Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for the Modern Business
Integrate EDI with your back-end applications, accounting, and ERP systems to reduce costs, eliminate manual processes, improve trading partner relationships, and more.
What Is Electronic Data Exchange?
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the common format for transacting documents from Business A to Business B. These documents include, but are not limited to, purchase orders (e.g., EDI 850), invoices (e.g., EDI 810), inventory levels (e.g., EDI 846) and advanced shipping notices (e.g., EDI 856). When these documents are exchanged, between the two companies, an EDI solution automates the translation of the data into a standardized EDI format. EDI solutions like ours integrate with your ERP and back-end systems to automatically access and use certain information, or to populate your system with key information that is vital to your business.
Industry-specific Uses of EDI
EDI has become essential in the operations of many industries to address different business processes and challenges.
For retailers and distributors with global presence and complex supply chains, meeting just-in-time order delivery is crucial. Most of the retailers offer various fulfillment options ranging from curbside pickup, buy online pickup in store (BOPIS), ship from store (SFS) and drop shipping. Automating and integrating your EDI is critical to ensure optimal order fulfillment. EDI also helps with real-time visibility and adherence to compliance with your trading partners.
The current supply chain disruptions are affecting manufacturing companies everywhere. Manufacturers must ensure seamless EDI connectivity to improve their supply chain resiliency. Automating your B2B processes with EDI will ensure optimization of end-to-end supply chain processes and strengthen your trading partner relationships.
Due to the shortage in semiconductor chips and the rising prices of rare earth elements, the electronics and high-tech manufacturers are facing immense margin pressures. Integrating EDI with your ERP systems can help save costs, attain higher efficiency and provide real-time visibility into your supply chain.
Automotive sector is seeing the pent-up demand surge past the pre-pandemic levels, and this is driving the need for expansion of supplier network to meet this increasing demand. Automating EDI integration with ERP and accounting systems will allow companies to respond rapidly to changes in demand and reduce supply chain disruptions.
Why Jitterbit EDI Integration
A Robust EDI Value-Added Network
Our EDI Value-Added Network (VAN) includes thousands of trading partners, including the world’s biggest retailers and wholesalers, such as Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Bass Pro Shops, Home Depot, Walmart, Target, and more.
Integration with Any Business System and Any Workflow
Unlike other EDI providers that simply dump transactions into a single system, Jitterbit seamlessly integrates your EDI data into even the most complicated workflows. Data can be instantly managed and synchronized with multiple business applications throughout your enterprise. Our solution does this by integrating with any system, including top accounting and ERP systems, such as:
Flexible Delivery: Cloud-based or On-Premise
With our cloud-based solution, your EDI transactions are sent directly via our network. We also offer an on-premise solution, giving you the ability to send your transactions over your servers.
Web-based Dashboard
Our modern, web-based dashboard lets you complete EDI transactions without the need for any custom coding or complex setup. It also provides a centralized view of EDI documents and transactions.
Intuitive, Out-of-the-Box EDI Tools
Streamline the flow of your EDI documents with features such as EDI mapping and management, EDI Dashboard, EDI Acknowledgement, EDI Splitter, and EDI Validator.
Advanced EDI Capabilities
Our cloud-based, software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution eliminates the need to manage and maintain the software required for EDI. Plus, connect with any trading partner, 3PL, or vendor using their preferred communication including AS2, FTP, VAN, X12, EDI, EDIFACT, HL7, and more.
Reliability and Performance
Jitterbit maintains the highest level of performance and reliability and handles production environments that process over 120 million records per day without performance related issues.
Customer Support You Can Depend On
Backed by seasoned EDI professionals with decades of experience, Jitterbit provides unparalleled support with guaranteed rapid response times.
