Comprehensive B2B integration solutions to streamline transactions, enhance data exchange, and strengthen partner collaboration

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EDI Integration for B2B Exchange to Optimize and Grow your Business

What is B2B EDI? 

B2B (Business-to-Business) Integration, also known as Electronic Data Interchange EDI, is the process of exchanging business documents electronically either internally or amongst external business partners.

Electronic data interchange (EDI) has become a standard data exchange practice in modern business. EDI allows companies to automate their business processes leading to greater efficiency. Automated data exchange allows to avoid errors, reduce order processing time, and achieve accuracy.

What is meant by EDI?

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is the process of exchanging documents electronically through secure communication channels from one software information system to another. In other words, from one business partner to another.

In a fully automated process, the exchange of electronic documents (for example, receiving and processing orders), can take place at the application level, without the direct involvement and participation of employees.

Who typically uses EDI?

EDI standard and connected technologies are used in a B2B data exchange protocol, of any type of businesses in different industries. These can be large, medium, or small enterprises operating in retail, manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceutical, or any other industry. EDI is also used in international trade such as air, sea, and road transportation. Not surprising, to see customs in most of the countries using EDI heavily in their cross-border operations.

Experience shows that large retailers such as Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Home Depot, Target, etc. are always the initiators of electronic data exchange. Moreover, almost all retailers, having evaluated the advantages of using EDI, force their suppliers to exchange documents only through EDI.

EDI Integration with Business Systems (ERP/CRM)

EDI integration allows to automate the creation, sending, receiving, and processing of any business documents in electronic format with a trading partner, existing backend business systems, or applications, to provide a greater level of efficiency and complete automation.

With over 21 years of experience in EDI and the integration marketplace, our company EDI2XML has a proven experience in integrating EDI, with the most frequently used systems:

EDI Integrations and eCommerce Businesses  

EDI is also becoming a vital element of the e-commerce business; we are receiving more and more requests for e-commerce integration with EDI.

Especially, requests for connecting online stores running on one of the major e-commerce platforms. The most frequent EDI e-commerce integration are:

  • Shopify EDI Integration
  • Magento EDI Integration
  • BigCommerce EDI Integration
  • Amazon Vendor Central EDI integration
  • Amazon Seller Central EDI integration
  • Walmart EDI Integration
  • And much more…

This means that orders from an online store will be automatically converted into an EDI document (for example X12 EDI 850 Purchase Order) and pushed into a supplier’s business system. This is the most common scenario in an eCommerce dropship business.

However, it is worth mentioning the very common request for e-commerce integration with ERP / CRM systems. This means syncing data between business software systems (SAP, Salesforce, JDE, etc.) with your e-commerce store.

Fully Managed EDI Services to automate data exchange with business partners

Our company offers a fully managed EDI service that includes transformation and connectivity services for companies of all sizes.

Our customers do not need to install any software or hardware because all EDI file conversions and transformations, are done from our side. We carry out all stages of an integration project from project planning to testing with the trading partner.

Our integration platform receives EDI files (for example x12 or EDIFACT) from the trading partner, then converts them into the required format (i.e. XML, CSV, TXT) and sends them to you (see the picture below).

Fully managed EDI Service

EDI2XML platform will sit in  the middle between you and your trading partner to convert, send and collect all EDI documents.

Request Fully Managed EDI Service Pricing Plans HERE for more information.

Benefits of using EDI for B2B exchange

Currently, using the latest technologies, EDI implementation is not so expensive (as many business leaders might think), but the benefits of EDI integration allow companies to significantly speed up document flow and increase sales. Besides, EDI has many advantages, namely:

  • EDI enables companies to optimize all processes in the enterprise, from planning to production management and control.
  • EDI allows increasing the speed and efficiency of data processing. Mandatory use of standards (for example X12 or EDIFACT) helps to avoid errors and improve accuracy.
  • EDI helps manufacturers to quickly respond to the requests of their wholesalers’ customers.
  • EDI document exchange allows retailers and wholesalers to improve the efficiency of logistics and procurement as well as improve inventory management. For example, using EDIFACT messages such as INVRPT, DELFOR, DELJIT, and DESADV allows reducing warehouse storage costs.
  • EDI integration allows companies to reduce the number of employees who enter data into the business system received on paper or by e-mail.
  • EDI increases the accuracy of information processing because as practice shows, errors are inevitable with manual data entry.

