A Brief History of Web EDI Systems

A Brief History of Web EDI Systems

The exchange of electronic documents and data have been vastly improved by Internet EDI platforms. The platform allows sharing of important information such as sales and invoice data between companies. Modern systems use HTML format to provide access to the shared data. These systems then use XML format as a means of data transportation. In a nutshell, EDI systems transform all data from all companies into a unified format. This uniform code can then be used by any party with ease.

Before the advent of EDI, data transfer between companies were done via Value Added Networks. This was before the Internet era, which means that the setup and maintenance costs were consequent. Once the Internet was globalised, a lot of service providers stepped into play. This, in turn, has allowed companies to share information at a smaller cost. This has spurred a panoply of services like EDI translation, data encryption, secured email networks and reportings. Some companies even offer custom reportings, which are much more beneficial to the company and it’s management.

The move towards EDI systems is often viewed as an effective way to cut down operating costs. The cost of paperwork and transits associated are instantly felt. This is especially true for EDI warehouse systems. In the long run, the speed of data transfer translates to a more efficient company and more efficient employees. The advantage is also present at the strategic level. The usage of EDI also means real-time metrics. This information is often crucial in high level decision making.

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