EDI: Enabling agility in the supply chain

Ever wondered why historically commercial cities around the world are located along the sea coasts or major rivers? That’s because trade and commerce needs easy access and connectivity with other businesses to flourish. Using the same principle, today Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) facilitates structured transmission of data and documentation with global service providers, agents, suppliers, customers, shippers, and manufacturers quickly and without interruption. In short, effective EDI-enabled Logistics Software solutions create a channel for companies linking them with business partners, suppliers and regulators.

Business today is operated in a highly interdependent environment. All players need to work like gears in a well-oiled machinery to establish a continuous supply chain. As an enabler of business, EDI ensures that your company is an integral part of that machinery playing its part smoothly and without hiccups through seamless integration with other Logistics Management Software used for logistics/warehouse/ transport management. For example, the EDI module of Logi-Sys ensures connectivity with other business partners in supply chain like Ocean Carriers (via INTTRA), Customs, Ports, Customers (via customised interface) etc. ensuring a smooth flow of information.

EDI is an invaluable tool that guarantees Savings, Accuracy and Speed. EDI can help cut costs by reducing the need for manpower required for data entry and material costs such as paper documents, meetings, faxes, etc. Another advantage of EDI is reduced errors, such as shipping and billing errors, because EDI eliminates the need to rekey documents. More importantly, the speed in which your partner receives and incorporates the information into their system through EDI enables quick decision making through visibility of data in real time.

Suply chains today thrive on the Just-in-time delivery module and goods are required to be moved at a mind boggling speed, almost over night, to distant countries with no interruptions relating to cross border regulations and documentation. EDI plays a huge part in ensuring seamless transport through real time updates by allowing data to flow in a continuous chain. It integrates complex supply chains and simplifies process.  

Any doubts regarding integration of EDI with a company’s legacy system and the costs involved are easily addressed with the sheer simplicity of its deployment. EDI can be easily configured to specific business requirements and integrates with back-end and legacy systems to ensure timely and accurate delivery of critical business data. Sophisticated EDI-enabled Logistics Management Solutions like those provided by industry leader Softlink Global provide the ease of a plug and play EDI interface.

EDI can be used as a shared resource where the service provider is responsible for maintenance, upgradation and back up of the software while the user simply operates on a ‘pay as you go’ basis.  The lowered total cost of ownership translates into huge savings for customers while keeping its promise of real time visibility. Users need not spend valuable time and resources tracking and troubleshooting transaction data, at the same time they can avail of improved data integrity through reduction in manual processing of trading partner data.  

By combining the benefits of EDI and software as a service, logistics service providers can stay lean and reduce costs. By ensuring that your IT solutions provider is a specialist in the logistics domain, you can put your best foot forward, safe and secure in the knowledge that the latest in EDI technology is at your disposal.  

Softlink Global is a market leader providing software solutions across the logistics chain. Softlink's products are used by more than 60,000 users in over 3,000 organizations. Softlink’s clientele include organizations like DHL, TNT, AFL Dachser, Nippon Express, DB Schenker, Agility etc.