The essential components required for implementing and running a successful EDI operation.

 

To implement and run a successful end to end EDI communication with your trading partners, the following five components are essential:

 
EDI Translation Software: Although the concept of EDI was introduced to have a sole standard for the exchange of electronic data, overtime and across multiple market sectors, many different EDI standards have emerged such as ANSI X12 (predominantly used in North America), EDIFACT (Europe and Automotive sector), Tradacom (UK), Odette and much, much more. In fact within the same standard there are now multiple versions or upgrades, take ANSI X12 version 4010, version 4030 or version 5010 as an example. In order to deal successful and seamlessly with all these standards and versions within standards, it is essential that you have a robust EDI software translator in place.
 
Data Mapping: Data mapping is the converting of 0information from one location to another. In EDI, data mapping converts a user’s application data into the required EDI file format, and vice versa. Mapping outbound data involves establishing what information from the ERP or accounting software goes where in an EDI file. The data must be properly arranged and formatted so that it conforms to both the EDI standard required and the trading partner’s rules and regulations.
 
Communication Network: The EDI transaction sets can be transported between trading partners over numerous different methods such as a VAN (Value added Network), AS2, FTP, FTPs, etc. When trading with multiple customers, you will probably need the ability to handle all of the aforementioned communication protocols as different organizations will use different protocols.
 
Integration: Although there are some stand-alone EDI systems that may suit very small operations or seasonal companies, in order to get the best ROI out of using EDI, any organization should integrate their EDI solution with their back end ERP/Accounting Software/OMS, for example QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage, SAP, Aptean, Microsoft Dynamics, Brightpearl, Acumatica, etc.. Integration with back end software removes the need to re-key data, thus providing further automation and reducing errors.
 
Support: It is one thing to get a good EDI system in place, but yet quite another to make sure that that system runs smoothly 24/7. Any system that does not run 24/7 or is prone to hiccups could be costing your organization new orders and therefore costing you lost income. Having good support will also keep your organization functioning seamlessly as trading partners require system upgrades or new EDI transaction sets to be introduced.
 
B2BGateway is a full service EDI provider and handles all of the vital components listed above on behalf of thousands of clients worldwide on a daily basis. If you would like to know more about B2BGateway’s full service EDI and automated EDI solutions, please call +1 401 491 9595 (North America)  / +353 61 708533 (Europe) or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

NHS adopts PEPPOL standards to enable eProcurement with Suppliers.

The NHS (National Health Service) in England recently announced the NHS eProcurement strategy, establishing actions to improve NHS data and information, requiring the use of PEPPOL specifications throughout the healthcare sector for eOrdering, eInvoicing and Advanced Shipping Notifications (ASNs).

PEPPOL stands for “Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line”. PEPPOL is a large scale pilot project that was initiated by the European Commission and is designed to facilitate electronic procurement (including e-invoicing) in Europe. PEPPOL makes e-Procurement easy as it provides a solid infrastructure for exchanging e-business information based on standards for electronic messaging.

One of the four publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom, the NHS in England provides healthcare to every legal resident in England, with most services free at the point of use. For 2014/15, the NHS England revenue budget is set at around £110 billion (US $188 bn).

The NHS eProcurement strategy is part of the Procurement Efficiency Programme. This programme sets out the actions to help the NHS save £1.5 billion by the end of the financial year 2015-2016. The new NHS eProcurement strategy will adopt PEPPOL data standards as well as GS1 barcoding standards.

GS1 is an international not-for-profit association with Member Organisations in over 100 countries. GS1 is dedicated to the design and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply and demand chains globally and across sectors. The GS1 system of standards is the most widely used supply chain standards system in the world.

If you would like to know more about the PEPPOL standards or if you trade with the NHS, please contact B2BGateway (an approved OpenPEPPOL provider) on +353 61 708533 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net for further details.