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.