If you're asking "how much should EDI cost?", there is no single answer.
EDI providers operate different pricing models, so you will need to weigh up investment spend against your expected benefits in using EDI and decide which offering best meets your needs.
If you’ve been mandated for EDI by one of your trading partners and you only need a single connection, eDI Instant is the fastest way to start using EDI immediately, with no hidden fees. At just £495 per annum you can buy instantly online and be up and running in as little as 24 hours.
If your requirements are more complex, choose from our product bundles, or build your own entirely customisable solution with eDI Freedom.
How much could you save?
Use the Transalis online ROI calculator to find out how much you could save by switching to EDI
Introduction to EDI
Businesses in all sectors rely on EDI to exchange business documents with their global trading partners. Standing for Electronic Data Interchange, EDI is the software that enables the digitised sharing of orders, invoices, ASNs (Advance Shipment Notices), order responses, and other essential documents that need to be exchanged to keep the supply chain moving. To find out more go to What is EDI?
In a world with no EDI, you would have the monumental task of raising orders and invoices manually, sending documents by post or email, and inputting the related information manually into management systems. With EDI, you avoid all that thanks to digitisation, automation, and integration.
Find out more about the benefits EDI
How much does it cost to set up EDI?
There are several factors to consider when calculating the costs of EDI. If you are in a larger well-resourced organisation, you may wish to call on your IT team to build an in-house system. As well as mapping and translating all the data requirements, they will need to invest in software for onward transmission and communication, and ensure they stay up to speed with updates and maintenance. They will also need to support trading partners access and use of the system, and evolve its reach as new partners come on board.
Such an IT challenge is rather complex to say the least, which is why most businesses choose to implement and run an EDI solution from an external SaaS provider (Software as a Service), so they do not have to learn the technical ins and outs.
Are EDI systems expensive?
Either way, you will want to be reassured that your EDI choice is a cost-effective and frictionless method of exchanging business documents. A good EDI solution will achieve this by connecting everyone involved in your trading network and offering the capacity to manage both structured and unstructured data in a way that minimises error, maximises efficiency and improves visibility.
Ideally, you want to find a transparently priced solution that is tailored to your needs and can generate a return on investment. If you are going externally, ask your provider about the pricing model and support they offer. Be sure that the price reflects exactly the level of help you need and comes with no hidden extras or upfront fee.
While it may be tempting to go for the lowest up-front price, this can be a false saving. You will certainly want to avoid what is traditionally known as a VAN, or Value Added Network, charging model. Under this, you pay per transaction and data load, something that can lead to unexpected costs over time, especially if your trading network or the number of digital document exchanges scales up.
Why choose Transalis?
Transparent EDI pricing models
Here at Transalis, we aim to make EDI simple and that includes the pricing. Our Transalis eDI™ product bundles provide customers with substantial cost savings and ‘no surprise’ pricing.
Unlike many other EDI providers, everything, including unlimited message volumes, is included in an annual subscription.
Accredited provider
Transalis is a digital supply chain technology provider with extensive knowledge and insight about the digital exchange of global trade documentation.
Transalis is a global GS1 certified EDI provider, connecting supply chains and enabling businesses to trade electronically, across their trading network, anywhere in the world.
We are also one of the few UK tech firms to have been certified as an AS4 Peppol provider, reflecting our compliance with the highest level of international public procurement standards.
Both GS1 and AS4 Peppol support the goal of enabling safe and secure trade through greater supply chain transparency, visibility and efficiency.
Customer first
Under our Customer First approach we help you choose the right product, implementation set-up and ongoing customer support.
You will have a dedicated product manager who will stay with you throughout the end-to-end partner onboarding process. After that, a dedicated account manager and support team help you with any queries on day-to-day operations.
Each solution comes with a choice of support package to ensure you enjoy uninterrupted and hassle-free invoice automation.
eDI Instant
As simple as 1,2,3. Buy EDI online in an instant and connect with your trading partner today
eDI Freedom
Build your own bespoke EDI solution according to your supply chain & integration needs
eDI Connect
Ideal for companies with many trading partners, high order volumes, requiring enhanced stock & sales reporting
eDI Connect+
Perfect for larger organisations requiring complete visibility across their supply chain to improve efficiencies
To talk about your requirements with one of our EDI specialists, contact us on 0845 123 3746 (calling from UK) or +44 1978 369 343 (for international callers), or via email sales@transalis.com
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