive work. How does the fabric help us avoid over-customizing our ERP? We protect your ERP by handling all the complex integration logic—like data transformations, validation rules, and workflow orchestration—within the fabric itself. This "clean core" approach allows your ERP to do what it does best, making it more stable, secure, and easier to upgrade. How does Shep's Integration Fabric ensure the security of our data? Security is foundational to our platform. We protect your data using industry best practices, including end-to-end encryption (in-transit and at-rest), secure communication protocols (AS2, SFTP, HTTPS), and granular, role-based access controls for all users.

IMPLEMENTATION & ONBOARDING

What does a typical implementation process look like, and how long does it take? Our process is designed for speed. We typically begin by connecting your core ERP to the fabric and mapping your first critical business process. From there, we can begin onboarding trading partners in parallel. Most of our customers are live with their first end-to-end process in weeks, not quarters. How quickly can we onboard a new trading partner (e.g., a customer or 3PL) once the fabric is live? This is where the power of our model shines. Since the core blueprint and ERP connection are already in place, onboarding a new partner is drastically faster than traditional methods. We simply map their unique data format to your existing model, a process that can often be completed in days. What level of technical expertise is required from our team to use and manage Shep's Integration Fabric? Shep's Integration Fabric is designed to empower your business operations teams. While our team handles the initial technical setup, the platform provides visual tools for managing workflows and monitoring transactions, significantly reducing the day-to-day burden on your internal developers. Can the fabric handle our company's unique or custom business processes? Yes - the fabric's orchestration engine is highly configurable and designed to handle unique business logic. We work with you during implementation to model your specific validation rules, approval steps, and data routing requirements directly into the fabric.

How is Shep's Integration Fabric priced? Our pricing model is designed to be predictable and scale with your business. It consists of a platform subscription based on the Operations you activate, your transaction volume, and the number of active connections. For a detailed quote tailored to your needs, please contact our sales team via the 'Let's Talk' form. What kind of ongoing support and maintenance do you offer? We offer comprehensive support packages to ensure your operations run smoothly, including monitoring and support for critical issues. As a single, unified platform, we manage the entire solution, so you have one point of contact and never have to deal with vendors pointing fingers at each other.

One Platform for All Your B2B Orders

The Only Integration Platform for All Your Orders

Discover the platform that brings together your entire order fulfillment ecosystem for end-to-end automation and centralized order visibility.

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trusted by leading brands

Intelligent Middle Layer

From Order Chaos
to Operational Clarity

Stop managing the 'spaghetti' mess of disparate integrations for portals, marketplaces and emails. Shep eliminates the mess with an intelligent middle layer - our 'integration fabric' - that consolidates and automates your complex order processes between any number of systems.

Learn More About Shep's Fabric

The Platform

The Only Tool You'll Need

A unified operational layer designed specifically for the complexities of modern manufacturing and distribution.

THE PLATFORM

Connect

Seamlessly connect any partner and application to your core system.

Internal System

ERPCRMWMSTMSPOS

Customers

EDIECOMMERCEMARKETPLACESWEBSTORESWHOLESALE

Partners

3PLSCARRIERS

Data Formats

JSONX12CSVXMLCXMLEDIFACTXLSPDF

Integration Methods

APIFILE BASEDIMPORT/EXPORTDATA BASE

Internal System

ERPCRMWMSTMSPOS

Customers

EDIECOMMERCEMARKETPLACESWEBSTORESWHOLESALE

Partners

3PLSCARRIERS

Data Formats

JSONX12CSVXMLCXMLEDIFACTXLSPDF

Integration Methods

APIFILE BASEDIMPORT/EXPORTDATA BASE

The Platform

EDI

Embedded EDI capabilities to replace your EDI costs with the added benefits of our Integration Fabric.

Full Communications

AS2, FTPS, SFTP, VAN or any other communication protocol built-in to comply with any customer requirements.

X12, EDIFACT, XML and CSV Translator

Comply with any trading document format for any customer globally.

Partnership & Advisory

Interpreting EDI vendor guidelines, performing EDI certification testing and providing on-the-phone mission-critical support, our team of experts are here to help.

