EDI Solution
Companies use an EDI solution to fulfill customer or vendor mandates
or to manage a growing supply chain. An EDI Solution can
include stand-alone software or an integrated system sending data
to the company's ERP, accounting, warehousing or supply chain
management systems, and typically involve a combination of software
and services. Many EDI solution vendors rely heavily on
consulting services due to the technical nature of EDI solution
products and services. The challenge for most customers
searching for an EDI solution is often the process of deciding
which EDI solution is best suited for them, given the similarity
in features and benefits in the marketplace.
Choose Your EDI Solution
Carefully
Standards supported
Ease of use
Software maintenance fees
Special features
Technical support availability
Vendor experience
Platform support
Whichever EDI solution you end up selecting, it should support all
standards in use by your organization and by your trading partners.
At a bare minimum, the EDI solution should support the X12 and EDIFACT
standards and all associated subsets of each. The EDI Solution should
also support multiple versions of each standard, since not all trading
partners will be using the latest standard version.
Ease of Deployment
One key aspect of selecting your EDI solution should focus on what
is often referred to as "trading partner mapping." During
this process you will need to customize your EDI solution with the
optional segments and elements that each trading partner customizes
per transaction set. EMANIO's EDI solution provides this customization
allowing you to set each individual parameter as necessary. Beyond
this however, our EDI solution also provides "kits" that
have already been set-up to be compliant with the segments and elements
that supported trading partners require. Our EDI solution has
pre-made kits for hundreds of trading partners.
EDI Solution Upgrade Path
An additional aspect of selecting an EDI solution involves change.
How adaptable to the changing standards is the EDI solution you are
about to select? As the X12 and EDIFACT bodies update their standards,
your vendor should be able to supply you with updated kits and updated
components to bring your EDI solution up to par. Making sure that these
updates are easily deployed should be a key aspect of your selection
criteria.
Support Level
As you identify potential EDI solution providers
don't forget to consider support. Look for companies that can provide
knowledgeable support professionals who can help you with installation
of your EDI solution as well as use and troubleshooting after the
sale. It's always a good idea to ask for references from your EDI
solution vendor.
Vendor Quality
When considering issues like support you should also
consider the EDI solution vendor itself. How much experience do
they have in deploying an EDI solution in your industry? With
your application? many smaller vendors of EDI solutions claim
to have experience, but be thorough in your research of the EDI
solution as well as the vendor.
Is Cost Important?
An EDI solution targeted at small or mid-sized companies
can vary widely in price and capabilities. When selecting your
EDI solution consider price as one of many factors that you should
include in your analysis. The lowest cost EDI solution often comes
with restricted features and capabilities, while packages with
more features can often be priced out of the budget of your company.
When selecting your EDI solution you should weigh the balance
between features and price carefully.
What's Your Balance
The right balance between features and price for
your EDI solution will depend on your specific
needs. A well rounded EDI solution should provide enough features
for you to comply with trading partner mandates while also providing
a growth path. The EDI solution you select should provide enough
features to make adopting the EDI solution quick, while also giving
you enough power to minimize the need for a new EDI solution as
your business grows. When looking at your potential vendor's EDI
solution also consider how many 'versions' the vendor has of their
EDI solution. Most vendors will usually carry many versions of
their EDI solution geared towards specific needs. It's important
to know how easily you can migrate from EDI solution to EDI solution
as your needs require. |