EDI Translator

An EDI Translator is also referred to as EDI software, or EDI translation software.  An EDI Translator provides a means of transforming EDI data to and from formats suited for the enterprise.  In other words, an EDI Translator converts data from irregular, enterprise-specific forms into an ordered and standardized structure that is compliant with EDI standards. The EDI Translator also performs the same function in reverse, converting an EDI document into a data structure that is appropriate for the enterprise.  An EDI Translator can be developed in house, or it can be purchased through third party EDI Translator providers like EMANIO.  An EDI Translator can be deployed on several types of computer hardware and operating systems.  An EDI Translator can be compatible with Windows, Unix, AS400 and other types of computers and operating systems.

How to Use an EDI Translator

An EDI Translator can be deployed in a number of configurations.  The most frequently used methods however are manual EDI processing and integrated EDI processing.  In the former, an EDI Translator receives EDI data and provides printed reports that are used to manually key the information into in-house systems.  This use of an EDI Translator is also referred to as "Rip and Read" or "Print and Re-key".  Integrated EDI involves using the EDI Translator to automatically convert data into a format that is acceptable by the company's ERP or accounting system and then automatically routing the data to that system, with the reverse being true for outgoing transactions.

How an EDI Translator Works

An EDI Translator works in a very similar manner as the manual process that it replaces.  Assume that your business wants to inquire on the status of an order.  This process would involve:

* Identify the data necessary to write the communication
* Retrieve the necessary information
* Arrange the data in a structure that the vendor can understand
* Send the request to the vendor

This process is mirrored by the EDI Translator software:

* Extraction and/or conversion of data
* Generation of an outbound message (or translation of an in-bound message)
* Formatting of the outbound message by the EDI Translator
* Transmission of the message to the vendor

Selecting your EDI Translator

Should you build your EDI Translator in-house?  While this was a very popular alternative in the early days of EDI, the costs of developing and maintaining in-house custom code while maintaining compliance with the ever-changing EDI standards makes this prohibitively expensive.  Selecting an EDI Translator from a vendor then is the most viable option.  Even when selecting  your EDI Translator from an EDI Translator vendor, however, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind:

Cheap is Not the Same as Affordable
There are a number of very low-cost EDI Translator offerings on the market.  The problem with most of these EDI Translator offerings however is that they provide very basic functionality and expect the user to understand EDI thoroughly in order to get best use from the EDI Translator.  At a most basic functionality then your EDI Translator should not only be affordable, it should also allow you to deploy your EDI Translator without having to become an EDI expert.

Automation in Your EDI Translator
Automation is a feature you should always demand from your EDI Translator.  As you deploy the software you will quickly find there are a number of steps that are repetitive in all the EDI transactions.  Your EDI Translator should provide means of sequencing these steps in an automated, timed process.

Incremental Features in Your EDI Translator
The EDI Translator you select should also provide a viable, scalable upgrade path.  EMANIO's EDI Translator can be deployed with as few as a single trading partner and can be upgraded to support hundreds of trading partners.  Our EDI Translator can also be extended to provide full integration features to your back-end system.

Pick Your EDI Translator Vendor

As important as the selection of the EDI Translator, is the selection of the EDI Translator vendor.  When choosing a vendor consider the reputation of the EDI Translator the vendor offers, as well as of the vendor itself.  How many installations of the EDI Translator does the vendor have?  What kind of support do they provide? What is the total cost of ownership of the EDI Translator from this vendor?

Following the steps above is only the beginning of the process of picking an EDI Translator. Choosing the right EDI Translator is critical for your business.  The right EDI Translator can make your life significantly easier and can save a great deal of money.  The wrong EDI Translator can cost your business more than manual processes.  Working with the right EDI Translator is a critical decision that your business will have to make carefully.