Benefits of EDI Integration
Reduce Costs
Don’t worry about manual tasks and bottlenecks, such as copying and pasting data to process orders. Those processes are eliminated through automation. In short, EDI integration can help your bottom line to:
- Reduce processing costs by up to 90%
- Reduce transaction costs by up to 35%
- Reduce manual errors and labor costs
Increase Efficiency
EDI integration automates the transfer of data from the retailer into your ERP or back-end system so you can dedicate more time helping customers, optimizing day-to-day operations, and improving the overall buying experience to:
- Reduce order processing time by up to 80%
- Increase business cycle speed by up to 60%
- Reduce order-to-cash cycle time by more than 20%
Increase Accuracy
EDI integration and automation provides the accuracy and efficiency needed to exchange data between multiple stakeholders including retailers, warehouses, suppliers, 3PLs, and more to:
- Reduce transactional errors by up to 40%
- Reduce shipping errors
- Eliminate inaccurate inventory counts
- Gain visibility into data for better forecasting
“Jitterbit simply works. As a manager, I can let things run in the background and not worry about it. I can’t even express how much value that has for me.”
With proven, dependable results, it’s no wonder that Jitterbit continuously is named a leader in Electronic Data Interchange by our customers on G2, a peer-to-peer review site for software.
Why Partners Select Jitterbit EDI
Partners prefer to work with Jitterbit. Listen to Cynthia Drake, CTO of Complete EDI to learn why.
EDI Integration FAQs
What is EDI integration and How Does EDI Integration Work?
EDI stands for Electronic Data Interchange and is the exchange and processing of documents electronically, utilizing a standard format. It allows for accurate and reliable transmission of data between your systems and those of your trading partners. EDI integration means the transfer, mapping, and translation of EDI data to and from business applications, and is an important piece of how businesses create efficiencies.
EDI is a critical piece in driving the supply chain across a multitude of verticals including, but not limited to retail, manufacturing, healthcare, insurance, logistics, distribution, automotive, financial services, and government. There are a number of EDI standards & protocols supported to help you with your EDI integration and we continue to add more. We currently maintain a library of over 5,000 standards versions and over 25,000 transaction sets, which are implementations of individual EDI file types.
- Data Formats: All EDI (X12, EDIFACT, TRADACOMS, XML, CICA, HL7, etc.), XML – (WSDL, XSD), cXML, Flat Text Structures, Hierarchical Text Structures, and more…
- Transport Protocols: AS2, FTP/SFTP/FTPS, HTTP/S, Web Services (SOAP, REST), ODBC, JDBC, File Shares, LDAP, SMTP / POP3, and more…
- Platforms: Cloud, Windows, Linux, Solaris
- Enterprise Applications: SAP, Microsoft Dynamics (CRM, AX, GP, NAV, SL) PeopleSoft, Oracle, JD Edwards, and more…
- Databases: Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, MySQL, Sybase, Teradata, and more…
- Existing SOA Platforms: webMethods, Tibco, IBM WebSphere, BEA WebLogic, and more…
- 3rd Party Applications: QAD, Infor, Vertical Response, Interwoven, AMS Advantage, Microsoft Sharepoint, Documentum, Amazon.com, and more…
- SaaS Applications: Salesforce, NetSuite, Workday, RightNow!, Siebel On-Demand, and more…
- Other Systems: Web Services, XML, Flat and Hierarchical Structures, Legacy, Active Directory, LDAP, and more…
What are Some of the Top EDI Use Cases?
EDI stands for Electronic Data Interchange and is the exchange and processing of documents electronically, utilizing a standard
Types of EDI systems vary depending on business function with common functions ranging from purchasing and accounting, to warehousing and logistics. Specific EDI use cases also exist for healthcare, government, real estate, and other vertical markets. Common business functions automated via EDI integration include:
- Sales & Purchasing: Purchase Orders (PO), PO Acknowledgements/Changes/Adjustments, Order Status Reports/Inquiries
- Finance & Accounting: Invoices, Payment Remittance/Advice, Payment, Acceptance/Rejection, Tax Reporting, Credit/Debit Memos
- Logistics: Advance Ship Notices/Status Messages, Freight Details, Bills of Lading, Prepayment Adjustment Advice
- Marketing: Requests for Quote, Sales Catalog/Pricing, Price Authorization, Product Activity, Sales Tracing
- Inventory: Inventory Adjustments, Planning Schedules, Inventory Advice, Product Transfers/Resales
- Manufacturing: Product Specifications, Test Results, Planning Schedules
- Insurance: Claim Submittal, Claims Tracing, Benefits Enrollment, Eligibility Inquiries
What are the Types of EDI?