Full Communications

AS2, FTPS, SFTP, VAN or any other communication protocol built-in to comply with any customer requirements.

X12, EDIFACT, XML and CSV Translator

Comply with any trading document format for any customer globally.

Partnership & Advisory

Interpreting EDI vendor guidelines, performing EDI certification testing and providing on-the-phone mission-critical support, our team of experts are here to help.

THE PLATFORM

Orchestrate

Move past basic data integration. Fully automate multi-step, complex processes with our suite of Operations that enforce your business rules, comply with customer requirements, and eliminate manual intervention.

Automated Order Entry

Ingests customer orders in any format (EDI, API, XML, etc.), automatically validates the data, and instantly creates clean sales orders in your ERP without manual keying.

Order Change Automation

Seamlessly processes change requests from customers, automatically updating the corresponding sales orders in your ERP to ensure accuracy.

Proactive Customer Communication

Automatically sends order and change acknowledgements, as well as real-time status updates, directly from your ERP to your customers, reducing inquiries.

Automated Order Entry

Ingests customer orders in any format (EDI, API, XML, etc.), automatically validates the data, and instantly creates clean sales orders in your ERP without manual keying.

Order Change Automation

Seamlessly processes change requests from customers, automatically updating the corresponding sales orders in your ERP to ensure accuracy.

Proactive Customer Communication

Automatically sends order and change acknowledgements, as well as real-time status updates, directly from your ERP to your customers, reducing inquiries.

THE PLATFORM

Observe

Turn complexity into clarity with real-time actionable insights. Every interaction between all your Customers, Warehouses and ERP organized into one unified order fulfillment process.

Map

Live visual map of your entire order fulfillment process

Records

Complete end-to-end audit trail of all transactions

Lifecycle

Multi-system transaction monitoring for each order

Workflow Steps

Step-by-step logic view for each of your operations

THE PLATFORM

Govern

Central command center to administer users
and manage your integrations and order processes.

Integration Management

Manage integration endpoints
and schemas

Process Management

Control business logic globally or by connection for unique requirements

User Management

Administer users and roles
with granular permissions

Integration Management

Manage integration endpoints
and schemas

Process Management

Control business logic globally or by connection for unique requirements

User Management

Administer users and roles
with granular permissions

Use Cases

Operational Wins in Action

Real-world scenarios solved by Shep.

From Crisis to Continuity in 72 Hours

Liberating the ERP from Its Custom-Code Prison

Ending Chargebacks & the Blame Game

When “Fully Integrated” Isn’t the Full Story

The “Pre-Built Connector” Promise: Why It’s Only Half the Integration

Trapped in the Automation Gaps: The Myth of Fragmented Integration

Escaping the “Frankenstein” Tech Stack

Your Customers Don’t Live in Silos. Why Should Your Orders?

From Crisis to Continuity in 72 Hours

Liberating the ERP from Its Custom-Code Prison

Ending Chargebacks & the Blame Game

When “Fully Integrated” Isn’t the Full Story

The “Pre-Built Connector” Promise: Why It’s Only Half the Integration

Trapped in the Automation Gaps: The Myth of Fragmented Integration

Escaping the “Frankenstein” Tech Stack

Your Customers Don’t Live in Silos. Why Should Your Orders?

Why Shep

The Architecture of Modern Integration

What is an Integration Fabric?

Shep's Integration Fabric standardizes data from every connected system into one language to bring shared context and meaning across the order fulfillment ecosystem. Data becomes consistent, reliable, and universally understood before it is used in any business process.

Testimonials

Hear From Our Customers

Don’t take our word for it, hear directly from other manufacturers & distributors.

FAQs

Common Questions, Answered

How Shep simplifies integration and delivers a foundation your business can grow on.

The Only Integration Platform for All Your Orders

From Order Chaos to Operational Clarity

The Only Tool You'll Need

Connect

EDI

Orchestrate

Observe

Govern

Operational Wins in Action

The Architecture of Modern Integration

Hear From Our Customers

Common Questions, Answered

Ready to Herd the Chaos?

From Order Chaos
to Operational Clarity