Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) has proven to be a reliable asset in many supply chains, streamlining efforts, reducing costs, and uncovering untapped potential. EDI improves automation, visibility, and efficiency in day-to-day operations, making data exchange between trading partners reliable, fast, and easy. In this post, we discuss some of the top insights for EDI and how it continues to offer advantages and improve business processes.

Insight #1: EDI is for businesses of all sizes.

EDI helps businesses connect to their trading partners, streamline their business operations, and lower costs. Cloud-based options offer affordable and scalable solutions, making EDI accessible to businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a smaller supplier without EDI capabilities, or a large multinational looking to onboard more suppliers and connect to 100% of the suppliers in your supply chain, EDI makes it easy to optimize supply chain operations.

Read about how Renfro Foods used Edict Systems’ EDI solutions throughout their business growth

Insight #2: Implementing EDI is easier and more cost effective than maintaining in-house EDI operations.

Getting started with an in-house EDI program often requires many resources, including a team of specialists and costly hardware. Edict Systems and other EDI providers offer solutions designed to be reliable as well as user-friendly, making implementation as smooth as possible. We help suppliers who recently received an EDI mandate or request from a customer and buying organizations looking to use EDI to onboard more suppliers or connect your entire supply chain, remove the guesswork from the EDI process. Additionally, our cloud-based EDI solutions provide major cost savings since you won’t have to maintain the expensive hardware or software needed for in-house EDI operations.

Insight #3: EDI doesn’t require major IT infrastructure changes.

While some in-house EDI operations require a large amount of equipment and skills to maintain, many EDI providers offer outsourced EDI solutions that integrate with existing ERP or business systems like JD Edwards, Microsoft Dynamics, SysPro, or SAP. Cloud-based EDI solutions eliminate the need for dedicated equipment and maintenance costs, further simplifying implementation. If you are looking for an EDI solution to help save major costs, minimize disruption, and reduce technical challenges, integrated EDI solutions may be the answer.

Insight #4: Despite other technological offerings, EDI is still a reliable, trusted tool for improving supply chain efficiency.  

EDI remains a crucial component of business-to-business data exchange, and newer technologies focus on complementing it instead of replacing it. For example, APIs and blockchain can enhance EDI capabilities by providing real-time updates and increased security. As technology advances and new tools become available, EDI will continue to adapt to provide businesses with opportunities to benefit from these add-ons.

Insight #5: EDI can be a true asset in many industries.

EDI is beneficial to businesses across many industries, including healthcare supply chain, retail, grocery, automotive, and more. EDI meets industry-specific standards to ensure smooth communication between trading partners. Edict Systems offers a suite of solutions that makes doing EDI easy and less expensive, regardless of industry or preferred data format. With a single connection to our cloud-based B2B trading network, businesses can simplify connections and management of all EDI transactions and trading relationships.

Insight #6: EDI can make a huge difference in day-to-day business operations.

Automating business data exchange is at the core of EDI. By eliminating the need to manually process business documents and taking advantage of cloud-based EDI solutions, businesses of all sizes lower costs and increase efficiencies in their day-to-day supply chain operations. EDI not only helps create faster business transactions, but it also eliminates lost paperwork, minimizes chargebacks, makes it easier to connect suppliers, and helps businesses become more agile and competitive. 

At Edict Systems, our solutions allow businesses to outsource individual components of an EDI system like communications, data mapping, integration, and trading partner onboarding and support. By offering flexible, proven solutions and a team of EDI experts, Edict Systems helps make incorporating EDI into day-to-day business operations easy and less expensive. 

Embrace the Future of Data Exchange

EDI can help businesses unlock the true potential of their supply chain operations, lowering costs and increasing efficiencies. EDI isn’t simply about advancements in technology, it’s about transforming business processes for greater agility so businesses can remain competitive. At Edict Systems, we help businesses of all sizes get started with EDI, connect their entire supply chain, or adjust their operations to streamline efforts.

If you’re ready to take advantage of the value EDI can add to your business, contact our EDI experts. We’ll assess your business needs and tailor a solution that’s right for you, whether you are just starting out, or need a solution to support your growing, changing business.