Can you work with…………? Yes, all we require is import and export functionality, oh and an internet connection!

As a global pioneer in cloud based and fully integrated EDI and automated supply chain technology solutions we are often asked: ‘Can your EDI solutions work with this accounting package, that ERP system, this WMS, that OMS and so on, so forth?’ The list is endless and as paper never refuses ink, or in this case Microsoft Word doesn’t refuse Calibri font, I thought I would spare you from ultimate boredom by trying not to list them all!

 
The simple, if not somewhat cocky answer, is yes. B2BGateway can usually work with any business software application, subject to 2 provisos (a) has your organizations business application both import and export functionality? and (b) has your organization internet connectivity? If the answer to both (a) and (b) is yes, B2BGateway can provide you with a cloud based, integrated EDI solution!
 
If you are struggling to find a suitable EDI solution and would like the added benefits that cloud based technology and integration bring, call the B2BGateway sales team today on +1 401 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net to see how we can further help you improve your overall supply chain processes.

B2BGateway and Acumatica partner to deliver best of breed cloud based EDI and supply chain solutions to Acumatica users.

B2BGateway, a leading global EDI and automated supply chain solution provider, and Acumatica, the cloud ERP, have partnered to deliver Acumatica users the best in breed in cloud based EDI technology.
 
Acumatica is a leading provider of cloud ERP applications that empower SMBs to stay competitive. Born in the cloud, Acumatica’s browser-based Cloud ERP software offers many choices in deployment, licensing, integration, and customization.
 
Today EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) has become a standard business requirement in wholesale distribution, manufacturing, retail, automotive and ecommerce industries. By having B2BGateway’s fully integrated EDI solution, Acumatica users can now connect seamlessly with online retailers such as Amazon, eCommerce platforms such as Magento, box store retailers such as Walmart and third party logistics providers (3PL). In essence B2BGateway provides a ‘one stop’ solution that can cater for any organizations omni channel logistical and supply chain needs.

For further information on how B2BGateway can further help you automate your organizations supply chain processes with Acumatica call +1 401 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

Top 5 Reasons Retailers Outsource Their EDI Testing & Validation Needs to B2BGateway.

Outsourced EDI Testing & Validation is where a Retailer or Trading Partner outsources their EDI testing and compliance requirements to B2BGateway. B2BGateway helps the Retailer to onboard new suppliers by providing a custom built testing and validation portal for all Suppliers. Suppliers will be able to quickly and easily complete testing and validation for each EDI document against the document specifications and business rules supplied by the Retailer in a timely and efficient manner.

Here are the top 5 reasons Retailers outsource this requirement to B2BGateway:

1.    Saves Time: B2BGateway.Net will communicate, of the Retailers with all their Suppliers to assure that all the EDI documents meet the standards of the Retailers mapping specifications.

2. Easy: B2BGateway.Net has a simple, easy to follow web-based testing system in which both the Retailer and the Supplier can check on the status of the testing at anytime, day or night 24/7.
3. Customizable: The B2BGateway.Net testing and validation service is completely customizable and scalable to meet the Retailers current EDI testing and validation needs as well as all future needs.
4. Experience: With over 15 years EDI experience, B2BGateway.Net has seen almost every variation and deviation to the EDI standard and is a GS1 accredited solution provider.
5. Existing Testing Partners? No worries, B2BGateway.Net can work in conjunction with your existing partner to offer the Retailers trading partners greater choice.

For further information of B2BGateway’s outsourced EDI Testing and Validation solutions please call +1 (401) 491 9595 ext 5 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

EDI in the Transportation Industry

 

EDI has become very popular in the haulage and transportation industry as transportation companies and load brokers are adapting their systems to cater for EDI document exchange.

The advantages for those working in the transportation industry is that routine high volume communications can be automated allowing dispatchers and accounts receivables staff more time to focus on more productive/profitable tasks and provide clients with better customer service. One of the main advantages of EDI is that it eliminates a dispatcher from having to manually key information into the dispatch operational and billing system. This results in saving time and money while eliminating any costly data entry mistakes. The other advantage is that transportation companies who are EDI compliant can communicate seamlessly and electronically with all parties in the supply chain process.

 
All data is communicated between the carrier, shipper, and the consignee in electronic EDI documents known as ANSI X12 “Transaction Sets.” The most commonly used EDI Transaction Sets in the Transportation Industry are:

204- Motor Carrier Load Tender

211- Bill of Lading

212- Delivery Trailer Manifest

214- Shipment Status Message

210- Freight Details and Invoice

820- Payment Order/Remittance Advice

 

990- Response to the Load Tender

997- Functional Acknowledgement

 
Being EDI enabled allows carriers to have access to the vital information that helps them perform at optimum efficiencies and effectiveness, while at the same time saving time and money.
 
For further information on how B2BGateway can help your transportation organization become EDI compliant and meet the needs of your clients and their trading partners call +1 (401) 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net  

B2BGateway offers full EDI integration for QuickBooks Online

B2BGateway, the leading QuickBooks Gold Developer with the highest client satisfaction rating on the Intuit Marketplace is now offering fully integrated EDI solutions to QuickBooks Online users.

QuickBooks Online, a member of the QuickBooks family, is Intuit’s full cloud based accounting software solution. This means that users can access the software anywhere as long as they have an internet connection. Three levels of QuickBooks Online are available; QuickBooks Online Simple Start, QuickBooks Online Essentials and QuickBooks Online Plus, each with additional features than the previous.

