Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the electronic exchange of business document data, such as purchase orders and invoices, in a standardized format between trading partners. It's a technology that has been around for decades, but its importance continues to grow as businesses strive for efficiency and automation. EDI can help improve day-to-day operations whether your business wants to streamline operations, improve efficiency, or gain a competitive edge. Here are five ways EDI can elevate your business functions.

1. Cloud-based EDI Subscription Services

Cloud-based (or web-based) EDI subscription services allow businesses to use third-party EDI services using the internet, increasing efficiency and freeing up resources. WebEDI is Edict Systems’ cloud-based EDI subscription service that allows suppliers to easily connect and do EDI with their customers. Suppliers can even start doing EDI within hours with any of our many supported customers. WebEDI allows businesses to do EDI without having to have extensive EDI knowledge, hire EDI experts, or worry about in-house EDI programs. 

Thousands of suppliers actively use WebEDI for their EDI needs because it is designed to be easy-to-use, user friendly, and easily accessible. This easy-to-use solution processes incoming and outgoing transactions making it easy for suppliers to sell to their valued customers or comply with EDI mandates. Here are a few additional benefits:

• Compliance and Collaboration: Complying with EDI mandates improves EDI capabilities and fosters collaboration. Easily complete EDI transactions with business partners for improved supply chain processes.
• Cost Savings: Reallocate resources usually spent on expensive hardware or software to other areas of the business.
• Automation and Efficiency: Save time, money, and resources while speeding up order fulfillment and boosting customer satisfaction.
• Data Accuracy: Reduce errors and costly mistakes. Businesses can rely on the accuracy of the EDI documents exchanged ensuring smooth operations.

2. Cloud-based Data Mapping and Translation

Edict Systems’ Cloud-based Data Mapping solution streamlines your supply chain and improves communication with your trading partners, eliminating the need for costly in-house translation software. Business document data is automatically mapped and delivered to trading partners, regardless of data type, maximizing efficiency and simplifying trading network connections. Our cloud-based solutions offer:

• Cost Savings: Eliminate the need for expensive hardware and software maintenance. Our cloud-based solutions eliminate the need for costly equipment, maintenance, and fees, freeing up resources for more strategic initiatives.
• Enhanced Scalability: Easily adapt to changing business needs. Cloud-based solutions automatically scale as your trading partner network changes, eliminating the need of managing multiple communication methods for multiple partners. 
• Improved Automation: Cloud-based EDI integrates seamlessly with existing business systems enabling automation and seamless connectivity within your trading network. 

3. Integrating EDI With an Existing Business System

Integrating EDI with your existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system (also known as a business, accounting, or inventory systems) is a key component of achieving a streamlined supply chain. EDI providers like Edict Systems offer integrated EDI solutions that connect directly with an existing system so you can avoid disruption within day-to-day business operations. 

Edict Systems’ Cloud-based Data Mapping solution enables integration with any existing business system regardless of system or EDI format. Data is mapped to your system specifications and delivered securely to trading partners. Additionally, Cloud-based Data Mapping eliminates the need for in-house translation software, lowers costs, and reduces the mapping, integration, and implementation time for new or change documents. Cloud-based Data Mapping helps free up resources so they can be used for other initiatives. 

For buyer organizations, one of the most notable advantages of EDI integration is the reduction in order processing times. By automating invoice processing through EDI, payment accuracy and timeliness improve, speeding up the payment cycle and strengthening supplier relationships by ensuring they get paid on time. For suppliers, integrated EDI provides accurate data transfer, reducing mistakes in shipping and receiving and improving the reliability of deliveries. This efficiency ensures suppliers can fulfill orders promptly, directly translating to customer satisfaction.

4. Supplier Onboarding Programs

Customized Supplier EDI-enabling and Onboarding Services save buyer organizations the time and resources required to expand and manage supply chain EDI operations. Expanding and managing an EDI trading community is one of the best ways to maximize an EDI investment. Edict Systems manages suppliers through initial communications and offers full support during the EDI-enabling process (including testing and certification) and ongoing support after they are fully enabled. Supplier EDI-enabling Onboarding programs help buyer organizations expand their trading community and save valuable resources. Other benefits include:

• Cost savings: Reduced manual processing, errors, and communication delays translate to significant cost savings.
• Improved efficiency: Streamlined processes with more suppliers means accurate data, faster order fulfillment, better inventory management, and shorter lead times.
• Increased competitiveness: A wider supplier network allows you to source better deals, improve product quality, and gain a competitive edge.
• Enhanced scalability: As your business grows, an EDI-enabled system can easily accommodate new suppliers, ensuring smooth scaling.
  

5. Fully Outsourced EDI Solutions

EDI outsourcing allows a third-party provider to manage an EDI program, allowing a business to focus on core business functions. ManagedEC is Edict Systems’ comprehensive, fully outsourced EDI solution that eliminates the need for in-house EDI. We combine cloud-based EDI connectivity, project management, and trading community management into a single solution to help you achieve 100% supply chain connectivity. 

ManagedEC helps buyer organizations focus their time and resources on important business initiatives. After an initial Assessment, ManagedEC is tailored to help increase business agility by providing data mapping and translation, establishing new trading partner connections, monitoring and troubleshooting EDI transactions, and ensuring compliance with EDI standards and regulations. Our experts handle all the technical and challenging aspects of EDI, so you don't have to.

Edict Systems' EDI Solutions are Ready to Work for Your Business

By implementing EDI-related technologies, businesses can reap numerous benefits, including increased efficiency, reduced costs, improved customer satisfaction, and streamlined supply chain operations. Whether you are a buyer organization interested in expanding their trading network, or a supplier looking for less expensive alternatives to connect with multiple customers, we are here to help. If your business is interested in discussing how the EDI experts at Edict Systems can help create efficiency, help your business stay ahead of the curve, and lower overall costs, contact us today.