Transalis eDI Instant is the first self-service EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) product specifically designed for SMEs. This solution is perfect for businesses starting out with the digital transformation of their processes.

Its launch follows market research* highlighting widespread customer frustration at the time it can take to set up an EDI connection.

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It’s clear from what our respondents told us that EDI continues to be the bedrock of document exchange for companies engaging with their trading networks. However, there is currently a high level of dissatisfaction amongst users of EDI, where legacy providers have been failing on a number of key areas related to the challenges of 21st century commerce.

In our research survey, we asked senior decision makers working in operations, IT and finance what they wanted from their ideal EDI solution.

More than four in ten (41%) said pricing should be far more transparent.

Many companies do not think they are getting value for money from their current EDI provider. Legacy pricing still exists. Numerous EDI providers still charge VAN (Value-Added Network) fees, under which users are required to pay for every transaction based on the number of characters in a document.

The problem is that if a company’s trading partners changes over time, it can result in unexpected costs that wipe out potential profits from an upsurge in sales. In today’s volatile global trading environment of Brexit, digitisation and COVID, many businesses have experienced massive fluctuations.

Nearly half of the respondents (49%) wish for greater visibility of trading data.

They told us that an ideal EDI solution should offer the ability to visualise and amend multiple linked documents and transactions in a single view. The solution should be easy to use, with nearly four out of ten respondents (38%) favouring a dashboard format. This is important because it strengthens visibility across the trading network, helping to underpin efficient management.

43% of respondents also cited better integration with in-house systems as a fundamental feature of an ideal EDI solution.

Their view is that if taking data directly into existing systems, the in-house IT team should be provided with a clearly formatted digital file that can be automatically mapped and uploaded.

For full integration, an API (Application Programming Interface) should pull in information from the EDI platform efficiently, with no disruptions or delays to Business As Usual (BAU) operations.

Respondents also confirmed our understanding that most businesses do not want to go ‘under the bonnet’ and get involved with the complex ins and outs of EDI. They just want to enjoy the benefits and rely on a provider to do the heavy lifting.

At the same time, nearly four in ten (39%) said they would like the ability to manage their own EDI, so they’re not so reliant on an EDI provider.

Given today’s dynamic and integrated business environment, companies are often keen to innovate their own solutions for frictionless self-management of their trading partner network, rather than relying on a third party holding all the cards.

Providers that insist on offering a cumbersome managed service are likely to lose ground in favour of those that provide a more agile self-serve SaaS model.

Taking the main points flagged by respondents in turn, here is how Transalis benefits customers:

Many decision-makers, including directors and senior managers in operations and IT, say they are poised to review their current solution because of dissatisfaction with an incumbent provider. So, is your EDI provider fit for purpose?

UK businesses are making changes to the way in which they manage the essential documentation that enables them to trade with their supply chains.

In new research* commissioned by digital supply chain technology EDI provider Transalis, the vast majority of respondents say they are looking to review the EDI solution they rely on to exchange trading data within the next six months.

Your EDI provider delivers the technology that enables documentation to be shared across supply chains. It helps with a vast range of document types including orders, invoices, Advanced Shipment Notices (ASNs), remittance advice, inventory lists, delivery instructions and sales reports.

EDI has become widely used in many sectors across the world, with big retail players, such as Ocado and Morrisons, mandating its use for their manufacturers, suppliers and partners in warehousing, logistics and delivery.

That mandate often leaves operations, finance and IT teams in the supply chain with a digital transformation challenge: how to implement EDI, or replace a legacy system, without disrupting BAU (Business As Usual).

At the same time, decision-makers do recognise that a successfully performing EDI solution can reduce operational costs and drive efficiencies, so benefiting the bottom line.

The research findings show that EDI providers have a clear opportunity to help companies move forward and prosper while meeting the challenges presented by a fast-developing business environment impacted by Brexit, Covid, rapid technological change and growing competition.

Among the key points from the research, more than four out of ten companies said they were expecting to significantly increase the number of trading partners, with 16% outside the UK.

Therefore, they need to deliver solutions that afford visibility and transparency across the entire trading network.

This is one of the key findings from new research* by digital supply chain technology provider Transalis. The company spoke to directors and senior managers working in operations, IT and finance to gauge their insights and views on the current state of EDI provision in the UK.

The Transalis research revealed that many EDI providers are simply not keeping up with the needs of their customers and are therefore effectively restricting them from competing in an increasingly international trading environment.