B2B / EDI Integration – find the best Solution

EDI2XML offers various EDI integration solutions.

Whether you are a buyer, supplier, manufacturer, retailer, 3PL Warehouses, or Logistics – using our advanced EDI technology, you can exchange data electronically with all your partners quickly, reliably, and efficiently.

We’ve got an EDI solution that really makes your day-to-day tasks easier and faster!

Contact us for a free consultation with our EDI experts.

How to Choose the Right Integration Platform?

As information technology is getting engrained into enterprise management processes, the challenges of integrating systems, data and flows are becoming increasingly important.

System integration ensures the integrity and consistency of all information in the enterprise. Avoid duplication of data entry, as well as improve the timely exchange of information between all groups of employees, departments and contractors.

The range of integration is very wide: from making two business applications talk to each other, to the creation of a single information environment within the enterprise. Integration can go beyond a company four walls. Today, the integration consists of orchestrating and integrating systems and applications of business partners along in addition to streamlining processes within an enterprise…

The complexity and relevance of integration are also highlighted by the impressive investment amounts spent on such integration projects. Independent analysts estimate that the biggest part of IT budget in large companies, is spent on integration tasks and projects. The strategic approach and the right choice of integration technology can reduce the risks and costs associated with systems integration projects.

The statistic reveals the IT functions most commonly outsourced by IT leaders worldwide. As you can see from the graph below, system integration was outsourced to 29% of respondents.
the IT functions most commonly outsourced by IT leaders worldwide

Source: Statista.com

Integration factors:

Let’s list and analyze the factors that affect integration projects:

Processes acceleration. Business development requires more and more often to change the data structures, business processes, let alone the design and user interface, which is just constantly in change.

Dispersal. Organizations are becoming increasingly large, and the challenges are increasingly complex, with logical, organizational and geographical dispersion.

Heterogeneity. In a large project, it is almost never possible to adhere to platforms and tools from one manufacturer. Many companies use different on-premise and cloud/on-demand applications such as Microsoft SharePoint, Lotus Notes, Salesforce.com, or other industry specific software and applications. Thus, you have to consider and support the features of multiple platforms.

Heredity. Inability to completely abandon the legacy system, old hardware, which, by the way, sometimes give quite good indicators of reliability and performance, but they do not easily contribute to integration.

Interactivity. Users constantly raise their expectations about the speed of system response, speed, and efficiency of information delivery. Most processes tend to perform in real time.

High load. The complexity of integration is affected by the number of users in the system, the amount of data, and the intensity of data processing.

Continuity of the work cycle. System integration and upgrades must almost always be seamless, smooth, incremental, and imperceptible to the enterprise and its customers.

Cross-system integration. Integration tasks are not limited within the company. Increasingly, enterprises need to integrate different complex solutions with partners, customers, suppliers, contractors and even with government agencies (B2G integration).

Selection of integration platform

The system integration remains a hot topic for many companies, regardless of their industry or sphere of activity. In integration, especially when it comes to complex and large-scale projects, the key issue is the choice of the optimal platform.

Loosely-Coupled Architecture

According to Wikipedia in integration loose coupling in broader distributed system design is achieved by the use of transactions, queues provided by message-oriented middleware, and interoperability standards. Four types of autonomy, which promote loose coupling, are: reference autonomy, time autonomy, format autonomy, and platform autonomy.

Generally, point-to-point integration applications become inseparable from each other, leading to risks and instability.

Therefore, it is better to focus on loosely coupled integration technologies that give the opportunity for a variety of architectural approaches and topologies ranging from the hub and spokes model to an ESB to an SOA.

Standard connectors

It is no secret, manual programming is lengthy and risky, so to avoid manual programming or custom-coded interfaces, it is better to use standard certified connectors.

