Help with EDI

[blumbra]

Hello,

The only thing I know about EDI is the definition. I have a supermarket that wants all of my invoices via EDI. I have an Access database. The invoices all have about 40 lines and I do about 30 invoices a month. Thats a lot of double entry. Is there a way that I can take the info out of Access for EDI. The first step is knowing what I can do. Then the doing is a whole different story!

Bryan

 

[hneal98]

The first step is to ask the requester what format they want. Also, it would not hurt to have them send you a data layout with that format. Then all you have to do is export your data to that format and send it to them. EDI is simply Electronic Data Interchange. It is a fancy way of saying "Give it to us in a format we can use to feed into our systems."

Hope this helps.

 

[cmmrfrds]

see thread181-705080

 

[CajunCenturion]

When you say EDI, are you referring to a Coke or a coke?

What I mean is that there are two internationally accepted standards, ANSI X.12 and EDIFACT, which define the specifics, formats, layouts, and tran codes of electronic data interchange transactions (That's the Coke). These two standards have been around quite a long time.

Then there is generic use of EDI, that hneal98 is talking about which boils down to two parties agreeing (being in agreeance - sorry: still laugh about that) on how they will have their own systems talk with each other (the coke).

Which situation are you in? If you have a choice, go generic, the standards can be a bear to work with.

Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[blumbra]

Okay,

I'm a little more educated. Here is a solution that would seem to work. Is it the best solution?

The only thing I have to send EDI is an 810 invoice. The information has to be sent AS2.

What I think I need is a translation software. Export data from Access and translate through 3rd party software. Then I can either get AS2 in house or send the EDI file away and have another company send it to the customer.

The EDI Trans. software I looked at runs around $2500. The 3rd Party sender is not taht expensive: $35/month + 0.15 per/1000 chars.

Would you consider this the best solution or should I try to export the 810 layout directly from Access?

Bryan

 

[MichaelRed]

the 810 format is not all that hard, but it is INDUSTRY specific, so you need the INDUSTRY version of the spec. It is one of the more common 'forms' to send, but it is also usual to be able to read the companion 'form'. Being able to send an EDI document -w/0 being able to read the acknowledgement- is sort of like having write only memory? How would you know that the recipient got your document? Or was actually going to respond?




MichaelRed
m.red@att.net

Searching for employment in all the wrong places

 

[cmmrfrds]

On a project about 3-4 years ago I used a 3rd party product called ProEdi to translate the EDI documents and it worked fine for that function.

 

[blumbra]

cmmrfrds,

I am actually looking seriously into ProEdi. It was nice to have you post something positive about them!

Thanks Again,
Bryan

 

[GPOTony]

Just a suggestion: Can you contact any of the supermarket's other suppliers to find out what package they are using to send their invoices via EDI?