The Truth About EDI
Wednesday, August 2, 2017Lindsay Hampson
Guest post by
Marc Darmon
By now you likely already know what EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is. If not, I suggest reading this handy article, “
What Is EDI?”
Essentially, EDI is an electronic exchange of standard business documents between two companies. Which means if you want to stock the shelves of Walmart, Best Buy, Home Depot, etc. you need to meet their strict EDI requirements for doing so.
The trouble is… EDI sucks. No one in their right mind wants to do it, but unfortunately, it’s a necessary evil in doing business with the “Big Box” stores. Even more frustrating is that every store seems to have their own unique requirements for compliance.
So, why burden yourself with the time and effort of manually completing and sending those documents?
Utilizing an integration service provider for your EDI needs can save you valuable time, money and help you avoid costly mistakes/errors in processing.
How do I know which EDI provider to go with?
There are several EDI providers out there and most work relatively well. The trouble with most is that they usually want to charge you per document transacted.
While this may sound appealing as you start out, the issue is you’re essentially agreeing to be penalized for your success (the more you sell, the more it is going to cost).
That’s why it’s best to look for a provider that offers
flat rate EDI integration.
Having a flat rate option means no financial surprises come peak seasons like Back to School, Black Friday, Boxing Day/Week/Month, Boxing Day in July, etc. (It’s really getting out of hand now isn’t it…)
The final thing to look for when choosing an EDI provider
Find a solution that is completely scalable. This means looking for a solution provider that can grow and change along with your business. As you find more and more success and want to branch into the eCommerce/marketplace space, you can simply add connectors to all the major platforms like Shopify, Magento, Big Commerce, Amazon, Walmart, eBay, ShipStation, etc.
Ultimately, it’s all about peace of mind. Automating your business systems and processes means less headaches and more time for the things in your life that really matter most.
We make integrating your EDI systems with your eCommerce, ERP, and Accounting easy.