EDI Considerations: Breaking Myths Regarding EDI Implementation
EDI considerations often include those that make many people be confused about EDI implementation. In our blog we are trying to give you as much information about EDI as possible. After reading our posts many EDI considerations become clear to people who are going to work with EDI. Today we will try to reveal some myths and show you that shifting to EDI may be painless and comfortable.
Difficulties During Integration
EDI is considered a complicated process and many companies are trying to avoid this integration. Any new practice may be considered a difficult and even “unreal” task. However, EDI integration really streamlines your business – you only need to take the first step. Step by step integration will change all the processes in your company and you will see how the internal operation can be forced. Moreover, your communication with your business partners will become easier and more productive. After some time passes you will understand that EDI considerations that seemed complicated turned over your business and led to total benefits.
EDI Cost
EDI cost. For many people EDI integration or implementation may seem costly at the first sign. Of course, shifting to EDI is expensive, but the cost may be tailored according to your company’s actual needs and transactions volume. A small company can start from a couple of transactions using a third-party EDI service, and after some time a comapny may continue smooth EDI integration. Anyway, the result will show that it really worth it.
Also, EDI cost may be justifiable in cases when large hubs refuse to work with small- and middle-size supplying companies who do not support EDI. This leads to market loss and closing off potential business sources for such suppliers. This may be considered more expensive than implementing a succesful EDI solution.
A good painless way of EDI integration is EDI outsource. If your company has not many transactions in operation, you can choose a third-party company for programming, mapping and sending transactions. In this case you will pay for a definite quantity of documents that you actually need and do not have to install expensive hardware and software, hire EDI staff etc. Anyway, even at this stage you will see positive feedback from automating documents exchange.
Today worldwide business aims to stick to global standards and business rules, and any breakage of such rules will result in financial penalties. In this case EDI is a good instrument to control the business process and exclude chargebacks. So here EDI raises your chances to be compliant with regulations and to reduce the risk of chargebacks.
Learn more about EDI integration at our seminars and trainings in your region