Strategies for efficient EDI implementation
There are many ways to implement EDI. Find below general helpful hints and concepts in structuring your EDI transmissions, and in receiving and processing this data. Information in this blog is for the use of each company, and use or non-use of this information does not affect compliance with this guideline.
Avoid sending redundant and superfluous information
Rely on the trading partner profile and other databases to eliminate sending repetitive information. (e.g., address of predefined shipping locations, the currency used and item description). These segments should be omitted unless the buyer wishes to override the assumptions.
Communication at the header level
Wherever possible, information relating to a majority of the items should be communicated at the header level. This information is then omitted at the line item level unless that particular item differs from the information at the header. Information sent at the line item level will always supersede information sent in the header.
SCC-14 item identifying method
The SCC-14 is the recommended method of identifying the item and packaging level in all I/C EDI transaction set implementation guidelines. Until the use of the SCC-14 is fully implemented, the Universal Product Code (U.P.C.)(12 Digit) is an acceptable alternative. This does not mean that either the buyer or the seller needs to change their internal part numbers to a SCC-14 or U.P.C., but rather that
both parties need to store these numbers as a cross reference. This will enable a standard product ID to then be used throughout the supply chain to describe products.
Retention of line numbers (PO101) from the buying party’s purchase order is strongly encouraged. While optional within this guideline, buyer’s line item numbers may need to be returned in subsequent documents such as the 855 Purchase Order Acknowledgment, 856 Ship Notice/Manifest, and the 810 Invoice.
Free form text messages
The use of free form text messages (NTE, MSG, MTX segments) within transaction sets is strongly discouraged as these cannot be interpreted by the receiver’s computer. Human interpretation and intervention should be avoided to speed processing.
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