EDI Translator

An EDI translator is regularly described as EDI software, or EDI Translation Software. The function of an EDI translator is to transmit and receive EDI messages and transform these into a format suited to the enterprise. In other words, an EDI translator is comprised of machine instructions that convert data from an irregular, enterprise-specific data framework into a ordered and standardized EDI data structure, which then transmits the EDI document. An EDI translator also reverses the above process (receives the EDI document and interpretes from standard data structure to the enterprise’s format). An EDI translator may be created within an enterprise or it may be bought from an EDI translator vendor. Adding to this, an EDI translator can work on a several of computer hardware platforms and operating systems, and EDI translators exist for Intel based Windows and Linux, Unix, AS 400 and mainframe computers.

The EDI strategy for an enterprise must be discussed when considering the functions of EDI translators. Many companies can use manual EDI, where incoming EDI messages are printed and then treated as if they arrived on paper; or, EDI may be integrated with a company’s backend accounting or ERP systems. It is an integrated EDI translator in a purchasing organization that is explained below.

An EDI translator performs the same tasks as when you create a business letter. Imagine that you want to send a letter to Julie at Random Corporation to ask about the status of a purchase order. To write and send the letter, you would have to do the following:

1. Identify the data necessary to write the communication.
2. Retrieve the needed information, such as Julie’s contact information.
3. Arrange the data in the business letter structure.
4. Transport the letter to Julie.

The EDI translator functions in the same way to create and transport an EDI message; everything mentioned above is achieved by the EDI translator:

1. EDI mapping
2. Extraction and/or conversion of the data
3. Generation of an outbound message or translation of an inbound message
4. Transmission of the EDI document over a network

EDI translators are sold by several vendors. Creating an EDI translator in-house would be cost-prohibitive. One issue to consider when selecting an EDI translator from a vendor is the technical assistance you get when buying the EDI translator software. EMANIO is probably the most recognized EDI translation vendor, both regarding the knowledgeable and responsive support team and also the depth of functionality of the EDI translator software.

How do you select an EDI Translator ? This question can scare even the bravest of small business owners.  That is because an EDI Translator is easy to find, but an EDI Translator that is going to make your life easier is not as easy to find.  An effective EDI Translator must provide the small business with a way of making EDI easy.  To accomplish this, the EDI Translator should hide as much complexity as possible, while at the same time providing the user with essential data. A good EDI Translator is easy to install, easy to use and the ideal EDI Translator should provide a high degree of automation.  For more sophisticated businesses, an EDI Translator should also come with options for data integration –  the process by which the EDI Translator sends EDI data to the company’s ERP system.

So what criteria should you use to select your EDI Translator ?  An EDI Translator should be easy enough for a user to install in minutes.  A good EDI Translator should  run on off the shelf hardware as well as on high end servers.  An EDI Translator for small businesses should provide an easy means of adding support for new trading partners as the business grows.  An EDI Translator should provide for ways to automate as much of the process as possible.  The EDI Translator should also either give the user the option of printing out a report of EDI data or the EDI Translator should allow for sending the EDI data to a file for further processing.  An EDI Translator should also be selected from a company that is reputable and has a knowledgeable support organization experienced with the features of the EDI Translator.  An EDI Translator is only as good as the company that stands behind it.