Do all EDI providers charge VAN fees?

Not all providers do. Some EDI companies charge according to how often you use their value-added network (VAN) to send messages, which means costs rise as your trading volumes grow. Other providers, including Transalis, do not charge VAN fees, so your EDI costs stay consistent regardless of how many messages you send.

How long does it take to get started with EDI?

Timelines vary by provider, but a specialist EDI provider can typically manage trading partner onboarding, testing and go-live without disrupting your existing systems or day-to-day operations. Because the provider handles connections with your trading partners directly, most businesses can get running considerably faster than attempting an in-house EDI implementation from scratch.

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Getting Started with EDI?

To get started simply select the Transalis eDI™ product bundle that suits you, and configure services to build the perfect solution for your business.

Transalis17 December 2020Updated 23 September 2026

Key takeaways

EDI lets businesses share order, invoice and delivery documents digitally and automatically in real time, making operations faster, more accurate and less dependent on manual keying.
Removing double keying and manual re-entry cuts the typing errors that studies suggest affect up to 5% of manually entered data.
Digitising order processing can speed up customer deliveries, with research suggesting EDI cuts delivery times by almost a third compared with manual processing.
Faster, more accurate processing shortens the order-to-cash cycle and improves cash flow, giving businesses the agility to move to leaner, just-in-time supply chain models.
Real-time visibility across orders, invoices and returns helps teams spot problems early, and cloud-based EDI integrates with major back-office systems such as ERP, WMS and accounting software.

What is EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)?

EDI is the digital exchange of business documents, such as orders, invoices and advanced shipping notices, directly between a company's systems and those of its trading partners. It replaces manual processes like email, post and spreadsheets, so data moves automatically and in real time, cutting keying errors, speeding up order-to-cash cycles and giving continuous visibility across the supply chain.

What are the benefits of EDI?

EDI allows your operation to become faster, more cost-effective, more efficient and more accurate by sharing data digitally and automatically in real-time.

Reduce costs

Research shows that EDI software costs just one-third of any paper-based equivalent. Some studies suggest it could be up to 70 times cheaper.

It reduces the need for your employees to key documents received by email or post into multiple systems. Instead, orders, invoices, ASN’s and delivery notices arrive digitally and automatically upload into your supply chain applications. It eliminates human error when keying in hundreds, or even thousands of documents each year.

Studies suggest that up to 5% of manually entered data is typed incorrectly. Cloud-based EDI solutions digitise and automate order document processing so you can spend less time on admin and more time focusing on activities that will grow your business. Let’s explore the benefits of EDI…

'EDI saves businesses at least £14 per order'

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We don't charge VAN fees

Transalis uses the latest technology to eliminate VAN charges, reducing the costs of EDI.

Some EDI companies charge clients according to how often they use their value-added network (VAN) to send messages and documents to trading partners.

Transalis does not do this, which means your EDI costs remain consistent regardless of increasing trading volumes, so you can grow your business without worrying about the bills.

Speed up customer deliveries

Today’s consumers are more demanding than ever. They expect faster deliveries and a frictionless customer experience… if not they’ll go elsewhere! So suppliers and retailers need to stay in control of stock and order processing to ensure there are no bumps along the way.

Thanks to EDI, transactions that once took days or weeks can now be digitised, automated and completed in just hours. Research has found EDI solutions can speed up customer delivery time by almost a third.

Boost operational efficiency

Swift processing of accurate data significantly speeds up the order-to-cash cycle, improving your cash flows.

Thanks to supply chain EDI, shorter processing and delivery times can enable you to reduce your stock levels and even switch to more efficient ‘lean’ or ‘just-in-time’ supply chain models.

This increased agility ensures you can take greater advantage of discounts and improved payment terms.

Closer trading relationships

By cultivating deep and robust relationships with your trading network, you can unlock lasting customer lifetime value for your business.

