During the 1970’s and 1980’s the computer industry and many retailers were infatuated with Electronic Data Interchange or EDI as it’s often commonly referred to. These days, EDI is a much maligned and often overlooked technology because it’s seen as costly, complicated and cumbersome. Contrary to this popular myth though, EDI can drive tremendous savings and efficiency improvements throughout a supply chain and/or trading community.
If you’re new to this three letter acronym, please find the following description from Wikipedia – Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the structured transmission of data between organizations by electronic means. It is used to transfer electronic documents from one computer system to another, i.e. from one trading partner to another trading partner. It is more than mere E-mail; for instance, organizations might replace bills of lading and even Cheques with appropriate EDI messages. It also refers specifically to a family of standards, including the X12 series. However, EDI also exhibits its pre-Internet roots, and the standards tend to focus on ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)-formatted single messages rather than the whole sequence of conditions and exchanges that make up an inter-organization business process.
Whilst the mere description of EDI may fill you with dread, there really isn’t anything to fear. Long gone are the days where you had to employ teams of technical people and invest in expensive technology. Electronic trading relationships with customers, suppliers or partners can now be setup within hours and the business benefits reaped within days.
Imagine if you will a company sending all of its invoices electronically, properly matched and guaranteed to reach its customers computer systems within seconds. This is what EDI can do and it has a major effect of reducing average days of debt, streamlining accounts departments, improving cash flow and decreasing operating expenditure.
Retailers have effectively used EDI for many years although there are still many industries that have yet to experience its benefit. Chemicals and pharmaceuticals for example is a vertical market awash with paper documents, data and information that needs to flow up and down its supply chain. In addition, because of regulatory and compliance issues, a lot of this data needs to be stored for retrieval on an as required basis.
By adopting EDI and using structured messages and exchanging these electronically in real-time with its partners, customers and suppliers, many of high-costs of doing business within Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals could be eradicated.
EDI is a well grounded methodology and proven way to drive significant supply chain improvements. Almost in secret, a small group of vendors have been addressing the pitfalls that blighted its uptake a decade ago and dare I say it “resurgence is just around the corner”.
Learn more about Supply Chain Management. Stop by our site where you can find out all about Perceptant and what we can do for you.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI): Resurgence past due?
A much maligned often overlooked technology is Electronic Data Interchange or EDI as it’s often commonly referred to. During the 1970’s and 1980’s it was seen as the solution to all business to business communication although high costs and many interpretations of so called standards lead to its stagnation. When all’s said and done though, EDI can drive tremendous savings and efficiency improvements throughout a supply chain and/or trading community…
For those of you still to discover what this acronym actually refers to, here’s an overview from Wikipedia – Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the structured transmission of data between organizations by electronic means. It is used to transfer electronic documents from one computer system to another, i.e. from one trading partner to another trading partner. It is more than mere E-mail; for instance, organizations might replace bills of lading and even Cheques with appropriate EDI messages. It also refers specifically to a family of standards, including the X12 series. However, EDI also exhibits its pre-Internet roots, and the standards tend to focus on ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)-formatted single messages rather than the whole sequence of conditions and exchanges that make up an inter-organization business process.
Now whilst this may sound technically complicated, it really isn’t. Long gone are the days where you had to employ teams of technical people and invest in expensive technology. Electronic trading relationships with customers, suppliers or partners can now be setup within hours and the business benefits reaped within days.
Imagine if you will a company sending all of its invoices electronically, properly matched and guaranteed to reach its customers computer systems within seconds. This is what EDI can do and it has a major effect of reducing average days of debt, streamlining accounts departments, improving cash flow and decreasing operating expenditure.
Wal*Mart, Tesco and many other retailers have effectively used EDI for many years although there are still many industries that have yet to experience its benefit. The Pharmaceutical industry for example is a market awash with paper documents, data and information that needs to flow up and down complex supply chains. Furthermore, due to regulatory and compliance issues, a lot of this data needs to be stored for retrieval on an as required basis.
Were this industry to embrace EDI and using structured messages and exchange these electronically in real-time with its partners, customers and suppliers, much of the cost and complexity of doing business would be eradicated.
EDI is certainly not the panacea of computing but is a well grounded methodology and proven way to drive significant supply chain improvements. Almost in secret, a small group of vendors have been addressing the pitfalls that blighted its uptake during the 1980’s and dare I say it “resurgence is just around the corner”.
Learn more about Supply Chain Management. Stop by our site where you can find out all about Perceptant and what we can do for you.
For those of you still to discover what this acronym actually refers to, here’s an overview from Wikipedia – Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the structured transmission of data between organizations by electronic means. It is used to transfer electronic documents from one computer system to another, i.e. from one trading partner to another trading partner. It is more than mere E-mail; for instance, organizations might replace bills of lading and even Cheques with appropriate EDI messages. It also refers specifically to a family of standards, including the X12 series. However, EDI also exhibits its pre-Internet roots, and the standards tend to focus on ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)-formatted single messages rather than the whole sequence of conditions and exchanges that make up an inter-organization business process.