Furthermore, best practices in software integration are using standard application and technology components.

Magic xpi provides and maintains components for most of the major solutions, such as Salesforce, JD Edwards, SAP, Dynamics CRM and more.

In total Magic xpi includes 100+ prebuilt components “out-of-the-box”, lots of them are certified adapters for leading IT systems. Moreover, and a Connector Builder for everything else.

Visual approach

When planning and implementing an integration project, the use of a graphical user interface which can visualize processes ensures consistency of actions and facilitates communication of all integration participants.

Easy-to-use Data Mapper

Business processes are continuously changing. Therefore, it requires constant technical changes to the configurations that should be easily implemented. In the case where integration with a third-party system, such as Salesforce.com, or another ERP or CRM system is hard-coded using the point-to-point programming method, it becomes difficult to make changes.

Magic xpi allows doing all these configuration changes in few clicks to modify the flow, or the way data is exchanged or transformed, such as adding new data fields, names, types, and sizes or even changing the way the business process works.

Independent integration technology platform

Leading integration experts recommend that system integration technology, must be platform-independent. It must integrate easily with most (if not all) software solutions and be able to interact with Web applications, mobile, or even IBM i-based applications. This applies to connectors: The integration platform should offer connectors for major IT solutions, so that they can be integrated in a platform independent manner.

Experienced Integration provider

Doing business with an experienced business partner is an additional criteria companies are looking into. An experienced integration partner that is responsive, will “add value” to a company’s projects, and becomes a backup resource to their internal staff, knowing that today companies are short in resources, and management are pushing into more integration and automation projects.

Accessible Manufacturer

It has become very common today to look for an integration technology manufacturer that is always present and backing up his software products/services. Enterprises are looking for a more human oriented technical support, and not a company who would treat its support requests as only tickets and numbers. A manufacturer who interacts with the end-user, understand his needs, supports him and build/update the software and integration platform for the real life, and not for a “virtual reality”.

Monitoring the business processes

Monitoring business processes after any integration project implementation, will allow you to monitor and manage error handling and have a visibility on performance. If interoperability is delayed, it can affect the routine of the whole enterprise.

Automatic documentation

Self-documentation of integration processes is very useful in any integration project. Inadequate documentation in integration projects may result in the loss of critical project information.

Since documentation can be a very time-consuming manual process, when an integration technology provides an automatic documentation feature based on the project flows, specialists and analysts, are much more likely to adopt and use in their integration projects.

The right integration partners

As a long-time partner of Magic Software Enterprises (a global provider of innovative end-to-end business integration and application development solutions), EDI2XML has been recommending and using Magic xpi integration platform for proven, successful integration projects.

We provide the right combination of technology, people, and processes to transform your company. Our specialists have a proven record of successfully solving various integration problems and overcoming great challenges.

Magic xpi and EDI2XML HTTP web service: the best EDI software option

This post was updated to reflect current trends and information.

More and more questions related to EDI software, systems integration, EDI, best EDI software are being raised every day by our contacts and clients. I decided to tackle those questions in this post, hoping it will help consultants, as well as companies looking for the most suitable EDI software solution.

Automation via EDI software

It does not matter which industry a company is part of be it sales, manufacturing, or service delivery at some point, every company seeks to automate its internal processes, increase efficiency and eliminate human errors.

A very common situation is the automation in e-commerce, namely – online eCommerce stores. Typically, there are several people who will work on order processing, after an order is keyed-in and entered by the consumer:

  • Operators who manually transferred orders received from the e-commerce site to the internal system.
  • A warehouse worker who will ship orders.

In an environment where EDI is implemented in such a company, and systems eCommerce and on-Premises systems are directly integrated, the need for operators to enter orders, disappears as the order is automatically transferred to the internal system of a company.

As a result, the persons in charge of shipping orders can prepare the goods for dispatch without the help of operators. So, operators are not needed at all.

The company saves money by reducing staff, eliminating errors due to human factors, moreover, the company will be able to quickly ship and deliver orders in a short window of time, which improves greatly its customer service experience.