EDI gives you the visibility to instantly identify any blockages and problems in supply chain order processing, enabling you to step in and resolve issues before they become a problem.

Supply chain success

Processes reliant on paper, email and spreadsheets, are notoriously slow and complicated. You are constantly trying to piece together old data to get an idea of how your supply chain is performing.

Cloud-based EDI solutions give you a real-time view of orders and deliveries across your entire supply chain. That’s because EDI is constantly updating the status of orders, invoices, credit notes, returns, and centralising all of this data to give you a full picture of what’s happening right now.

This enables EDI software users to identify problems and spot opportunities faster, ensuring your business is agile and customer-focused.

EDI gives you greater control over your supply chain

EDI integrates seamlessly with your existing systems

Cloud-based EDI solutions integrate seamlessly with all major back-office systems such as ERP, OMS, SCM, WMS, eCommerce and accounting platforms.

Integrations include Microsoft 365, SAP, Syspro, Oracle, Netsuite, WooCommerce and Shopify to name but a few.

This seamless integration streamlines your business processes, increases both real-time visibility and pace of business, while reducing costs.

Speak to our team to find out exactly how these benefits of EDI can help your business.

Getting Started

Transalis is an EDI specialist provider. We have an expert support team on call and ready to implement your EDI solution immediately. Our team will manage trading partner onboarding, testing and go-live alongside your existing systems, eliminating any continuity risks to your business and making your life easier.

What is EDI?

Just imagine if your computer system could talk directly to your suppliers’ and customers’ computers. Imagine if you could automatically share and process important documents faster, cheaper and more accurately than ever before. What if you could do all this safely in real-time, right across your supply chain?

How much can EDI save me?

Measuring the benefit of your investment in an EDI solution can be complex. To help establish a baseline we recommend you look at the time you and your team spend managing orders, invoices, ASN’s and delivery notes. Two of the most common benefits of EDI are the removal of double keying of information and the reduction in data entry errors.

Use our eDI ROI Calculator to see how much you could save...

EDI Made Simple

Choose the package you need today to enjoy unlimited digital trading with your trading network

Transalis eDI packages compared: connections included and who each one suits.

Transalis eDI packages compared: connections included and who each one suits.
Package	Connections	Best for
eDI Instant	1 connection total	Businesses that have an EDI mandate from their trading partner and need to get connected as soon as possible.
eDI Essential	2 connections total	Companies that are starting to build out their trading networks and enhance their EDI experience with up to 2 connections.
eDI Freedom	Up to 100 connections	Companies who are looking for a base of 3 trading partners with the flexibility to build their own uniquely configured trading network
Web Connect	Unlimited connections	Organisations with large trading networks that require a self-managed solution via web connectivity
Enterprise Connect		Organisations with large trading networks requiring integrated connectivity to internal business systems

Frequently asked questions

Which business systems does EDI integrate with?: Cloud-based EDI integrates with major back-office systems, including ERP, order management, supply chain management, warehouse management, eCommerce and accounting platforms. Common integrations include Microsoft 365, SAP, Syspro, Oracle, NetSuite, WooCommerce and Shopify, so orders, invoices and delivery notes can flow automatically between your existing systems and your trading partners without manual re-entry.
Do all EDI providers charge VAN fees?: Not all providers do. Some EDI companies charge according to how often you use their value-added network (VAN) to send messages, which means costs rise as your trading volumes grow. Other providers, including Transalis, do not charge VAN fees, so your EDI costs stay consistent regardless of how many messages you send.
How long does it take to get started with EDI?: Timelines vary by provider, but a specialist EDI provider can typically manage trading partner onboarding, testing and go-live without disrupting your existing systems or day-to-day operations. Because the provider handles connections with your trading partners directly, most businesses can get running considerably faster than attempting an in-house EDI implementation from scratch.

Want this working in your business?

We will look at how you trade today, and show you what moving to Transalis involves, while your business keeps trading.