Now whilst this may sound technically complicated, it really isn’t. Long gone are the days where you had to employ teams of technical people and invest in expensive technology. Electronic trading relationships with customers, suppliers or partners can now be setup within hours and the business benefits reaped within days.
Imagine if you will a company sending all of its invoices electronically, properly matched and guaranteed to reach its customers computer systems within seconds. This is what EDI can do and it has a major effect of reducing average days of debt, streamlining accounts departments, improving cash flow and decreasing operating expenditure.
Wal*Mart, Tesco and many other retailers have effectively used EDI for many years although there are still many industries that have yet to experience its benefit. The Pharmaceutical industry for example is a market awash with paper documents, data and information that needs to flow up and down complex supply chains. Furthermore, due to regulatory and compliance issues, a lot of this data needs to be stored for retrieval on an as required basis.
Were this industry to embrace EDI and using structured messages and exchange these electronically in real-time with its partners, customers and suppliers, much of the cost and complexity of doing business would be eradicated.
EDI is certainly not the panacea of computing but is a well grounded methodology and proven way to drive significant supply chain improvements. Almost in secret, a small group of vendors have been addressing the pitfalls that blighted its uptake during the 1980’s and dare I say it “resurgence is just around the corner”.
Learn more about Supply Chain Management. Stop by our site where you can find out all about Perceptant and what we can do for you.
Free Value Added Networks (VAN’s) hit the Supply Chain…
Perceptant, the on-demand Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Company, today unveiled its free to use, global value added network service to customers.
Supply Chain Exchange 2.0, harnesses all the leading attributes of competitive Value-Added Networks, including security, robustness, scalability and traceability but offers users the ability to exchange data and messages on an inclusive, free to use basis.
Designed to be used not only with Perceptant’s range of Supply Chain, EDI and Busines-to-Business Integration solutions, the company also encourages connections from thrid party applications once certifcation and security tests are completed.
“Traditionally, companies have been financially peralised for using value-added networks” says Matthew Slinn, CEO and Founder of Perceptant. “The more they used the network the more thay had to pay, which in a lot of cases has severely limited the uptake of electronic trading and B2B data integration”. “Through this new Global initiative, companies can harness the power of a trading-grid of World-class SCM and EDI applications underpinned by a Value Added Network that doesn’t financially penalise them”.
“Over the next five years, AMR Research predict the market for SCM applications will grow at 7% per annum, despite the gloomy economic conditions of 2008 so companies are going to place an ever reliance on interconnected applications and services” says Tim Howden, Senior SCM Consultant. “EDI and SCM vendors have historically hampered the growth of these initiatives by charging customers based on data volumes and network usage or expecting companies to send sensitive information and data across unsecured Internet connections. Perceptant has finally broken this mould and we expect initiatives like this to further fuel customer demand”.
“This certainly strengthens Perceptant’s hand and pushes them to the forefront of the Software as a Service (SaaS) business application vendors in the Supply Chain Management, B2B Integration and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) space “.
To request further information: Amanda Dines, Head of Marketing at Perceptant – http://www.perceptant.com/
About Perceptant: Perceptant is a leading provider of software and services that drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of global supply chains. Our hosted, on-demand Supply Chain Management, B2B Integration and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solutions process millions of business-to-business transactions, integrate leading enterprise software applications and help seamlessly connect the demand chains of many of the World’s leading trading communities. Perceptant is headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.
Learn more about Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Alternatively, stop by Perceptant’s site where you can find out all about SaaS EDI Solutions and what they can do for you.
Supply Chain Exchange 2.0, harnesses all the leading attributes of competitive Value-Added Networks, including security, robustness, scalability and traceability but offers users the ability to exchange data and messages on an inclusive, free to use basis.
Designed to be used not only with Perceptant’s range of Supply Chain, EDI and Busines-to-Business Integration solutions, the company also encourages connections from thrid party applications once certifcation and security tests are completed.
“Traditionally, companies have been financially peralised for using value-added networks” says Matthew Slinn, CEO and Founder of Perceptant. “The more they used the network the more thay had to pay, which in a lot of cases has severely limited the uptake of electronic trading and B2B data integration”. “Through this new Global initiative, companies can harness the power of a trading-grid of World-class SCM and EDI applications underpinned by a Value Added Network that doesn’t financially penalise them”.
“Over the next five years, AMR Research predict the market for SCM applications will grow at 7% per annum, despite the gloomy economic conditions of 2008 so companies are going to place an ever reliance on interconnected applications and services” says Tim Howden, Senior SCM Consultant. “EDI and SCM vendors have historically hampered the growth of these initiatives by charging customers based on data volumes and network usage or expecting companies to send sensitive information and data across unsecured Internet connections. Perceptant has finally broken this mould and we expect initiatives like this to further fuel customer demand”.
“This certainly strengthens Perceptant’s hand and pushes them to the forefront of the Software as a Service (SaaS) business application vendors in the Supply Chain Management, B2B Integration and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) space “.
