Inside the EDI Team: Roles and Responsibilities Behind Seamless Data Exchange
EDI is not just a technology — it’s a network of people and processes that keep the digital supply chain running smoothly. While automated systems handle the transmission of documents, it’s the human side of EDI that ensures everything works together.
In most companies, EDI touches nearly every department. When invoices are exchanged electronically, accounts payable staff must understand how to process and verify them. Procurement teams rely on EDI to send purchase orders and receive confirmations. Shipping and logistics departments depend on EDI for advance ship notices, while finance, HR, and customer service may use it for reporting, payroll, or partner coordination.
At the heart of all these interactions stands the EDI Coordinator — the bridge between business users, IT specialists, and trading partners. Depending on the company’s size, this role may be filled by a single part-time employee or an entire dedicated EDI team. In small organizations, one person may manage EDI tasks a few hours a week; in large enterprises, a team of 10–15 specialists may oversee complex, global integrations.
The EDI Coordinator (or team) is typically part of the IT department and reports to the IT Manager. Their core responsibilities include adding and maintaining trading partners, resolving transmission or mapping errors, monitoring system performance, and ensuring compliance with data standards. They also act as first responders when issues arise — coordinating between vendors, customers, and internal departments to keep operations flowing.
Because EDI connects multiple business functions, the EDI team often becomes one of the most recognizable support units in the organization. They are the translators between the technical and business worlds — understanding how data standards, transaction sets, and business rules fit into daily operations.
As organizations continue to automate and scale, the need for skilled EDI professionals grows. From technical analysts to coordinators and integration developers, each plays a key role in building the invisible infrastructure that keeps digital commerce moving.
Interested in learning how EDI teams operate and how to develop these skills? Explore EDI Academy’s training programs to gain hands-on knowledge and become an essential part of modern business communication.