EDI and ERP Integration

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is a standardized method that enables businesses to exchange and process documents electronically between different businesses replacing traditional paper-based documents like invoices and purchase orders. It allows for an accurate, secure, and reliable transmission of data between your systems and with your trading partners so you meet their guidelines.

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.

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is a software platform that integrates and manages business processes and functions across a business. ERP systems are essential for businesses to manage data across teams such as finance, accounting, human resources, supply chain and inventory teams, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. With an ERP system businesses can access and share data to improve forecasting, collaboration, efficiency, and decision-making. Integrating ERP systems with other applications enhances operational performance and strategic planning.

EDI to ERP integration involves connecting EDI with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, such as NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics, to facilitate the exchange of data between trading partners. This integration ensures that crucial business documents, like purchase orders and invoices, flow smoothly between the EDI system and the ERP system.

For example, in the case of NetSuite, EDI integration allows for the automatic transfer of sales orders received via EDI directly into NetSuite’s order management system, eliminating manual data entry and reducing errors. This automation reduces the likelihood of errors between the ERP system and external trading partners.

Leveraging iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) for EDI to ERP integration simplifies the integration process, reduces costs, and improves operational efficiency, while keeping the relationship and communications between trading partners seamless and without errors.

Marketplaces such as Amazon, Walmart, and Costco use EDI to exchange data because it ensures adherence to their guidelines and protocols. With EDI integration, businesses can automate order, shipping, product, and inventory data from EDI to their ERP systems to eliminate errors caused by manual processes and data entry which ensures accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.

Jitterbit’s integration platform, Harmony, offers several benefits for businesses transacting with trading partners:

• Gain Visibility: Harmony provides a single source of truth for managing trading partners and EDI transactions, enabling real-time tracking and proactive transaction error identification.
• Scale Easily: Using an integration platform, like Harmony, businesses can add new applications and workflows within their tech stack easily by leveraging pre-built connectors and data mapping tools. This eliminates application disparity when new systems are added to the business.
• Accelerate Integrations: Pre-built connectors for leading ERP systems and CRMs, along with access to thousands of trading partners, enable rapid integration of new applications.
• Automate Workflows: Workflow automation streamlines document exchange, automates tasks, and ensures seamless data flows between trading partners, reducing errors.
• Get Support: Backed by EDI professionals with decades of industry experience, Jitterbit offers high-quality support with rapid response times, ensuring proven performance and peace of mind in B2B integration.