EDI(Electronic
Data Interchange)
Traditional way
of EDI
EDI is an
electronic exchange of business documents in a standard computer processable
universally accepted format between the trading partners. It is different from
e-mail/file sharing on network as both the trading partners have to agree on a
common format of business documents that is to be send as data files over
electronic message device. Once the data which is entered in desirable format
it can be easily computed to and fro.
Reorder level:
Ordering after a certain level/limit eg: barcode
The repeated
keying of identical information in the traditional paper based systems creates
a number of problems such as increased time, low accuracy, high labor charges,
increased uncertainty. EDI maintains common electronic format for business
document such as purchase order, request for quotation, invoice etc. These are
called electronic transaction sets. The communication occurs between computer
and computer with less human efforts and less errors.
ERP(Enterprise
Resource Planning)
Business
application should be computerized.
JIT(Just In
Time)
EDI enabled JIT.
Components of
EDI
·
EDI standard/rules
·
EDI software: converts data into EDI
messages as per the EDI standards
·
Communication method/Transaction sets:
sends messages from one computer to another.
The challenge is
to integrate the business application with EDI standards through a proper
generation of EDI transaction set using an EDI translator. EDI standards are
the data standards that lay down the syntax and semantics of being exchanged.
The transportation industry in US was the first one to develop the standards
and then it was taken over by retail industry. The grocery segment came up with
UCS(Uniform Communication Standard).
In Europe,
TDI(Tree Data Interchange) was developed for warehousing and DISH(Data Interchange
for Shipping) in shipping. Then there was development in American National
Standard Institute(ANSI X12). Similarly UN came up with UN/EDIFACT EDI For
Administration Commerce Transport introduced in 1987 by UN and these are one of
the internationally acknowledged standards.
Advantages of
EDI
·
Cost savings
·
Speed
·
Accuracy
·
Security
·
System integration
·
Just In Time support
EDI Standards
EDI requires
companies to agree on standards
·
Compatible hardware and software
·
Agreed upon electronic form format
Established EDI
standards
·
Automotive Industry Action Group(AIAG)
·
X.12 de facto
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