Electronic data interchange-what is ——EDI?

When EDI is understood as electronic data interchange, the English full name is electronic data interchange. At this time, EDI is understood as a technology to transmit data in the form of electronic data. EDI Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) technology is mainly used between enterprises, which can establish EDI data connection channels with its upstream and downstream, and transmit important commercial data such as orders and invoices in a safe and reliable way.

For example, two people, A and B, need to deliver information in time and effectively. When the physical distance is far away and the amount of information transmitted is large, they can communicate by telephone. So how should enterprises transmit a large amount of business information? At this time, EDI system can play the role of "telephone". When both enterprise A and enterprise B have EDI systems, the information transmission channel between the two enterprises can be established smoothly. As shown in the figure below:

Enterprises use EDI system

Company A imports the order data of 1. 1 in the drawing into the EDI system, and generates a purchase order of 1.2 conforming to the EDI format. After that, the EDI system of Company A sends the purchase order of 1.2 to the EDI system of Company B through the Internet, and Company B imports the order data of 1.3 into the business system after receiving it.

Company B imports the 2. 1 invoice data in the drawings into the EDI system, and generates 2.2 invoices conforming to the EDI format. After that, the EDI system of Company B sends the 2.2 invoice to the EDI system of Company A through the Internet. Upon receipt, Company A imports 2.3 invoice data into the business system.

It is worth noting that EDI system, as a special "telephone", needs a set of internationally unified grammar rules. Using the same international standardized grammar rules is the first step to successfully establish a data transmission channel between two enterprises.

The above-mentioned international standardized grammar rules are EDI message standards, and the common ones are X 12, EDIFACT, TRADACOMS and ebXML.

Internet data transmission mode has become the mainstream mode of commercial information transmission because of its low economic cost. When the network transmission mode enters people's field of vision, the security problem that follows has become the biggest problem that people must solve. So various transmission protocols came into being. The commonly used transmission protocols in EDI system are AS2 and OFTP(2.0), and their advantages such as encryption and non-repudiation have become an important consideration standard for enterprise users.

In the process of data exchange between enterprises, various types of data need to be transmitted, mainly including orders, forecast orders, order change notices, order confirmation receipts, delivery notices, reports, invoices and so on. It should be noted that the EDI system does not limit the data format transmitted. Whether it is a standard EDI message or other Excel, XML, CSV format files, or even pictures, EDI system supports transmission.

After the completion of EDI project, data can be transmitted without manual operation. And errors caused by manual misoperation are avoided. According to the benefit statistics of EDI, the transmission speed of commercial documents can be increased by 865,438+0%, the file cost can be reduced by 44%, the business loss caused by errors and omissions can be reduced by 465,438+0%, and the file processing cost can be reduced by 38%. Whether it is inventory inspection, ordering or invoicing, tedious business operations can be completed through EDI system, and the automation operation is truly stable, fast and accurate.

Because enterprises use EDI, the whole data transmission process is carried out online, which reduces the consumption of paper. At the same time, it also avoids paper consumption caused by writing structure and printing errors, saving manpower and material resources.

So far, EDI has been widely used in automobile, logistics, retail, medicine, electronics, chemical industry and other industries.