The ANSI X12 EDI standard supports over three hundred electronic data interchange types for automating specific business transactions. The most used EDI transaction types for EDI integration include:
- Purchase Orders (850): Terms of sale
- Invoices (810): Request of payment with details
- Purchase Order Acknowledgement (855): Confirmation of the purchase order
- Advance Shipment Notices (856): Goods shipped/packed estimated time
- Product Catalog (832): List of product and services
- Remittance Advance (820): Payment has been made
Why Choose EDI for B2B Integration?
EDI is the preferred method of B2B integration for a majority of businesses and adopted by over 80% of large companies. EDI has a decades-long track record of security, reliability, and scalability in high-volume environments. There are several reasons for EDI’s longevity and wide adoption.
Compared to manual transaction processing, EDI software integration has the following advantages:
- EDI is a requirement for doing business with many retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers
- Manual data entry is slow and error-laden, impeding order fulfillment and other business functions
- EDI integration allows businesses to optimize cash flow, reduce costs, and redirect resources to other business initiatives
- EDI integration accelerates the cash-to-order cycle and increases ROI by automating these common business tasks
- Successful EDI implementation can reduce costs over 90% compared to manually processing business transactions
Compared to other B2B integration methods, EDI has the following advantages:
- EDI is a widely adopted, and a frequently required, method of B2B integration
- EDI eliminates the need to support multiple, disparate B2B systems
- EDI does not require custom coding or API integration for each Trading Partner
- EDI removes the need to expose sensitive application APIs to the Internet for B2B integration
- Trading Partners can be added in a fraction of the time compared to other B2B integration methods
- EDI can handle a far greater volume of transactions than competing B2B integration methods
Why Choose Jitterbit for EDI Integration?
Ready-Built Connectors
As an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) solution, Jitterbit has ready-built connectors for virtually all major business software packages. Jitterbit’s robust API support allows for the rapid integration of new applications or custom enterprise systems.
Integrate Any Workflow
Unlike other EDI processors that simply dump transactions into a single system, Jitterbit can seamlessly integrate EDI data into even the most complicated business workflow. Data can be instantly managed and synchronized with multiple business applications throughout your enterprise.
Intuitive EDI Tools
Utilize out-of-the-box tools to build out your EDI integration. Easily create and manage your trading partners. Quickly streamline the flow of your EDI documents with features such as EDI mapping and management, EDI Dashboard, EDI Acknowledgement, EDI Splitter, and EDI Validator.
Future-Proof Solution
By eliminating the requirement for custom coding, Jitterbit’s direct EDI integration maintains an unprecedented level of forward compatibility. The impact of future systems upgrades and software migrations is minimized, allowing for near-zero downtime during changes to your IT infrastructure.
Reliability and Performance
Jitterbit maintains the highest level of performance and reliability. Jitterbit is easily able to handle production environments that process over 120 million records per day without performance related issues. Jitterbit can split, manage, and process EDI files containing thousands of individual transactions without error.
Legendary Support
Jitterbit’s direct EDI integration is backed by the highest level of support found anywhere in the B2B industry. Backed by seasoned EDI professionals with decades of experience, Jitterbit provides unparalleled support with guaranteed rapid response times. This level of support, coupled with Jitterbit’s commitment to quality, brings proven performance and peace of mind to B2B integration.
