What is an EDI Provider?
EDI provider is any company that provides EDI services or software to help businesses connect with their trading partners and exchange standardized EDI documents/transactions. EDI providers can also concentrate on services, like VAN, EDI Service Bureaus, or other value-added services. Some EDI providers may focus on specific vertical markets while others may provide software or services for specific company types – like enterprise organizations or small and mid-sized businesses.
An EDI provider should deliver agility, visibility, and transparency to enable governance, onboarding, management, and visibility processes for its clients, all while demonstrating how EDI can be helpful to streamline business processes.
Types of EDI Providers
EDI providers fall into many categories. Here are a few to name AS2 or EDI VAN.
EDI AS2 Providers
With AS2 (applicability statement 2) providers, data such as EDI, XML, and others are sent and received via the internet using an HTTP protocol (TCP/IP) through a certified server. AS2 provides a superior method for sending data securely and directly from one source to another. AS2 creates a securely encrypted process, with no costly annual or transaction fees for unlimited data. Today, AS2 is considered the best way to integrate with trading partners and has been widely implemented across many industries.
AS2 can handle any type of file format and requires message disposition/delivery notifications (MNDs) to alert a trading partner when a document or data has been delivered or received.
EDI VAN Providers
EDI VAN (value-added network) delivers EDI transactions through a single connection. A hosted EDI VAN service enables communication between a traditional VAN and a private network or internet-connected trading partner. a VAN is a communication channel that moves and manages data from point A to point B. In a VAN, trading partners each possess a mailbox as data is delivered between each mailbox.
This streamlined method is meant to lower the document-by-document processing costs by way of a centralized system with real-time tracking, communication management, multiple connectivity options, local data integration, and rapid message delivery.
What to Look for In an EDI Provider?
End-to-End Visibility
End to end supply chain visibility is transparency at all stages of supply chain management from procurement through delivery of finished goods to customers. EDI service providers must provide dashboards for business and technical users to gain customer insight and intelligence and make more informed business decisions.
Support for Any Standard or Format
It is so important that your EDI vendor can support any standards or formats that you need. This means complying with ANSI X12, EDIFACT, and Tradacoms standards but also supporting other non-EDI formats, including XML, CSV, and JSON files to serve your customers and partners in all the ways they want to communicate.
Automated Business Processes
When organizations rely on manual data entry employees spend countless hours on manual tasks that are at a higher risk of errors and prohibit them from focusing on core business objectives. Modern integration technology enables seamless business-to-business communication and EDI order processing that doesn’t require human intervention. Your EDI technology should be helping you accelerate the order-to-cash process using pre-configured EDI maps, rather than holding you back.
Minimized SLA Fines, Penalties
Missed customer SLAs and mounting EDI compliance violations can lead to costly charge backs and other financial penalties. Maybe your system is creating ASN errors or fails to send acknowledgements, these errors often require manual intervention and further hold up the process. A leading third-party EDI service provider eliminates these errors and will provide alerts and notifications for events and even non-events when an expected document hasn’t arrived. This reduces operational latency and other errors that lead to customer dissatisfaction and costly SLA penalties.
Expedited Trading Partner On-boarding
One of the very helpful benefits of modernizing your EDI environment is that it helps make your business easy to do business with. The partner onboarding process can help you automate the creation of partner profiles and trading partner agreements (TPAs). The administrator obtains details about the partner either from the business user who identified the partner as a prospective trading partner.
Why Choose Commport as your Single Source EDI Provider
Commport is dedicated to providing our clients with the best business interface solutions. Discover how our commitment to innovation, client relationships and excellence can benefit you.
- Comprehensive & Adaptable Service | Commport’s extensive services encompass all your needs by providing the right components for your business. Whether it includes EDI, VAN, and/or GDSN, you can find everything you need in one place at a reasonable cost. Our services can expand or contract with your business to keep your costs down and your business efficiencies high.
- Longevity & Experience | We have been in the business since 1985, and are one of North America’s original EDI network providers. Commport’s team has the knowledge you need to help you make the right decisions for your business. Put our experience to work for you.
- Client Satisfaction | Building relationships with our clients is at the foundation of our strategy for creating client satisfaction. Strong relationships allow us to provide you with the best service to meet your business needs, resulting in long-term partnerships. Read our customer testimonials.
- Innovation & Direct Service | Our products and services are created and serviced by our knowledgeable team. We are not a reseller of other products, but an innovative pioneer that will always ensure we offer the best and latest technology to give you a competitive edge.
- Stability of Ownership | Our ownership has remained stable for over 35 years. We are a strong independent service provider who will be here to serve your business today and in the years to come.
Affordable and Top EDI Solution Provider in North America
For over 35 years, Commport Communications has been providing the most affordable and best EDI solutions in the market. By helping companies solve complex integration issues and providing complete EDI communication between business partners.
Improve your business process and maximize your supply chain performance with our EDI solutions. Contact us today for a free consultation and demo.
Ready to find out more about Commport EDI Solutions?
Frequently Asked Questions
An EDI Service Provider typically offers a range of services including data mapping, document translation, trading partner onboarding, compliance management, ongoing support, and often, a secure platform for EDI transactions.
EDI Service Providers enhance data security through measures such as encryption, secure communication protocols, and compliance with industry regulations. They invest in robust security infrastructure to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of exchanged data.
Yes, many EDI Service Providers offer customizable solutions. They work with businesses to tailor EDI services to specific needs, ensuring that the solution aligns with the unique requirements and workflows of the organization.
Yes, using an EDI Service Provider can be cost-effective. It eliminates the need for businesses to invest in and maintain EDI infrastructure, software, and specialized personnel. Service providers often offer scalable pricing models suitable for various business sizes.
An EDI Service Provider supports trading partner relationships by managing the technical aspects of EDI communication. This includes facilitating onboarding, ensuring compliance with partner-specific requirements, and providing ongoing support to maintain smooth collaboration.
