Case Study: Rhenus Automotive Streamlines Rapid Application Integration with Etlworks

Rhenus Automotive Integrates Zoho Creator and Internal Systems with Etlworks’ Hybrid Architecture.

Introduction

Rhenus Automotive, a global leader in automotive logistics, needed a reliable, modern integration platform to replace a legacy tool no longer supported by the vendor. The company turned to Etlworks to support rapid integration between its custom-built Zoho Creator applications and a variety of internal and external data sources. With a hybrid deployment model and broad connector support, Etlworks enabled Rhenus Automotive to build flexible pipelines that handle everything from MariaDB databases to Excel, CSV, and HTML files. The successful rollout is now expanding across departments, including Purchasing, Controllers, IT, and Networking.

The Challenge

Rhenus Automotive faced several key integration challenges:

• Unsupported Legacy Tool: The previous integration solution was no longer supported and couldn’t meet evolving business needs.

• Zoho Creator Integration: Required extracting and loading data to and from Zoho Creator, a low-code development platform used across teams.

• Diverse Data Formats: Needed to process and integrate data from MariaDB databases and files in Excel, CSV, and HTML formats.

• Hybrid Requirements: Some data sources were cloud-based while others required secure access from within their internal network.

• Departmental Expansion: A future-proof solution was needed to scale as more departments adopted digital tools.

Why Etlworks

Rhenus Automotive chose Etlworks for its flexibility, scalability, and strong support for both cloud and on-premise use cases:

• Hybrid Deployment: A cloud-based Etlworks instance managed by Etlworks, combined with an on-prem integration agent, provided the best of both worlds—ease of management and secure access to internal systems.

• Seamless Zoho Creator Integration: Etlworks’ REST and file-based connectors made it easy to integrate with Zoho Creator applications.

• Broad Format Support: Out-of-the-box compatibility with MariaDB, Excel, CSV, and HTML eliminated the need for custom code or workarounds.

• Smooth Migration: Etlworks addressed the limitations of the legacy system, offering faster development and broader functionality.

• Scalable Architecture: Easily extended to new departments without rework or reconfiguration.

The Solution

Rhenus Automotive implemented Etlworks to modernize and scale its internal and external data integrations:

• Cloud + On-Prem Architecture: The cloud-managed Etlworks platform handles orchestration and monitoring, while the on-prem agent ensures secure access to local systems.

• Flexible Pipelines: Data is integrated from Zoho Creator, MariaDB, and various file formats through reusable pipelines that can be easily adapted for new use cases.

• Departmental Rollout: After the initial success, additional departments including Purchasing, Controllers, IT, and Networking began adopting Etlworks for their integration needs.

• No More Legacy Limitations: The new setup supports robust error handling, complex workflows, and connectors the legacy system lacked.

Results

• Reliable Integration: Stable, scalable pipelines now support daily operations across multiple departments.

• Future-Proof Platform: Etlworks enables new integrations without technical barriers, allowing teams to innovate quickly.

• Departmental Adoption: Positive results have driven expansion into other business units.

• Eliminated Legacy Constraints: Freed from the limitations of the unsupported tool, Rhenus teams can now build and deploy new workflows faster.

Key Takeaways

• Hybrid Architecture: Combines cloud convenience with secure on-premise access.

• Zoho Creator Ready: Native support for REST and file-based integrations simplifies app connectivity.

• Broad Format Support: Handles diverse data types, including HTML and Excel, out of the box.

• Scalable and Reusable: Pipelines are easily adapted across departments.

• Migration Success: Smooth transition from a deprecated system to a modern, extensible solution.

Ready to tackle your most complex data challenges? Discover how Etlworks can transform your data integration workflows. Start your free trial today or request a demo.