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.

Webinar July 09 at 1pm EST: Integrate your eCommerce Platform with your Accounting Software or ERP

Do you use an eCommerce Platform such as Magento, 3dcart, Shopify, Volusion, etc. to run your Online Shopping Cart?

Would you like to learn how to integrate your eCommerce platform to your Accounting Software / ERP system? (QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP, Microsost Dynamics, etc.)

Regiester today to learn how to:

• Use B2BGateway's fully-integrated EDI solutions to pull orders from your online shopping cart and populate them as sales orders in your accounting package or ERP system without rekeying any data!
• Keep your online site up to date with inventory updates.
• Connect and communicate seamlessly with 3PLs and outsourced warehouses or shipping companies.

We'll have a 'questions and answers' segment at the end for any specific question that might not have been covered in the Webinar. Please click the link below to register we hope to see you on July 9th!

Register here http://bit.ly/1yU0idk

DSD (Direct Store Delivery) and EDI

Many items that are date sensitive, or have limited shelf lives are delivered directly to the retailer store locations, by the supplier, as opposed to being shipped through the retailer’s warehouse. This method of delivery is often referred to as Direct Store Delivery (DSD). Some suppliers who use this method are organizations that deliver bread, milk, soda or any other perishable items. Direct Store Delivery (DSD) transactions allow suppliers to get their product on retailers’ shelves as quickly as possible, bypassing the retailers distribution centers.

 
Due to short life guidelines, it is common for over thirty percent of a retail grocers produce to be brought to store via DSD. In convenience and drug stores, over half of merchandise may be directly delivered. Using EDI to automate the DSD process can relieve congestion at the retailer’s back door and reduce check-in times.
 
EDI 850 Purchase Orders are not usually sent to DSD suppliers.  In some cases sales reports may be sent by the store through EDI 852 (Point of Sale Activity Data) or it the EDI 882 transaction set may also be used.  The EDI 882 transaction set is used to summarize detailed delivery, return and adjustment information which was previously reconciled at time of delivery in a retail direct store delivery environment, and also to request payment for the products delivered. This transaction set will provide only a summary of direct store deliveries and adjustments without product detail.
 
More commonly, product deliveries are scheduled based on monitoring of the in-store inventory by either the supplier or the store manager. Invoices are still required and are typically sent through EDI 810 transactions. The EDI 810 invoices must adhere to each retailers specific requirements, data standards and communication protocols.
 
For further information on handling EDI in a DSD environment please call B2BGateway on +1 (401) 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

B2BGateway and Brightpearl announce EDI partnership

B2BGateway, the leading global EDI solution provider, and Brightpearl, a cloud based retail management system announce a strategic partnership to deliver fully integrated, cloud based EDI solutions to Brightpearl users.
 
Brightpearl is a multi-channel retail management system that helps the user manage the heart of their business – bringing together orders, inventory, customer data, accounting and reporting together in one place. Brightpearl handles the scale and complexity of a growing multi-channel retail business. It enables all the parts of any organization to work together. As a cloud based system, Brightpearl is accessible anywhere, anytime.
 
As EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) has become best business practice in retail, B2BGateway is a natural fit for Brightpearl customers that require a fully integrated, efficient, cost-effective EDI solution. B2BGateway offers Brightpearl users years of experience and an outstanding reputation achieving the highest client satisfaction rating in a number of different industry verticals.
 
For further information on how B2BGateway’s EDI solutions integrate with Brightpearl and further automate your supply chain solution please call +1 401 491 9595 / +353 61 708533 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

EDI in Manufacturing

B2BGateway and MISys Webinar: Use ‪#‎EDI‬ in Manufacturing to streamline and grow your business. Wednesday June 11, 2014 at 1pm EST. Register here http://bit.ly/1px6jq9

What are chargebacks and how can I avoid them?

A chargeback is a fee that a customer (usually a retailer) places on a supplier for errors in not following the retailer’s business requirements. The chargeback was introduced to offset the extra cost the retailer incurs as a result of the supplier’s non-compliance.

 
Chargeback schemes began in the 1980’s as a way for retailers to recoup costs incurred due to supply chain errors. At the time, many suppliers objected to them as unfair profit centers for large, powerful retailers. Although purely punitive fines are not legal, cost recovery is—so chargebacks quickly became adopted by most retailers. It’s easy to understand how mislabeled, mis-packed, late, and wrong-quantity shipments add up to real labor costs and out of stock difficulties for retailers. Distasteful as they may be for suppliers, chargebacks make business sense for retailers in trying to recover costs and are here to stay for the foreseeable future.
 
What can lead to a chargeback being applied to my organization?

·         Early, late, or non-authorized partial delivery of goods or services.

·         Missing, incorrect, non-readable or wrongly placed shipping labels.

·         Substituting products without prior agreement.

·         Ship to incorrect location.

·         Product packaged wrongly according to retailers agreement.

·         Damages that did not occur during transit.

·         EDI 810 invoice not matching original purchase order and/or with wrong terms and details

·         EDI 856 ASN (Advance Ship Notice) does not arrive on time or does not match items in carton.

 
How can my organization eliminate chargebacks or at least reduce greatly the potential of receiving them from my customers?

·         Comply fully with customers EDI requirements.

·         Make sure labels are correct and can be read or scanned easily.

·         Do not substitute products without prior approval.

·         Ship to the correct location.

·         Pack items correctly according to retailer’s requirements.

·         Try to make sure goods arrive in perfect order.

·         Deliver the correct products, quantities and cartons

·         Send accurate and complete EDI 810 invoices.

·         Make sure EDI 856 ASN (Advance Ship Notice) arrives on time and details are correct.

 
To comply fully with your customers EDI requirements and business rules, I would recommend that you enlist the help of a good 3^rd party EDI provider. 3^RD Party EDI providers immediately know retailers requirements, what is expected and how they must be delivered. If you would like to know more about outsourcing your EDI needs to B2BGateway and how we can help you eliminate or greatly reduce potential chargebacks please call +1 (401) 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net