A lot of businesses have to be innovative in all aspects of their work, particularly in their communications processes. It is for this reason that EDI (or Electronic Data Interchange) has become such a major issue for business in general.
For starters, you should always be clear regarding the subject being discussed, a truism that holds for Electronic Data Interchange as much as it would for any other subject. Effectively, EDI is the process where business documentation is communicated in a standardized fashion between firms. That is the definition which covers the essentials of the process.
Generally, this means that business documents are transmitted from computer to computer. You may think that this is no different to communicating by e-mail. However, the distinction is that while e-mail is a free format that can be adapted at will, EDI is standardized according to business protocol.
This means that the documents transmitted must be professionally produced and adhere to business standards in their production. There is no room for text slang, emoticons or other features of e-mail communications. These must be treated in the same manner as hard copy documents would be.
The process has become such a hot button topic because of the considerable benefits that it bestows. Substantial savings are to be made for firms that use these processes rather than paper for their communications. So for economic reasons alone, EDI is a clear winner to back.
It is not merely the expenses that printing paper invoices and other documents incur which are trimmed, however. Since such documentation is sent electronically, it ends up with its intended recipient in faster time than it would otherwise have. And time that is not badly spent clearly equates to money not being badly spent.
Because less time is expended in issuing documents and invoices to recipients, greater care can be taken with their contents. This minimizes the possibility of any errors being made with the contents. And that is minimized further by adherence to standardized business practices.
By contrast, the paper dependent route demands a turnaround time for a document to reach its receiver. Here, you will be rushing to make sure that it is sent soon enough for it to meet a specific deadline. Such a situation leaves you more prone to the possibility that a mistake will be made.
As well as the business benefits, there is also a substantial public relations benefit to be had here too. Relying on electronic communication as opposed to paper communication reduces the likelihood of contributing negatively to the environment. In these more environmentally conscious times, this will do your image no harm at all in the eyes of the public.
In summary, there are a considerable number of benefits to be had from using EDI. And it is imperative that you make yourself aware of what these benefits are in short order. By following the tips outlined above, you are less likely to put a foot wrong and you will benefit your business both financially and from a marketing perspective.
For starters, you should always be clear regarding the subject being discussed, a truism that holds for Electronic Data Interchange as much as it would for any other subject. Effectively, EDI is the process where business documentation is communicated in a standardized fashion between firms. That is the definition which covers the essentials of the process.
Generally, this means that business documents are transmitted from computer to computer. You may think that this is no different to communicating by e-mail. However, the distinction is that while e-mail is a free format that can be adapted at will, EDI is standardized according to business protocol.
This means that the documents transmitted must be professionally produced and adhere to business standards in their production. There is no room for text slang, emoticons or other features of e-mail communications. These must be treated in the same manner as hard copy documents would be.
The process has become such a hot button topic because of the considerable benefits that it bestows. Substantial savings are to be made for firms that use these processes rather than paper for their communications. So for economic reasons alone, EDI is a clear winner to back.
It is not merely the expenses that printing paper invoices and other documents incur which are trimmed, however. Since such documentation is sent electronically, it ends up with its intended recipient in faster time than it would otherwise have. And time that is not badly spent clearly equates to money not being badly spent.
Because less time is expended in issuing documents and invoices to recipients, greater care can be taken with their contents. This minimizes the possibility of any errors being made with the contents. And that is minimized further by adherence to standardized business practices.
By contrast, the paper dependent route demands a turnaround time for a document to reach its receiver. Here, you will be rushing to make sure that it is sent soon enough for it to meet a specific deadline. Such a situation leaves you more prone to the possibility that a mistake will be made.
As well as the business benefits, there is also a substantial public relations benefit to be had here too. Relying on electronic communication as opposed to paper communication reduces the likelihood of contributing negatively to the environment. In these more environmentally conscious times, this will do your image no harm at all in the eyes of the public.
In summary, there are a considerable number of benefits to be had from using EDI. And it is imperative that you make yourself aware of what these benefits are in short order. By following the tips outlined above, you are less likely to put a foot wrong and you will benefit your business both financially and from a marketing perspective.
About the Author:
Peggie K. Lambert is an independent consultant focusing in the world of data integration. If you are looking to learn more about Web EDI then she recommends you refer to http://www.liaison.com.
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