B2BGateway, which has been providing global EDI solutions since 1999 and has been a QuickBooks Gold Developer since 2003, can now offer full EDI integration to all QuickBooks Online users. Having full integration means that users will no longer have to re-key data and can exchange all business documentation such as purchase orders, invoices, shipping notices, etc.,electronically with their trading partners.

The advantages of B2BGateway’s full EDI integration solution for QuickBooks Online users are numerous, however, our clients would rate the following as their top three: it saves on labor costs, it reduces errors and it speeds up their ‘order to payment’ cash cycle.

For further information on B2BGateway’s fully integrated EDI solutions for QuickBooks Online, please call +1 (401) 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

Why use EDI to integrate your eCommerce shopping platform with your ERP/Accounting Software System?

As online shopping continues to gather rapid pace (Forrester predicts that over $278 Billion will be spent this year online by US consumers on products and services), many organizations are purchasing eCommerce platforms such as 3dcart, Volusion, Magento, etc., to help them operate their eCommerce online stores. An eCommerce platform is a complete online store application that includes search, navigation, user accounts, shopping cart and ordering capabilities.

 
Without the right tools using an eCommerce platform can be quite a cumbersome and manual process as the following steps will outline:

1. Setup product items to sell online including pricing, imagery, inventory.
2. Customer places order online through the shopping cart.
3. Order details are keyed in manually into the organizations backend accounting software solution or ERP.
4. The order is sent (email, fax, etc.) to the warehouse for fulfillment, where it is manually entered again into the warehouse’s WMS.
5. The warehouse fulfills the order and sends the organization notice (email, fax, etc.) that the goods have been shipped with tracking details.
6. Order information from warehouse re-keyed into organizations backend system.
7. Product shipped to customer.

As can be seen from the steps above, the entire process is quite laborious and can be error prone. Now let’s see how the same transaction would work if the organization implemented EDI:

1. Setup product items to sell online including pricing, imagery inventory.
2. Customer places order online through the shopping cart.
3. EDI 850 Purchase Order is sent directly into organizations backend accounting software or ERP (no need to re-key data). The EDI 850 triggers an EDI 940 (warehouse ship order) to be sent directly into the warehouses WMS (again full automation and no re-keying of data required).
4. The warehouse fulfills the order and sends an EDI 945 (warehouse shipping advice) to the organization letting them know the goods have been shipped. The organization uses the EDI 945 to close out the sale in their back end system.
5Product shipped to customer.

As well as orders and shipping notices, organizations can use the EDI 846 Inventory Inquiry/Advice document to let their trading partners know of stock levels at all times to avoid selling out of stock goods and the EDI 856 Advance Ship Notice to let trading partners know when to expect to receive goods.

For further information on integrating your eCommerce platform with your ERP/Accounting Software system please call B2BGateway today at (401) 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

5 Tips for Successful EDI Implementation.

To implement EDI successfully all organizations must make EDI a part of their overall business strategy with complete buy in from all departments including senior management. Needless to say, good communication between the organization and its trading partners is also an essential component in implementing a successful EDI strategy.

Here are a few tips that should help your organization develop a successful EDI implementation:

1.       Determine where your organization lies in the supply chain.

Is your organization an ‘Initiator’ or ‘Responder’. In other words are you implementing EDI on your own terms to help improve your overall business processes (‘Initiator’) or are you responding to a request from large customers who require you to become EDI compliant in order to secure your contract (‘Responder’). An ‘Initiator’ will be able to determine which rules and regulations suit their business model best, whereas a ‘Responder’ will have to abide by the standards and protocols that have been laid down by their customers or trading partners.

2.       Put in place a dedicated project team.

A dedicated project team is needed to determine your overall business objectives (e.g. remove manual data entry to reduce errors and chargebacks, comply with trading partner requirements, etc.) and to define deliverables over a set time period.

3.       Communicate with Trading Partners.

Ensure your trading partners have full commitment. Ask for a copy of your trading partners agreement and find out which EDI standards (X12, EDIFACT, Tradacoms, Odette, etc.), transaction sets (850, 810, 846, 856, 997, etc.) and communication protocols (VAN, FTP, AS2, etc.) they will require.

4.       Use first implementation as a pilot project and thereafter a stepped approach.

If you have many trading partners to communicate thru EDI, use your first implementation as a pilot project, one that you can tweak and make improvements to as you move forward. Many organizations make the mistake of trying to add too many trading partners at once. This is a huge drain on your resources and can make trading relationships go sour very fast. A stepped or phased approach may be better. Decide which trading partner relationships are a priority and implement accordingly over a phased basis.   

5.       ‘Inhouse’ or ‘Outsourced’ EDI

At this stage you need to determine if you have the internal capabilities and resources to successfully implement your own EDI department or do you outsource your EDI requirements to a 3^rd party EDI provider. A 3^rd party EDI provider will act as your own EDI department and will take away the hassle, constraints and complexities of using EDI with many trading partners. However, if your organization is very large and you have a large IT department there may be advantages to operating your EDI needs inhouse.

If you would like further information on how B2BGateway’s fully outsourced EDI solutions can help your organization achieve successful EDI implementation please call +1 (401) 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net