Getting Started 1

[tj63069]

This EDI technology sounds very interesting but where do you start. Are there courses? How do you learn EDI?

 

[Tinney]

Well there is baptisim by fire and just start doing it... But that might not be the right way. That is how I learned. Generally if you pick a package that is a fit for your firm and the vendors are generally very helpful. One thing that you will need to understand is the ANSI X12 &quot;Standards&quot;. The organization calls it standards. As you will quickly learn they really are not standards. They are guidelines. Generally the person with the biggest stick will dictate the format. The polite way is normally the person that is Receiving the data dictates the format... But sometimes that is not the norm. Most areas of business will carve out their &quot;Standard&quot; i.e. FASLINC <--If my memory serves me right, is the standards for Textile. VICS is the Standards for Retail. And yes to be a member of any Standard subset of ANSI X12 you pay a fee. I would say for at least the beginning that is the best place to start learning, if your management will approve the fee. Some places can be rather high.

 

[tj63069]

Thanks Tinney
I'll take a look at the ANSI X12.

 

[GEFEG]

As usual education is about budget. X12 has quarterly meeting which is a good place to learn some of the details of EDI (

http://www.x12.org).

There are a number of industry specific organizations, too many to list. You can get formal training from

http://www.edipartners.com

or look to see if there is a local EDI/EC user group. They are usually pretty inexpensive.
Good luck.

Regards,
David Frenkel

http://www.gefeg.com

 

[tj63069]

Many Thanks GEFEG
I'm headed there now!

 

[rosalindr]

I offer EDI Training in Northern California (near San Francisco and San Jose). I use the EDI Partners training materials, which are excellent. If you can't get to the part of the country where they are teaching next, or you are in this area, contact me.

Roz Rogoff

http://www.mytrainingdept.com