With the growth of the business, a new need arises – the necessity for interaction between various business partners who use different systems. Nowadays many companies have realized that EDI (Electronic data interchange) along with integration of its business applications, helps enterprises and qualitatively changes the work of employees.

Grow your potential with EDI web service solution

Today, there are many EDI software solutions in the market that allows you to trade electronically with your business partners. Before making a decision and choosing an EDI software, you should pay attention to:

  • the possibility of modernization and scaling
  • the simplicity of EDI implementation
  • ability to send and receive a variety of EDI documents
  • ease of use and feature-rich
  • ability to integrate with other solutions

one important trend in the tech industry today that is very popular, is the use of web services. It is a trend as a technology and as a business methodology.

If you what to know more about web services technology read our article: Seamless EDI implementation through Web Services

Our unique EDI software includes a combination of EDI2XML EDI Web services, and Magic xpi, the code free integration platform, with drag and drop visual aping, simple to use. This combination will reduce the complexity of EDI development, allowing organizations to quickly reap the benefits of this powerful technology, quickly on-board its partners, and most importantly, fully automate and integrate its own ERP or CRM system in a matter of days.

EDI2XML Web Service, is an HTTP service running over the internet, on EDI2XML own private platform that is capable of receiving HTTP requests to translate EDI messages to XML, and XML messages (based on EDI2XML’s proprietary format) to EDI.

EDI2XML HTTP services provide technological and business benefits which include:

  • Application and data integration
  • Versatility
  • Cost savings (no contract: pay as you go)
  • Very simple and dynamic pricing scheme
  • Quick start of using (you can start with less than an hour)
  • Availability and reliability
  • Based on proven technology in the field for over 18 years now
  • Outstanding technical support

Who is EDI2XML web service for?

EDI2XML Web Service, is for developers and businesses, interested in building their own EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) integration flows and programs. Normally, these individuals, are capable of interacting with external API and Web Services to translate EDI to XML and XML to EDI, and have the resources and expertise to work with Web Services and HTTP requests in order to achieve their goals. EDI2XML web service, is the premier choice for IT people as a reliable service to accomplish such Integration projects.

Getting started with EDI2XML Web Service, is very simple and quick. Within less than an hour, you can issue the first Call to the Web Service and see the response.

EDI2XML Web Service currently, supports the EDI transactions as listed on our website. In case a transaction you are looking for is not on the list, we can simply just add it within 24 hours.

Increase competitive power through integration EDI software

Often, companies are already using different business applications such as CRM or ERP systems, which they are quite satisfied. But the question is: can they work in harmony with each other, and integrate together? What is the best way to integrate EDI software to them?

Have you ever thought that EDI software can improve your business by integration all of your business applications and organizing a new way of transferring data and processes through your CRM, ERP, WMS, SCM, finance, third-party applications, and other outdated or cloud-based system?

As mentioned above our EDI software include EDI web service and Magic xpi integration platform;  this technology combination can cover all your business needs. Before we review what is Magic xpi integration platform, let’s see what integration is.

Integration (from the Latin. Integratio – “insert”) – the process of inserting parts into something. Depending on the context, it may mean:

  • Web integration – the integration of heterogeneous web applications and systems into a single web-based environment.
  • Data Integration – Data integration involves combining data residing in different sources and providing users with a unified view of them. (definition from Wikipedia)

I would add this Wikipedia definition as follow: The integration of software systems and products is the exchange of data between systems with possible subsequent processing. The point of integration is that the data entered by the user (or directly injected by another application or API) into one system is automatically migrated to another.

Magic xpi – efficient integration for any business and any system

Magic xpi makes integration fast and uninterrupted due to pre-built components, proven and certified connectors as well as code-free, visual approach.

Using Magic xpi Integration Platform you can connect a varied business application and systems and improve the capabilities of your ERP, CRM, finance, and other enterprise systems.

