Posted by Will Daniel on Wed, Nov 18, 2009 @ 10:58 AM
November 2009 Inventory Tip: Making EDI Simple
Do you run a small fulfillment warehouse? Are you under increasing pressure to provide better services and inventory tracking? Do your customers want EDI fulfillment, real time web based access, the ability to automate the overall fulfillment process. If this sounds familiar then you are one of the many small 3PL providers that are under increasing pressure to provide technology to allow your customers to increase their service levels to their customers.
EDI does not have to be a difficult or expensive process. Common transaction based services from EDI providers like, 1 EDI Source and GSX Desktop EDI lower the overall cost of EDI implementations for smaller fulfillment warehouses. These applications provide the mapping tools that allow the collection and response to multiple EDI formats.
However, EDI is only half the picture. EDI service products are capable of integrating into back office applications like IntelliTrack ISRP and IntelliTrack WMS and that creates not only customer efficiencies but provider efficiencies as well. This integration streamlines small fulfillment warehouse processes at a very affordable cost.
The IntelliTrack EDI fulfillment Model:
In the example above, we see multiple EDI formats intercepted and responded to by the EDI software. Because the software supports full import and export capabilities to back office applications the exchange of data between the two systems is accomplished using simple delimitated text files. This type of interface significantly lowers integration cost. What does this mean? It means that with proper thought and planning any small provider can offer the same or like services larger operations provide for their customers.
To summarize, you should never feel you cannot compete in this advanced fulfillment environment. Low cost transaction based EDI servers integrated to IntelliTrack products such as ISRP, WMS Standard and I-View make you just as competitive as anyone else! More importantly, you can sell to your customers your ability to serve them and their customers.
That! Is the way to get EDI right!
-Will Daniel, COO IntelliTrack, Inc.
Questions? Ask IntelliTrack.