Microsoft Dynamics 365 EDI: How to integrate fast

That’s where EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) comes in, and if you’re using Microsoft Dynamics 365, integrating EDI can be faster and easier than you might think.

This blog provides guidance on the best approach to setting up an integrated EDI connection with Microsoft Dynamics 365, including:

EDI is the technology used to standardise the exchange of key business documentation between trading partners, such as purchase orders, invoices, and shipping notices.

When paired with Microsoft Dynamics 365, EDI transforms business processes by automating data flows between internal business systems (e.g. an ERP), as well as the rest of the supply chain. Therefore, instead of downloading and/or updating information between different systems, EDI that’s integrated with Dynamics 365 ensures effortless data flows (whether on Business Central, Finance & Operations, or Supply Chain Management) in addition to efficient communication with your customers, suppliers, and logistics providers.

A fast EDI setup is critical to maintaining BAU. Based on Transalis’ experience delivering Microsoft Dynamics 365 integrations, here’s the recommended step-by-step approach:

There are two main approaches:

In-house EDI Integration – Building and implementing APIs/connectors in-house to link your EDI solution with Dynamics 365.

EDI Managed Services – Outsourcing the setup, mapping, testing and maintenance to an EDI service provider.
For most companies, onboarding with a reputable provider is the most rational route. It reduces setup complexity and avoids the need for in-house expertise. At Transalis, we offer a choice between a fully managed service and a self-serve option, complete with pre-built API connectors.

Look for a provider that offers:

A reputable EDI provider, such as Transalis, offers plug-and-play EDI integration tailored to Microsoft Dynamics 365, delivering rapid deployment with minimal disruption.

Each trading partner may require different message standards. Your provider should help you map these formats to your Dynamics 365 data structures, ensuring each document type (PO, invoice, ASN) aligns perfectly.

Modern EDI platforms include automated mapping tools and testing environments to streamline this step.

Before going live, thorough end-to-end testing ensures every document type flows correctly from order creation to invoice acknowledgement. Many EDI solutions include real-time dashboards and alerts to spot issues instantly.

Once tested, switch your trading partners to live mode. With the right integration, you’ll have:

These features grant you more control and confidence in your EDI operations.

Integrating your EDI solution offers several key benefits for businesses with ERP systems like Dynamics 365.

Below are some of them:

Due to our vast experience with Dynamics 365 EDI integration, we know the top aspects that businesses need to prioritise.

Begin with your key trading partners and then utilise this process as the blueprint to roll out across your entire trading network.

Avoid custom code; instead, use prebuilt Microsoft-certified connectors for Dynamics 365.

Ensure your set-up can automatically alert you about missing data or failed transactions.

On-premise solutions take longer to implement, are harder to scale, and put all the responsibility on in-house resources to maintain. Cloud-based EDI cuts deployment time drastically.

Partnering with an EDI specialist ensures smoother onboarding and ongoing support.

Integrating EDI with Microsoft Dynamics 365 doesn’t have to be slow or complex.

With prebuilt connectors, cloud-native infrastructure, and managed onboarding, businesses can go live in as little as 2 to 4 weeks. Transalis provides a Microsoft Dynamics 365 EDI integration that’s fast to deploy, simple to manage, and scalable as your trading network grows.

Book a meeting to discover how quickly your business can achieve seamless data exchange and complete supply chain visibility.