Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 5 seconds

Can’t We Just Execute an EDI Solution Already???

solutions 1A couple of weeks ago I shared snippets of EDI technologies available today that give organizations more choices to meet their EDI needs. But have you thought about your internal business partner processes and needs? Though EDI is a technology, core business partners and processes will still be mainstream players when choosing your EDI solution.


What do your business processes look like today? If you can write them down in a day’s time and think you can go straight to an EDI solution you have just encountered your first setback. Unfortunately, business processes really should dictate what your EDI solution should ultimately look like, and time spent in this area will be time well worth it!

Business process flows should be viewed from all angles. So let me get into some of that ugly detail we wish did not have to veer its ugly head! To breakdown in a less complex manner, however, let's think about the core transactions you will most likely trade with your customer - purchase order, purchase order acknowledgement, advanced ship notice and invoice

So today when your organization executes a customer purchase order, here are what seem to sound basic, but are very important questions to ask and answer:

  • "Who" is actually receiving the PO today?
  • What do they do with PO? Enter it into another system? Phone, fax or email it to another party to process and fulfill?
  • Who are all the parties that touch the PO? What business process are they fulfilling by touching it?
  • “Where” is each of these business is processes taking place? Same floor, building, city, country?
  • "Where” do all parties involved in the PO process reside? Same floor, building, city, country?
  • How does each of the parties communicate with each other?
  • How do you track what stage the PO is in?
  • Once the PO is fulfilled, “who” is provided with the information to execute the other transactions of the customer, specifically the ASN and invoice? How is the data transferred back to them?

And now the same questions and answers need to be asked of each of the additional transactions. This will set you well on your way for the next wave of execution of an EDI solution. That of envisioning what your business partners and processes will look like when incorporating them into your EDI solution.

I know….just when you thought it was in the bag….more to think about! Don’t you just love it? Of course, more to come on EDI Solutions!



Read 17946 times
Rate this item
(0 votes)

Visit other PMG Sites:

PMG360 is committed to protecting the privacy of the personal data we collect from our subscribers/agents/customers/exhibitors and sponsors. On May 25th, the European's GDPR policy will be enforced. Nothing is changing about your current settings or how your information is processed, however, we have made a few changes. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy to make it easier for you to understand what information we collect, how and why we collect it.