Unlike other integration platforms that use complex point-to-point coding, Magic xpi have easy to use, code-free, drag and drop visual data mapper. You can manage the performance of your system at all times thanks to comprehensive monitoring and management tools. Magic xpi has incomparable connectivity including 100+ prebuilt components, certified and optimized adapters for leading IT systems, and a Connector Builder for all your needs.

Magic xpi Integration Platform

Start with the best EDI Software solution

We do offer EDI projects consultancy. We help companies plan, deploy, test and integrate EDI projects. You can simply call us (450) 68-3009 Ext 223 or write us sales@namtek.ca if you need any EDI consulting work. We have a proven 20+ years of experience in EDI and integration projects.

Oracle JD Edwards and B2B eCommerce Integration for efficient online sales

This post was updated to reflect current trends and information

The Synergy of JD Edwards and B2B E-commerce

Oracle’s JD Edwards software (also JD Edwards EnterpriseOne or World) is an excellent software solution for mid and large size enterprises. This ERP (or enterprise resource planning) system is a central tool to help companies run their business. Usually, most organizations using JDE ERP software, are somehow engaged in B2B activities, such as doing business with wholesalers, retailers, or distributors…

Wikipedia’s definition of B2B E-commerce is “B2B e-commerce (also written as e-Commerce, eCommerce or similar variants), short for business-to-business, electronic commerce, is selling products or services between businesses through the internet via an online sales portal”.

In other words, it is B2B transactions that are happening online, over a B2B portal. The difference from an online B2C store that it addresses a company, and not an individual consumer.

According to Statista.com, the global B2B eCommerce market valuing US$12.2 trillion in 2019 is over 6 times that of the B2C market.

JDE e-commerce integration

The data of e-commerce market is impressive, but B2B e-commerce isn’t just for big companies. Many small and mid-size businesses also thrive in B2B e-commerce sales. Despite the size of the company, there is one common thing between all successful B2B e-commerce organizations – the Systems Integration.

B2B eCommerce customer loyalty

B2B eCommerce market is becoming hypercompetitive. Online customers today have high expectations, similar to the B2C (business-to-consumer e-commerce) market.

Business customers are demanding increasing levels of service and convenience. They are pressuring to quickly find the right products and faster way to process orders to support their workloads.

The e-commerce site or B2B portal, is becoming an extension of the business; therefore, for a better customer interaction and user experience, the B2B portal should be integrated without failure into the ERP system. As it is well known already, companies today adopt different kinds ERP, inventory management and supply chain systems… This makes it hard to manage data flow between those heterogenous systems. It influences negatively the shopping experience of a B2B customer.

Based on the above, and in order to overcome such challenges, companies have no choice other than adopting the seamless and real-time Systems Integration.

Benefits of B2B eCommerce Integration with JDE

Following are some of the benefits integration may bring to the company:

  • Allows everyone in a company to have the consistent information and immediate access to data such order history for example, in a real-time mode
  • Helps e-commerce companies to better serve their customers and grow online sales.
  • Helps companies increase their profits
  • Reduces company’s cost per transaction.
  • Better performance in year-over-year growth for revenue and product sales as well as increased growth of new customers.

Oracle JD Edwards Integration with Magic xpi

You’ve probably heard that integrating an eCommerce system with Oracle JD Edwards can be complicated, but it’s not the case if you use Magic xpi integration platform.

Organizations adopting Magic xpi for its Integration projects, can fully leverage the features provided in this API driven platform with certified connectors, to optimize the benefits from their eCommerce and JDE ERP software.

Magic xpi integration platform has more than 50 adapters, wizards, services, and methods enable companies to create continuous business processes based on JD Edwards business functions and helps enhance communication between e-commerce company and their online customers.

Driving innovation in your B2B eCommerce with Magic xpi

Magic xpi has an excellent JD Edwards connector, certified by Oracle themselves. It is able to discover JDE pre-built business functions or work directly with the Z-files of JDE.

It is API driven middleware that enables integration and orchestration of flows, business processes based on events and other multitude types of triggers. Adopting Magic xpi for integration projects, allows a company to benefit from the following advantages:

• Improve the quality of customer service. You can connect eCommerce, CRM, support, shipping, social media and more from the same integration platform, without any coding or programming requirements

• Speed processes and increase the productivity due to automatically synchronizing Work Orders, Bills of Materials, Return Merchandise authorizations and more across systems.

