EDI Disadvantages: Breaking Myths As For Integration Expense And Network Complexity
EDI disadvantages are a commonly discussed topic in many industrial circles. Although, the benefits of EDI are compelling, there are still many business-owners who hesitate to integrate EDI in their corporate systems. They concentrate more on EDI disadvantages and less on the pluses that EDI brings. Today we will try to destroy two of EDI disadvantages myths and explain our point of view. By the way, EDI Academy seminars give exhaustive information about successful Electronic Data Interchange implementation scenarios.
Myth 1: EDI Is Too Expensive
Of course, reliable business application systems are quite expensive, especially if their integration covers all internal company business processes. It seems that one should spent too much money to shift all company processes to Electronic Data Interchange.
However, modern Electronic Data Interchange solutions market offers different variants of painless EDI implementation. It can be:
- step-by-step integration (when all company departments are being shifted to EDI gradualy, one by one);
- partial EDI implementation (when company uses few Electronic Data Interchange transactions or only definite departments are using EDI);
- outsourcing services (when company does not have to integrate EDI and uses third-party services to process needed EDI transactions).
Read more about various EDI implementation scenarios.
Myth 2: Network Complexity
Basic network demands for EDI are also one of the common EDI disadvantages. Especially this barrier refers to small to mid-sized companies. Specific point-to-point electronic path for the Electronic Data Interchange documents is the major demand, so the company must invest in building correspondent computer networks.
However, there are many third-party services that offer custom, packaged or web-based solutions that fit your company needs. In this case you do not have to invest in building computer networks for EDI usage but pay less for definite network service according to the document volume that you have.