EDI Technology

Myth 9: “EDI is only good for orders and invoices”

EDI platforms now support many hundreds of electronic document types, many of which are specific to functions, sectors and industries.

Transalis·18 January 2021

EDI Mythbuster Series

Myth 9: “EDI is only good for orders and invoices”

Busting 9 of the biggest myths surrounding EDI

If you’re thinking of introducing EDI to your business, or you already use EDI but are wondering if you’re really getting the best value from your existing provider,you should read this.

EDI has been around since the 1970s, but there is a massive difference between the EDI offered then, and the new Cloud-based EDI available today.But a lot of the old myths still exist – a lot of EDI providers are still peddling their services and inflating their charges with overly complex set-ups and erroneous costs, no longer a factor with today’s advanced technologies.

Myth 9

“EDI is only good for orders and invoices”

This isn’t true. Modern EDI platforms have evolved considerably in recent years and they now support many hundreds of electronic document types, many of which are specific to functions, sectors and industries.

For instance, earlier this year Transalis extended its range of message protocols to include all foreseeable import and export customs procedures. This step was taken to ensure manufacturers and retailers using EDI would still be able to comply with customs rules as they seek to continue seamless trading post-Brexit.

The most commonly used EDI documents, which are integral to key trading cycles in areas such as supply chain management, ecommerce and drop-ship, include:

Inventory status
Purchase order
Purchase order acknowledgement
Advance shipping notice
Purchase order change
Invoice

Other common EDI documents include return merchandise authorisation, credit/debit adjustment, request for quotation and price information.

However, the full list of supported EDI documents runs to many hundreds of types and includes specialist messages such as waste disposal information and registration of a worker. For a full list of the numerous message types by industry and sector, contact the Transalis EDI team.

For the other 8 EDI myths, download the EDI Mythbuster Report.

EDI Mythbuster Report:

Revealing the truth behind the 9 biggest EDI myths

Essential reading for anyone about to purchase an EDI service

Mythbuster blog posts

Opening the EDI Black Box: How DataTrack Brings Clarity and Control to EDI Messages

eInvoicing Solutions: why they are good for business

The Hidden Costs of Manual Data Entry and How EDI Removes Them

eInvoicing in Europe: 2026 Changes, ViDA and Compliance Guide

Understanding how EDI technology works

Free Report: The Future of EDI

3PL EDI: reducing operational costs with digital transformation

How to Unify ERP, Marketplaces and Logistics into One Connected Supply Chain