There are a few different meanings of EDI. In the context of business and supply chain processes, the EDI acronym stands for Electronic Data Interchange. But while the abbreviation neatly crystallises the term ‘Electronic Data Interchange’, what does EDI stand for in terms of real business benefits and success?

EDI facilitates the automatic exchange of information between trading partners, in a standardised digital format. This can include; order, shipping and invoice data.


What does EDI stand for in business?

In business, EDI stands for the reduction in manual administrative processes and paperwork errors.

Whatever business or sector you are in, you will naturally want your invoices, orders, shipping notes and other paperwork to be error-free and easily managed. As far back as the 1960s, supply chains across the world have relied on EDI as a ready, accurate means of processing and exchanging essential trading data.

Since then, EDI has been widely taken up by manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, distributors, third-party logistics companies and other trading network partners.
Forget raising orders and invoices manually and sending documents by email or post that then have to be keyed into partners’ systems, EDI has automated the whole activity.


What does EDI mean in terms of savings and efficiency?

For businesses who continually process multiple lines of order and invoice information every day, EDI has introduced universal time and cost savings, eliminated the need for repetitive paper documents and improved accuracy.

As a prime example of electronic business innovation, EDI has kept evolving. Gone are the days when internal teams had to grapple with an IT integration challenge that was complicated, unwieldy, expensive and technical.

Now, you don’t need any specialist knowhow because a quality external provider, such as Transalis, will do all the implementation for you and provide on-going support once the solution it’s up and running.


What does EDI stand for in supply chain?

EDI means more efficient and agile supply chains. 

Organisations are able to communicate with each other much faster and process order information much more efficiently. With EDI, trading partners have access to the same platform to exchange documents and process them using integrations with their own business applications and systems.

Transalis helps you reach 100% adoption of all your trading partners through a fully supported onboarding process featuring training, guides and user testing.

In addition, you have a dedicated Account Manager who you can contact at any time throughout the onboarding process.

As well as being easy and cost-effective, Transalis eDI™ enables you to scale up your use of EDI as your business grows.

Our case study section in our Knowledge Hub offers you an example of Electronic Data Interchange and how it works to improve trading relationships between organisations.


What does EDI stand for in your organisation?

Let’s consider some of the advantages you will gain from adopting Transalis eDI™ platform. This is a cloud-based, managed service built by experts with years of industry experience.

We ensure all the formatting and translating required for integrating structured and unstructured data into your system is done successfully so you don’t have to worry about going ‘under the bonnet’. This includes mapping all the required data from source files into the relevant EDI format.

Similarly, scheduling outputs is easy. This is vitally important in a network of partners who will typically have different trigger points for extracting data. Keeping track of that manually is highly labour intensive and far from straightforward. Instead, whether real-time or tied to an agreed time or event schedule, outputting essential data is a task done automatically for you by Transalis eDI™.

Easy and transparent

Once you are set up with Transalis eDI™, you and your partner(s) can be communicating vital documents electronically immediately, secure in the knowledge that you are on a robust, agile, scalable and high-performance platform.

Given cost pressures, you will want to ensure that any EDI deployment generates a return on investment and is easy to operate and manage.

Transalis operates a clear pricing model reflecting exactly the level of help you need and with no hidden extras such as so-called VAN, or value-added network, charges.

Transalis eDI™ harnesses all the benefits of SaaS, or software as a service. This means you avoid the task of installation or the need for an internal server altogether. Instead, you access your solution on a remote cloud network via a web browser or API. You don’t have to worry about software updates or reconfigurations of message types because Transalis take care of all that.

Frictionless business

Unlike many other EDI providers, everything, including unlimited message, is incorporated in our annual subscriptions. Organisations have a choice of 4 EDI solutions, based on their individual business needs.

Just starting out with EDI?

Transalis innovation goes beyond its applications and service delivery.

We are the first to offer online purchasing of a fully automated set-up with the introduction of our eDI Instant and eDI Essential products.

These products are perfect for businesses just starting to explore how EDI can benefit them or are beginning to build out their trading networks.

It’s as simple as 1,2,3 to get online with your trading partner.

Need more from your EDI solution?

At the other end of the scale, our eDI Connect and eDI Connect+ bundles help organisations that have more complex supply chains and need therefore a complete overview of their trading relationships.

These organisations will typically have a complicated network of multiple trading partners, requiring unlimited message creation and integration with their existing ERP systems. Their EDI solution will also need to provide advanced analytics for supplier performance visibility and management.

eDI Instant

As simple as 1,2,3. Buy EDI online in an instant and connect with your trading partner today

BUY NOW

eDI Essential

Buy online now and exchange digital documents with up to 2 trading partners

BUY NOW

eDI Freedom

Build your own bespoke EDI solution according to your supply chain & integration needs

BUILD YOUR OWN

eDI Connect

Ideal for companies with many trading partners, high order volumes, requiring enhanced stock & sales reporting

FIND OUT MORE

eDI Connect+

Perfect for larger organisations requiring complete visibility across their supply chain to improve efficiencies

TALK TO SALES

For more information on EDI solutions and Transalis eDI™, check out our EDI Software bundles. Talk to us on 0845 123 3746 or +44 1978 369 343 (for international callers), or via email sales@transalis.com