What is EDI?
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the exchange of business documents between organizations through cloud services. This method is used to replace traditional fax and mail, to improve efficiency and speed while eliminating manual entry and reducing errors. For more details visit our page, What is EDI?
How could EDI help my business?
EDI helps standardize the management of processes between companies. At the same time, users are using the manual process (e-mail, fax or post) to manage the flow of documents. However, human intervention slowed down the exchange process, introduced errors and created a lot of frustration among stakeholders. Instead, EDI documents can be routed directly to appropriate applications by systems like Vantree for immediate and automatic processing. For more information, visit our EDI Automation page.
What are the benefits of EDI?
- Improve operational efficiency
- Improve data accuracy
- Fewer errors
- More visibility
- Simplify redundant tasks
- Automate processes
- Improve speed of data exchange
- Centralize data
- Environmentally friendly
Which industries is EDI used?
EDI can be implemented in all industries such as retail, manufacturing, distribution, financial services, etc. Most industries use the same EDI documents / standards, but some vary depending on the nature of the transactions exchanged in the supply chain.
Which EDI documents do I need to support to be EDI compliant with my trading partner?
Your trading partner will provide you with the necessary documentation outlining the EDI documents you need to support to be compliant. Vantree is aware of most of the requirements, but it is always suggested to obtain the most recent documentation. Here is the complete list of EDI documents. In retail, the basic EDI documents required are:
- 850 Purchase Order
- An electronic Purchase Order requests goods and services from buyer to seller.
- 810 Invoice
- An electronic invoice is sent after receipt of an EDI 850 purchase order and provision of goods and services.
What is an Advanced Shipment Notice (856-ASN)?
The Advanced Shipment Notice (856-ASN) is an EDI document used in the supply chain process to provide visibility to the buyer, just like we receive a tracking number for online orders. The 856-ASN typically includes the shipment details, including pick/pack information such as items included in the shipment, units, weight, and dimensions. Here is a video explaining the process of submitting this document with the help of Vantree.
What is a UCC 128 Label?
A UCC 128 label (also known as the GS1-128 or the standard label) contains ASN information available on a label barcode. This label contains nine zones lettered from A-I, including the origin, destination, and contents.
What is a MH-10 Label?
An MH-10 is a standard format label. The label formats by stacked boxes called zones with printed or barcoded information, such as supplier name, carrier, and the number of units. Labels must use this as a “standard” to be scannable and of quality.
What are the contents of an EDI document?
An EDI document contains data elements, segments, and envelopes formatted according to a particular EDI standard (X12, EDIFACTS, ANSI).
What is a Kilocharacter (KC)?
A KC is the lowest denominator for data exchange. 1 KC is equivalent to 1,000 characters. Every alpha-numeric character, space, and delimiter counts as a character.
What is EDI mapping?
Mapping also known by the term “EDI mapping” translates EDI data into formats used in new technical environments. For example, it converts data from proprietary files like CSV, txt or any ERP specific file etc. to EDI standard formats like EDIFACT, ANSI X12 and many more.
What is the United Nations Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce, and Transport (UN/EDIFACT) standard?
UN/EDIFACT comprises a set of internationally recognized standards, directories and guidelines for the electronic exchange of structured data / business documents between multisectoral sectors. Here is a list of all EDI document standards and their descriptions.
What is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12?
ANSI founded the ACS to synchronize different industrial sectors with the same standards. The X12 standards are a set of rules that determine a specific syntax for the structuring and transfer of electronic documents between companies.
What is a messaging protocol?
Messaging protocols are the technologies used to allow two computers to communicate. Here is the complete list of EDI messaging protocol. It is used by EDI to exchange data electronically. Here are some types of messaging protocols:
- AS2
- FTP
- SFTP
- HTTPS
What is Applicability Statement 2 (AS2)?
AS2 uses the same signing, encryption, and MDN conventions in the original AS1 protocol, plus increased verification and security.
What is File Transfer Protocol (FTP)?
FTP is a standard network protocol used to exchange and manipulate files over a TCP/IP-based network such as the internet.
What is Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)?
SFTP is a network protocol that provides file access, file transfer, and file management functionality over any reliable data stream.
What is HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)?
HTTPS combines the Hypertext Transfer Protocol with the SSL/TLS protocol to provide encryption and secure the server’s identification.
What is Vantree’s role in EDI?
Vantree is a B2B data integrator focused on providing EDI and API automation solutions with a humanistic approach. Vantree helps businesses efficiently, reliably and automatically import and export ALL EDI documents or other types of transactions to and from ALL businesses. Vantree specializes in complex ERP integrations and strives for full automation for all customers, so that they can focus on growing their business and serving their customers. For more information, we suggest you read our blog on the difference between personalized and standardized services.
What makes Vantree different from other EDI providers?
Vantree is a B2B data integrator focused on providing EDI and API automation solutions with a humanistic approach. Vantree helps businesses efficiently, reliably and automatically import and export ALL EDI documents or other types of transactions to and from ALL businesses. Vantree specializes in complex ERP integrations and strives for full automation for all customers, so that they can focus on growing their business and serving their customers. For more information, we suggest you read our blog on the difference between personalized and standardized services.
What are the benefits of trusting Vantree?
