PCK ( Small vendors ) with this requirement what needed --- Help ?

Question

Hi  Friends ,
                   We are used to say the Partner Connectivity Kit (PCK) enables you to convert messages from your system landscape to XML format and forward them to the Integration Server.
               XI is used as a central platform to exchange and monitor messages between SAP systems and also with legacy (non SAP) system.
My question is
        <b>   1. PCK is for Outside of our landscape right ?</b>   Eg. Big company ( say motor cycle manufacturing Company ) is having SAP R/3  and  XI .  But  small vendors ( who are spplying the engine and chasisi like that ) they are not having XI .
       <b>a. Do they ( small vendors ) need to have PCK ? </b>
      <b> b. PCK mainly used to convert their files to XML, format ?</b>
      Please i am not much clear about this . Please explain me using the above Example.
        <b>C .Without PCK it is not possibe ?</b>
<b> 2. For eg I am having 50 Vendors  .</b>
       <b>    a. Do i  need to have 50 separate pck at each vendors ?      </b>  
               b. Do i need to configure Each vendor's PCK ?
<b>         Please Calrify me these doubts</b>
Best Regards .,
V.Rangarajan

Answer 1

Hi,
Firstly PCK is used to Integrate Partners that don't use either XI or any Other Integration solution.It is a low cost solution so quite affordable. As you said small time business partner who have got their own application and want to share the data with organization.
1. PCK is for Outside of our landscape right ?
Yes: Basically with small time partner such as vendors.
Do they ( small vendors ) need to have PCK ?
Given that if they have to exchange data with the organization that is extensively using XI or PI then YES.
b. PCK mainly used to convert their files to XML, format ?
PCK is used to convert any message to XML. Need not necessarily be file.
C .Without PCK it is not possibe ?
NO
2. For eg I am having 50 Vendors .
a. Do i need to have 50 separate pck at each vendors ?
YES If all the vendors have to communicate >? unless they are already  using solution that allows vendors to commnicate with organization.
b. Do i need to configure Each vendor's PCK ?
YES
<b>Cheers,
*RAJ*
*REWARD POINTS IF FOUND USEFULL*</b>