Relationships between trading partners continue to be improved through the efficiencies of EDI, or electronic data interchange. This is essentially the translation, mapping and integration software that enables digitised information to be shared across an EDI network.

Instead of 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 of sharing transaction data.

It has enabled companies and organisations throughout the world to achieve substantial productivity improvements.

At Transalis, we will help you reach 100% adoption of trading partners in your EDI network through a fully-supported on-boarding process featuring training, guides and user testing.

Overview of EDI network

It’s essential at the outset that everyone in your IT adoption and project team has a good overview of who your trading partners are.

Early discussions with the partners will help to ensure your EDI network runs on systems that can talk to each other.

The file formats, or transaction sets, in EDI are absolutely key to streamlining and improving the data transfer process and so analysing and mapping current procedures is a must.

Once IT teams have analysed and mapped the current procedures operating between you and your EDI network, you can understand the size of the EDI proposition required and the number of connections and message types involved.

Navigating complex supply chains

Different trading partners have diverging views on what an EDI transaction involves, the kinds of data it should comprise, and even the devices on which its information is processed and presented.

If you trade with multiple partners, especially if together you are processing thousands of customer orders, you really don’t want to be spending precious time and resource ironing out different approaches to EDI when you could be out there generating profit.

Instead of you having to translate data into multiple formats before it can be shared, choose an EDI provider who will already have done this formatting and translation work for you.

At Transalis, our specialists work with clients and digital analysts all the time to define and support connections over and above usual EDI functionality – so we remove this headache for you.

Boosting efficiency and communication

To set up and run EDI traditionally, you have needed to know where the data is going to live, for example in an ERP, accounting or logistics application, and how it will be used.

With Transalis, you avoid the need to go ‘under the bonnet’ as you benefit from built-in integration answering all these queries.

All kinds of business documents, including structured and unstructured data, can be exchanged without you having to learn the technical ins and outs.

Communication model

At the same time, it is vital to ensure your EDI ‘protocol’ conforms to a communication model such as AS2, standing for ‘applicability statement 2’.

This is a secure, encrypted process that is already widely implemented and accepted by EDI networks across the world.

As a certified AS2 provider, Transalis can handle any kind of file format and bring you the immediate benefits of a transparent ‘bundle-based’ pricing model.

Seamless benefits

Standardisation across a digital supply chain ensures all EDI network partners benefit from easily understood digitised information.
In a nutshell, EDI minimises error, maximises efficiency, reduces delivery time and speeds invoice payment.
Without EDI you have the 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 automatic raising of orders and invoices, and digital sending and receipt.
EDI improves so many processes from inventory management to shipping to audit.

Message types

The Transalis EDI platform reinforces the use of EDI as a message network to support eInvoicing, the electronic exchange of invoices, and the requirements of cross-border trade.

Among hundreds of ‘message types’ are categories for order and warehouse management and CUSDEC, the formatting and pre-validating of customs declarations.
CUSDEC is an EDI message type that any company exporting or importing outside the UK now needs to use following Brexit.

It includes the necessary consignment, transport, statistical and customs information required for moving goods across borders.

CUSDEC may be used to transmit data from an exporter in one country to an importer elsewhere, or from one customs administration to another.

It can also be used when declarants or customs authorities are called on to share data with other government agencies.

If you are involved in cross-border trade and want to discuss how best to optimise your EDI network, why not talk to us on 0845 123 3746 or +44 1978 369 343 (for international callers), reach our Customer Success team via email sales@transalis.com, or take a look at the Transalis eDI™ Software.

View our EDI Software
Electronic Data Interchange Supply chain