To request further information: Amanda Dines, Head of Marketing at Perceptant – http://www.perceptant.com/
About Perceptant: Perceptant is a leading provider of software and services that drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of global supply chains. Our hosted, on-demand Supply Chain Management, B2B Integration and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solutions process millions of business-to-business transactions, integrate leading enterprise software applications and help seamlessly connect the demand chains of many of the World’s leading trading communities. Perceptant is headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.
Learn more about Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Alternatively, stop by Perceptant’s site where you can find out all about SaaS EDI Solutions and what they can do for you.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Perceptant Offer Supply Chain’s Free Access to Global Value-Added and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Network
Perceptant announce Supply Chain Exchange 2.0, an on-demand, fully-managed Value Added Network service that allows the exchange of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) messages and Supply Chain Management data on an inclusive, free to use basis.
London, England, December 09, 2009 – Perceptant (http://www.perceptant.com/), the on-demand Supply Chain Management and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Company, today unveiled its free to use, global value added network service to customers.
Supply Chain Exchange 2.0 (www.perceptant.com/services_edi_van.shtml), harnesses all the leading attributes of competitive Value-Added Networks, including security, robustness, scalability and traceability but offers users the ability to exchange data and messages on an inclusive, free to use basis.
The service is not only designed to be used in conjunction with Perceptant’s SCMaaS (Supply Chain Management as a Service) suite of supply chain, B2B integration and electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions but also allows connections from complimentary third party applications.
“Now companies not only have access to a trading-grid of World-class supply chain and EDI applications but also a Value Added Network that doesn’t penalise them based on increased usage” says Matthew Slinn, CEO and founder of Perceptant. “For existing users of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Value Added Networks this initiative could save them $m’s, for companies contemplating the use of a VAN or worried about security issues relating to AS2, FTP and P2P this is the answer”.
“With AMR Research (www.amrresearch.com) recently estimating that the supply chain management (SCM) applications market will grow 7% annually for the next five years, despite the gloomy economic conditions of 2008, it’s plain to see companies will place an increasing reliance on interconnected applications and services” says Tim Howden, Senior Supply Chain Consultant. “Supply Chain vendors have historically hampered the growth of these initiatives by charging customers based on data volumes and network usage or expecting companies to send sensitive information and data across unsecured Internet connections. It’s therefore refreshing to see Perceptant has finally broken this mould and we expect significant demand for their service”.
About Perceptant
Perceptant is a leading provider of software and services that drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of global supply chains. Our hosted, on-demand supply chain management, B2B Integration and EDI solutions process millions of business-to-business transactions, integrate leading enterprise software applications and help seamlessly connect the demand chains of many of the World’s leading trading communities. Perceptant is headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.
http://www.perceptant.com/
Contact:
Amanda Dines, Director of Marketing
Perceptant Limited
+44 (0)1246 291759
London, England, December 09, 2009 – Perceptant (http://www.perceptant.com/), the on-demand Supply Chain Management and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Company, today unveiled its free to use, global value added network service to customers.
Supply Chain Exchange 2.0 (www.perceptant.com/services_edi_van.shtml), harnesses all the leading attributes of competitive Value-Added Networks, including security, robustness, scalability and traceability but offers users the ability to exchange data and messages on an inclusive, free to use basis.
The service is not only designed to be used in conjunction with Perceptant’s SCMaaS (Supply Chain Management as a Service) suite of supply chain, B2B integration and electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions but also allows connections from complimentary third party applications.
“Now companies not only have access to a trading-grid of World-class supply chain and EDI applications but also a Value Added Network that doesn’t penalise them based on increased usage” says Matthew Slinn, CEO and founder of Perceptant. “For existing users of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Value Added Networks this initiative could save them $m’s, for companies contemplating the use of a VAN or worried about security issues relating to AS2, FTP and P2P this is the answer”.
“With AMR Research (www.amrresearch.com) recently estimating that the supply chain management (SCM) applications market will grow 7% annually for the next five years, despite the gloomy economic conditions of 2008, it’s plain to see companies will place an increasing reliance on interconnected applications and services” says Tim Howden, Senior Supply Chain Consultant. “Supply Chain vendors have historically hampered the growth of these initiatives by charging customers based on data volumes and network usage or expecting companies to send sensitive information and data across unsecured Internet connections. It’s therefore refreshing to see Perceptant has finally broken this mould and we expect significant demand for their service”.
About Perceptant
Perceptant is a leading provider of software and services that drive the integration, synchronisation and collaboration of global supply chains. Our hosted, on-demand supply chain management, B2B Integration and EDI solutions process millions of business-to-business transactions, integrate leading enterprise software applications and help seamlessly connect the demand chains of many of the World’s leading trading communities. Perceptant is headquartered in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK.
http://www.perceptant.com/
Contact:
Amanda Dines, Director of Marketing
Perceptant Limited
+44 (0)1246 291759
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)