• Synchronize data, such as names, locations and product catalogs, between JD Edwards EnterpriseOne or JD Edwards World and other systems.

• Permit mobile workforce solutions for Order Entry, Proof-of-Delivery, Field Service apps, and more.

Oracle JD Edwards Connector Capabilities

  • Visual mapping between source and destination for business functions
  • Drag and drop: no coding required
  • Handles exceptions and errors, reliably and seamlessly
  • Integrates financial data in real time, near real time, and at optimal intervals
  • Integrates non-JDE applications with your JDE simply
  • Integrates with new and existing e-commerce websites
  • Integrates order tracking and logistics management over the Web
  • Integrates CRM and sales force management
  • Handles service calls and tracks orders over the Web
  • Runs natively on IBM I systems
  • Consolidates your charts of accounts with other systems and companies

 Oracle JD Edwards Connector Benefits

  • Creates services easily
  • Implements SOA with existing JD Edwards Enterprise One or JD Edwards World
  • Leverages investment in and knowledge of JD Edwards systems
  • Simplifies integration when upgrading or installing new versions
  • Overcomes integration barriers with existing systems
  • Modernizes the perception of JD Edwards applications
  • Integrates JD Edwards company-wide across all business processes, according to business process definitions
  • Empowers end users and technical staff
  • Increases efficiency through reliable and seamless handling of exceptions and errors
  • Allows access to information when you need it

Leave e-commerce integration to the experts

You don’t need to be an Integration expert in order to improve your business. By choosing EDI2XML and Magic xpi, you’ll have complete systems integration, enjoy ease of maintenance, and benefit from a high return on investment.

Free consultation ecommerce JDE integration

For more helpful information about JDE read our posts:

Oracle JD Edwards Integration: the key to Digital Transformation

The Definitive Checklist for Oracle JDE and EDI Integration Projects

EDI or E-commerce Integration with Oracle JD Edwards Enterprise

Download JD Edwards Integration brochure

EDI compliance and integration with Burlington Coat Factory

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This post was updated to reflect current trends and information.

Company Overview of Burlington Coat Factory

Burlington Coat Factory is an American national off-price department store retailer and a division of Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation. The company operated 592 stores located in 45 states and Puerto Rico, inclusive of an internet store and has approximately 40 000 employees.

As per the company’s website, the first store was opened in Burlington, New Jersey in 1972, selling principally coats and outerwear.  Since then company diversified product categories by offering an extensive selection fashion-focused, labeled merchandise acquired directly from nationally recognized manufacturers and other suppliers.

Burlington Coat Factory EDI Standards

For all communications with their suppliers, Burlington Coat Factory use Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) including purchase orders, Advance Ship Notices (ASN), Invoices etc. The company is on EDI X12 v4010 standard.

Burlington Coat Factory EDI Specification

850 Purchase Order

Burlington Coat Factory sends 850 Purchase Orders via EDI, to inform their seller of a product request. A Purchase order 850 may be used to provide distribution requirements for receiving location(s), such as cross-dock, drop-ship, or direct to consumer as would be the case for the Burlington online store.

For each 850 Purchase Order, they indicate a purchase order number, a P/O date, the location of the ship to, provide a delivery time and product pricing.

856 Ship Notice/Manifest

Burlington Stores requires their seller to send an 856 Ship Notice/Manifest via EDI, to be advised of shipment information. The 856 transactions, includes order information, description of goods, types of packaging used, carrier information and more.

For a single purchase order, there can be or more shipments which would be followed by one or more 856 ASN Advance Ship Notice and possibly one or more 810 Invoices.

810 Invoice

The suppliers of Burlington Coat Factory have to comply with X12 810 Invoice to bill Burlington for products and services shipped to their stores.

Using an EDI 810 Invoice, permits Burlington to register payment-request information and update automatically their appropriate systems. The information included in the Invoice 810 provides automated cross-referencing of a purchase order and receiving information. This process is executed without manual intervention, thus eliminating further data entry.