Nearly all (99%) of respondents in the survey say they will be reviewing their current EDI solution ‘in the near future’, meaning five months on average. 34% cite dissatisfaction with their current supplier as the dominant reason why, 46% say they are unhappy with the time it takes for their provider to respond to issues, and 30% point to service outages. Four out of ten (41%) say their provider is not keeping up with requests to make rapid and regular updates to their EDI solution to reflect ‘on the ground’ changes in the trading network.

Further concerns centre on difficulties with integrating EDI with other systems, a lack of trading partner reach and insufficient knowledge of EDI standards. While most respondents are thinking about switching solutions, six out of ten believe they will struggle to find an EDI provider that meets their needs.

At Transalis, we don’t believe it should be like this.

We understand that any EDI solution provider must be effective in meeting their clients’ needs in a timely manner. We recognise that in today’s connected world, systems need to work together efficiently. The exchange of data and transparency of information needs to be frictionless. That is why you need to choose a provider with an excellent track record and deep knowledge of EDI, and who understands and cares about your business.

It was for those reasons that Transalis was approached for help with EDI by the UK subsidiary of SMEG, the domestic, industrial and laboratory appliance manufacturer. SMEG receives and processes hundreds of orders each week from across its UK distribution network, including from retailers, distributors and resellers.

Because of the extent of the network and the many different systems and protocols of trading partners, SMEG needed a fully functioning EDI solution to standardise the data being interpreted, extracted and presented to managers.

Cerie Paton, Head of Business Systems at SMEG, says: “We asked Transalis to find us a solution for automating, integrating and validating the data we were receiving. After we explained our issues and concerns, they built, tested and put live an API within ten days or so. They worked with us to understand where any issues were coming from, why any data was failing, and how mistakes could be resolved. They have the development and technical support skills to overcome data accuracy issues.”

EDI providers operate different pricing models, so you will need to weigh up investment spend against your expected benefits in using EDI and decide which offering best meets your needs.

If you’ve been mandated for EDI by one of your trading partners and you only need a single connection, eDI Instant is the fastest way to start using EDI immediately, with no hidden fees. At just £495 per annum you can buy instantly online and be up and running in as little as 24 hours.

If your requirements are more complex, choose from our product bundles, or build your own entirely customisable solution with eDI Freedom.

Businesses in all sectors rely on EDI to exchange business documents with their global trading partners. Standing for Electronic Data Interchange, EDI is the software that enables the digitised sharing of orders, invoices, ASNs (Advance Shipment Notices), order responses, and other essential documents that need to be exchanged to keep the supply chain moving. To find out more go to What is EDI?

In a world with no EDI, you would have the monumental task of raising orders and invoices manually, sending documents by post or email, and inputting the related information manually into management systems. With EDI, you avoid all that thanks to digitisation, automation, and integration.

Find out more about the benefits EDI

There are several factors to consider when calculating the costs of EDI. If you are in a larger well-resourced organisation, you may wish to call on your IT team to build an in-house system. As well as mapping and translating all the data requirements, they will need to invest in software for onward transmission and communication, and ensure they stay up to speed with updates and maintenance. They will also need to support trading partners access and use of the system, and evolve its reach as new partners come on board.

Such an IT challenge is rather complex to say the least, which is why most businesses choose to implement and run an EDI solution from an external SaaS provider (Software as a Service), so they do not have to learn the technical ins and outs.

Either way, you will want to be reassured that your EDI choice is a cost-effective and frictionless method of exchanging business documents. A good EDI solution will achieve this by connecting everyone involved in your trading network and offering the capacity to manage both structured and unstructured data in a way that minimises error, maximises efficiency and improves visibility.

Ideally, you want to find a transparently priced solution that is tailored to your needs and can generate a return on investment. If you are going externally, ask your provider about the pricing model and support they offer. Be sure that the price reflects exactly the level of help you need and comes with no hidden extras or upfront fee.

Transalis is a digital supply chain technology provider with extensive knowledge and insight about the digital exchange of global trade documentation.

Transalis is a global GS1 certified EDI provider, connecting supply chains and enabling businesses to trade electronically, across their trading network, anywhere in the world.

We are also one of the few UK tech firms to have been certified as an AS4 Peppol provider, reflecting our compliance with the highest level of international public procurement standards.

Both GS1 and AS4 Peppol support the goal of enabling safe and secure trade through greater supply chain transparency, visibility and efficiency.

Under our Customer First approach we help you choose the right product, implementation set-up and ongoing customer support.

You will have a dedicated product manager who will stay with you throughout the end-to-end partner onboarding process. After that, a dedicated account manager and support team help you with any queries on day-to-day operations.

Each solution comes with a choice of support package to ensure you enjoy uninterrupted and hassle-free invoice automation.