EDI
System Solutions
EDI System
An EDI system is most often a solution to
a business’ EDI needs. This can be to
fulfill customers’ EDI mandates or manage
a rapidly growing supply chain.
EDI systems often include EDI integration
into backend ERP, accounting, warehousing or
supply chain management systems. In addition,
an EDI system will include communication,
translation and mapping functionalities. Most
EDI system vendors actually have its main business
in providing consulting services rather than
selling EDI system of pre-configured software.
The difficulty for someone in the market for EDI
systems is to know whether the product
being acquired is mostly software or mostly
services, since most vendors seem to claim
the same benefits.
Top
Reasons For Emanio's EDI
System |
- Affordable entry level price
point
- scalable system that grows with
yoru company
- enable automation of your EDI
process
- integration compatible with Unite!
- ideal alternative to costly web-based
systems
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When the decision is made to buy an EDI system,
the decision of which vendor to purchase from
becomes important. Regardless of the type of
solution, a number of issues should be contemplated
in choosing an EDI system. These factors include:
- Standards supported
- Ease of use and customization
- Software maintenance
- Special features
- Technical support
- Vendor experience
- Platforms supported
The EDI system you purchase should support
all standards in use within your company and
within the trading partner’s company.
At a minimum, the EDI system should support
ANSI X12 and the industry subsets of X12, and
the same for UN/EDIFACT. The EDI system must
be able to support multiple versions of the EDI
standards since trading partners frequently
use different versions.
Since trading partner EDI
mapping – identifying the optional
segments and elements to be used in transaction
sets – is done with each trading partner,
the EDI system should be easy to customize
for each trading partner. In fact, in addition
to having an easily customizable EDI system,
EMANIO provides EDI kits that makes it truly
simple to begin transacting with many hundreds
of major trading partners.
Since EDI standards will
change, the EDI system will need to readjust.
In choosing an EDI system,
consider the cost and timeliness of standards
upgrades. Most EDI system vendors update packages
as the standards are updated, but how those
changes are provided to customers vary from
vendor to vendor. Ensure that the EDI system
is easily modified.
Depending on the particular EDI application,
special features such as encryption techniques,
control reporting and audit reports may be
important in the EDI system.
One of the most important considerations in
purchasing an EDI system is the post-sale support.
Services should include: a vendor hotline staffed
with competent technical people who can provide
rapid answers to issues or problems, and account
representatives who are able to help with installing
of the EDI system as well as addressing any
issues after it is installed. Always request
references!
Another factor to consider with an EDI system
is the financial stability and experience of
the vendor. Does the vendor have experience
in your industry, with your application? What
is their financial stability? There are many
small vendors of EDI systems, few of which
can be considered either financially stable
or experienced. You need to ensure that the
EDI systems vendor will be there to support
you over the long haul.
In general, an EDI system is acquired for
a specific hardware platform, most usually
PC based, although some companies need multi-platform
EDI systems.
What type of EDI System is best for your small
business? The answer to that question
will ultimately depend on how well the EDI
System meets the unique requirements of your
business. How many different trading
partners does your EDI System need to support?
How much growth does your EDI System need to
allow for? Are you going to run the EDI
System in house or are you thinking of hiring
an outside company to host the EDI System for
you? These and other questions will guide
you to the EDI System that will be best for
your business, now and in the future.
Regardless of which EDI System you select,
it is important to be prepared for implementing
and deploying an EDI System. Unlike many
other types of other business software, an
EDI System has a single goal – the translation
of EDI data. Because of this, small business
owners often do not think of their EDI System
as a critical component of their IT system.
An EDI System must be thought of as a critical
component of the business because of the many
advantages that an EDI System can bring to
any small business. A properly implemented
EDI System can significantly reduce costs,
improve the accuracy of data, and provide you
with a competitive advantage. Selecting
the right EDI System will let you focus more
of your time on running your business, and
less on managing your EDI System.
An EDI System should also be maintained just
as you would maintain any other in-house system. That
means that your EDI System should be backed up
on a regular schedule. Your EDI System
should be run on a dedicated PC or server for
best performance. The PC or server housing
your EDI System should be maintained regularly
and optimized for best performance. For
these reasons, it is often best to make your
EDI System part of your IT infrastructure. This
way, the EDI System can be maintained on the
same regular schedule as your other key systems. After
you purchase your EDI System, it is also important
to stay in contact with the vendor. Receiving
regular updates to your EDI System will keep
the EDI System operating at best efficiency and
at an optimum level. Vendors often release
patches to their EDI System to fix bugs or to
ensure continued compatibility of the EDI System
with the operating system. |