- Ease to use software
- Over 25 years of experience
- 24/7 proactive data flow monitoring
- Specialty in complex ERP integrations
- Quicker response and resolution times
- Complete management of EDI relationships
- Delivering cleaner data to the supply chain
- Instant email notifications and alerts
- Competitive and flexible pricing
What solutions does Vantree offer?
Vantree offers Web EDI solutions and customized EDI and API automation solutions. Our proprietary software allows us to customize and implement custom working solutions in any system that can consume transaction data of all types, including EDI, API, web services, XML, JSON and others. If the data is available to be extracted and fields are available for the data to be inserted, Vantree can perform the integration. For more information, see our list of ERP integrations.
Is it more beneficial to choose a Web EDI solution or an Automated EDI solution?
Choosing EDI and API automation solutions may be more beneficial, as investing in automation improves data accuracy, speeds up data exchange, and increases operational efficiency. Click here to read our blog on the benefits of EDI automation. As a growing small and medium-sized business (SME), these metrics are critical to tracking your bottom line. That said, you may not yet have the volume to justify investing in automation. In this case, we recommend that you take a phased approach where businesses invest in a web-based EDI solution to meet your EDI needs, and then move to an automated solution as your EDI volume grows.
How can I avoid managing multiple EDI portals with different providers?
Using a variety of EDI service providers can become costly and inefficient for your employees and customers. We recommend that you choose a company to meet all of your current and future EDI automation needs and talk to them about your project whenever you have an EDI request from a business partner. At Vantree, you would contact your dedicated project manager to inform them of the request, and your dedicated team will be able to help you onboard the client. For more information, we suggest you visit our blog on Why You Should Have The Power To Choose Your EDI Provider.
What are the benefits of using one EDI provider?
- Reduced costs
- Better user visibility
- Streamlined operations
- Facilitate business growth
- Improved management and scalability
- Strengthened business relationships
EDI and API, what is the difference?
- Compliance and security
- EDI implementations are ideal for adhering to compliance regulations
- Ability to enable real-time data exchange
- EDI data is stored then transmitted, while API allows real-time data exchange
Which service model does Vantree provide?
Most of our customers prefer a Software as a Service (SaaS) model. We also offer perpetual software with maintenance and services on a time and hardware basis.
What is Vantree’s Team-Based Support System?
Vantree Team Support is a management system developed with the goal of providing the best customer service experience to customers. Each client is assigned a team of EDI experts for the life of our partnership which includes a project manager, an EDI analyst and an EDI developer. This way, whenever you need help, you know who to contact, how to reach them, and can be counted on to provide the same level of service, every time.
Vantree’s Team Support System translates into faster resolution times, deeper collaboration and happier customers. For more information on our approach, we suggest you read our blog: A dedicated team and specialists for each of your needs.
What is Vantree’s project implementation approach?
Vantree’s implementation approach follows eight steps for each trading partner onboarding.
- Partner Outreach
- We contact your partners on your behalf to initiate the relationship and begin the onboarding process.
- Connection
- We take care of establishing, monitoring, maintaining, and updating all connections for you.
- Mapping
- We perform the EDI document maps, creating the circuits to begin processing your data accurately to your trading partners and back.
- Testing
- We conduct internal and external tests to ensure all data from each document map is extracted and inserted from and to the right fields in your system.
- Go-Live
- We do our absolute best to meet your deadlines by presenting an implementation plan and fail-proof Go-Live strategy.
- Monitoring
- We log every transaction, backed by a sophisticated error notification system, to ensure everything runs smoothly.
- Support
- We offer all-encompassing support that includes partner support, meaning we speak to them on your behalf.
- Management
- While you focus on serving your clients, we take care of managing the EDI relationship for you.
What are Vantree’s responsibilities after implementation?
Once we Go-Live and move into production, we offer ongoing:
- Document transmission
- 24/7 data flow monitoring & support
- Updates on trading partner relationships
- Expert EDI advice
How long does the implementation process take?
Typically, implementation takes anywhere between 2 to 8 weeks, depending on several factors:
- Goals
- Trading partner availability
- Internal and external available resources
- Number of documents
- Number of trading partners
- EDI document types
- System integrations
What is Vantree Connectivity Suite (VCS)?
VCS stands between you and your business partners. It automates the integration, translation and delivery services of EDI and non-EDI documents to and from your system. SCV is the interaction of the three main software from Vantree:
- V-Site
- V-Site is web-based software, allowing users to have full visibility of all EDI document transmissions and other transactions 24/7 in a portal with document status audit logs. Other features include customer web forms, forwarding, and reporting capabilities.
- X-Client
- X-Client is communication software that facilitates the import and export of documents in and out of systems. This software supports any protocol format and is typically installed in a client environment to integrate into any system or database.
- V-Connect
- V-Connect is a basic software used to transmit, translate, transform and validate EDI documents.
Is Vantree’s software Cloud or On-Premise?
Vantree offers cloud and on-premises solutions depending on the customers’ preferences.
How does Vantree’s pricing work?
Vantree’s pricing breaks into primarily four buckets:
EDI Software/Connector
EDI Trading Partner Management Fee
EDI Monthly Transmission
EDI Consulting Time & Material
What is The New Level Podcast?
Hosted by Philip Aguib and Theresa Forman, The New Level Podcast is where we bring industry experts to talk about trends in automation technology and how they are affecting humans. You can listen on Spotify, Apple, Anchor, Breaker, Google Podcast, Pocketcasts, and Public Radio.
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