824 Application Advice

Burlington Stores send 824 Application Advice via EDI, to notify the acceptance, rejection or acceptance with change of a trading partner’s transaction. The 824 transaction set contains information such as quantity and monetary amounts, dates, reference numbers, it also provides trading partner information, technical error descriptions in free-form text format.

852 Product Activity

The EDI message 852 Product Activity sent by Burlington to transmit product sales by location to the supplier. These messages inform a supplier about the items sold and items on hand at a store and its level. Burlington sends the EDI 852 message on a scheduled basis (e.g., weekly on Mondays) for input to a vendor’s sales and inventory management system.

997 Functional Acknowledgment

997 Functional Acknowledgment is required by Burlington, when sending or receiving EDI transactions. 997s, are an indication that a trading partner has successfully received a well-formed EDI message. The message Functional Acknowledgments 997 generated automatically for transmission back to the sending party.

Becoming EDI compliant with Burlington Coat Factory

EDI2XML offers full EDI integration with Burlington Coat Factory. From A to Z, a customer’s EDI requirements are handled by our team of EDI experts. We take care of EDI mapping, Trading Partner configuration, Standards maintenance, XML/CSV/TXT translation etc.

For more information Download our EDI2XML Translation Service Pricing Package here 

EDI2XML pricing packages

EDI converter: Benefits of converting between EDI and XML

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This post was updated  to reflect current trends and information.

 

Overview of EDI

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) – standardized message formats for the transfer of commercial information between business partners. The two most common documents exchanged using EDI are purchase orders (EDI 850) and invoices (EDI 810). To transfer the EDI data, companies are often using the Internet or VANs (Value Added Networks). EDIFACT is the most popular EDI standard in Europe and ANSI X12 is in active use in North America. In the global  supply chain,  the GS1 EDI  set of standards are predominant. In brief, EDI allows companies to communicate business and commercial information quickly and efficiently.

Read: What is EDI? (A technical introduction to EDI)

Understanding XML

 XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a markup language that allows to standardize the data, in the form of text easily understood by users and computers. In other words, XML is a simple and flexible text format designed to meet the needs of electronic publishing.

XML has two main tasks:

  1. Provide a description of the data structure.
  2. Provide a common syntax for all other specifications.

Thus, XML does not specify how to display a document, it only describes its structure and content.

XML created in 1996 by W3C (World Wide Web Consortium); it is a subclass of the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). XML was conceived to be a flexible format, at the same time as a formal metalanguage for use on the Internet. One of XML’s primary applications was in handling B2B and B2C data interchange.

From the beginning of XML implementation, its advantages over EDI were obvious. Simple and self-descriptive, structured, support of multi-lingual and Unicode (very important for international EDI transaction).

What is EDI2XML?

EDI2XML is a technology to transform incoming EDI documents (X12 EDI files) into XML. At the same time, converting an XML document to EDI X12 format. This process of converting edi to xml is due to the fact that our company took the time to create predefined xml schemas (xsd files) that respond to the business needs of almost 100 % of EDI consumers.

Read: How does EDI2XML work?

EDI2XML converter

The fact that we have over 20 years of experience in converting X12 EDI to XML gives us a competitive advantage over other EDI developers. We have already successfully implemented this converter in many companies of different sizes from various industries. We also helped IT consultants use EDI2XML in their EDI integration projects.

EDI2XML as a Service is our popular translation and communication service. All conversions of EDI files are done on our end, leaving customers with no on-site installation of software or hardware and an EDI project that is on time and within budget.

Read: EDI Integration of B2B e-commerce for small companies

If you would like to know more about the plans offered for EDI2XML (Free EDI Consultation), or would like to see it in action (live Demo), please do not hesitate to contact us.

Free Guide Intro to EDI

Related Posts:

Electronic Data Interchange: Key Information You Need to Know
ANSI ASC X12 Standards Overview
What Are the Differences Between ANSI X12 and UN/EDIFACT
A technical introduction to EDI