Electronic data interchanges EDI

Definition

EDI is a concept of structured data computerized exchange from application to application, supported by computers, based on normalized and pre-established messages via an electronic communication mode.

History

From 1960: EDI messages already exchanged, but volumes are confidential and each sector has its own format.
Until 1987: development of these exchanges via three standards:
- ANSI X12 (1978), by the “American National Standard Institute” (ANSI)
- TDCC / EDIA, by the “Deportation Data Coordinating Committee”
- Guidelines for Trade Data Interexchange (1981), by the “UNited Nations Economic Comission for Europe, Working Party 4”
1987: Creation by the UN of the “Electronic Data Interchanges For the Administration, Commerce and Transport” (EDIFACT)
1988: Creation of an ISO (International Standardization Organization) standard: ISO 9735
1988: First official sending of an EDIFACT message (Invoice)
1988-1996: Period of strong development by international working groups (ex 1988-1994: TEDIS program (Trade Electronic Data Interchange Systems))
1996: Generalization and maturity of the EDIFACT, more than 200 types of messages
Late 90s: General systems convergence towards EDIFACT

Applications

The Electronic data interchange is thus defined through the EDI norm (ISO9735 – Electronic data interchanges for the administration, the business and the transport (EDIFACT)) of 1988.

With the EDI, companies’ information systems are transmitting each other structured information.

Through the EDI, the parties exchange computerized data on the basis of a normalized, clear and predefine agreement within the same commercial activity.

The inter-companies EDI’s fields of application are generally the exchange of industrial, commercial and financial information.

We can quote the more common examples: invoicing, orders, shipment notice.

The EDI minimizes paper support, the human intervention on tasks with low added value (manual data seizing, documents sending by mail or faxes, printings) and the risks of errors linked to the manual seizure of data.

It is an indisputable factor of: