Was ist EDIFACT? Alles über den EDI-Standard (2023)

FAQs

What is the EDIFACT standard in EDI? ›

UN/EDIFACT (the United Nations rules for Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport) comprise a set of internationally agreed standards, directories, and guidelines for the electronic interchange of structured data, between independent computerized information systems.

EDIFACT is an English acronym for Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport. The EDIFACT standard aims to secure and accelerate trade. It enables companies to communicate and exchange all their business documents in EDI format with suppliers and subcontractors within their supply chain.

EDIFACT is the shorter, sweeter acronym for Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport, and it is the international EDI standard developed under the United Nations to help ensure EDI is structured to work for multi-industry and multi-country exchange.

Still, it's a standard that has been widely adopted and offers a common vocabulary and set of messages for trading partners. No wonder we often still work with companies that are using EDIFACT for business-to-business communication.

There are two types of EDI standards: Proprietary standard - EDI standard developed for a specific company or industry. This is also called a non-public or private standard. Public standard - EDI standard developed for use across one or more industries.

IDocs are based on two EDI standards, X12 and EDIFACT.

What is EDI? EDI, which stands for electronic data interchange, is the intercompany communication of business documents in a standard format. The simple definition of EDI is a standard electronic format that replaces paper-based documents such as purchase orders or invoices.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the electronic interchange of business information using a standardized format; a process which allows one company to send information to another company electronically rather than with paper. Business entities conducting business electronically are called trading partners.

One of the differences between EDIFACT and X12 is their geographical region of use. EDIFACT is the primarily used EDI standard by companies in Europe and Asia, whereas X12 is the common EDI standard in the US and North America. Both EDI standards are widespread across different industries and sectors.

API. APIs are widely regarded as the biggest disruption to traditional EDI. Although few experts predict an imminent migration from EDI to APIs, some foresee APIs will replace EDI at least partly within a few years. Gartner reports that API could facilitate more than half of all B2B transactions in 2023.

How many EDI formats are there? ›

There are over 300 X12 standards, all of which are identified by a three digit number (e.g. 810 for invoices) rather than the six letter code system used by EDIFACT and TRADACOMS. These EDI file format standards fall under X12's different industry-based subsets: AIAG – Automotive Industry Action Group.

The key difference between web-based and fully automated EDI is the fact that the latter allows your business partners' ERP system effectively to talk directly to your own, bypassing the need for human intervention.

A brief history of EDI

EDI still exists and still works well for millions of businesses, in healthcare, transportation, finance, insurance and more. EDI helps with data for transportation and data for companies with supply chain logistics.

XML is human-readable and available in text format. EDI invoices are sent through a private network. This makes it relatively expensive to send EDI invoices. XML uses the internet to send invoices.

VDA messages are strictly not EDI messages due to lack of certain characteristics. VDA is also used in the UK automobile industry.

GS1 EDI is used in retail globally. HL7 required by HIPAA regulation is predominant in U.S. healthcare.

While EDI establishes a connection between two EDI systems, API is a web-based protocol that allows different systems to communicate with each other. Using cloud-based technology, API allows for data to flow in less than a second between systems.

There are several EDI standards in use today, including ANSI, EDIFACT, TRADACOMS and ebXML.

EDI has semantic Application Layer, Translation Layer, Packaging and Infrastructure Layer.

How to convert EDI to Excel? ›

To translate inbound documents from EDI to Excel, you use the CData Arc Excel connector to visualize EDI documents in Excel spreadsheets. The Excel Connector comes pre-configured with a template Excel file that generates stylized and formatted Excel sheets out of EDI XML.

EDI Standard - ANSI ASC X12

At the end of the 70s, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) created the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) with the aim of developing a uniform messaging standard for the exchange of electronic documents.

Solution. The versions of EDIFACT are also called as directories.

Unlike EDI, APIs enable real time data exchange. Web service APIs provide easy integration to back-end business systems. Compliance and security are other aspects of APIs that differ from EDI. API integration may not be a suitable solution to adhere to compliance regulations, such as sensitive financial data.

An EDI error occurs mostly through human interaction. For example, when an invalid product number, or quantity or address is specified. As a result, it is important to automate as much as possible to reduce any area for error.

The problem with EDI is that it has many dialects bringing specific to the data flows, which is equal to extra work to translate the format of the data from what you get to what you need and the dame for your partners. Not to mention, the data exchange via EDI is far from real-time.

Walmart requires a supplier to be EDI compliant before allowing the trade to begin. Walmart, like most big box retailers, already has a vast system in place for EDI trading. In order to eliminate more work on their end, and yours, they will make sure you are fitted with a VAN before sending purchase orders your way.

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is the process of choice for helping manufacturers to increase their supply chain productivity through accurate and timely transactions. The supply chain cycle starts with an EDI 850 Purchase Order, which is one of the most common EDI transactions.

UltraEdit is the ideal tool for opening and modifying EDI files which are common in the medical records industry.

Web EDI: EDI is directed via Internet browser, duplicating paper-based documents into Web forms that contain fields where users enter information. It is then automatically converted into an EDI message and sent via secure Internet protocols.

Does EDI use HTTP? ›

AS2 uses the HTTP(S) protocol to send EDI messages through an encrypted tunnel. In a standard AS2 message files are transmitted as 'attachments'. All file formats can also be handled and messages can be signed to provide authentication if required.

EDI/SP API - Vendors can connect to Amazon Vendor Central using EDI, or using Amazon's Selling Partner API (SP API). This makes it easier for vendors to manage their inventory and keep track of their sales. Amazon supports two standards for EDI messages, EDIFACT and X12.

Inconsistent data causes inconvenience in EDI operations. Many studies show that bad data is the leading problem that affects B2B business transactions. As the volume of data keeps growing, the scope for errors to creep in are only going to increase.

EDI and API are both technologies used for exchanging data between business partners' computer systems. EDI is used for exchanging structured business data between trading partners' EDI systems, while APIs are used for integrating and communicating between different software applications for real-time data exchange.

The ANSI or EDIFACT document is based upon strict rules governing the position of data within a file, whereas the data in an XML file is not bound to a specific location but is instead identified by tags, such as “<quantity>300 </quantity>” to indicate a quantity value of 300.

XML/EDIFACT is an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) format used in Business-to-business transactions. It allows EDIFACT message types to be used by XML systems. EDIFACT is a formal machine-readable description of electronic business documents.

HTML attempts to control the appearance and presentation of data, while XML does not. XML defines data separately from its presentation. This makes XML data easier to locate and manipulate. XML is a standard data format that permits applications to exchange information across platforms and operating systems.

The HIPAA EDI rule requires that covered entities use the X12N EDI data transmission protocol. The transmission protocol requires covered entities to use specific data code sets. The current code set standard format is referred to ASC X12 Version 5010, or HIPAA 5010.

THE FATHER OF EDI

Guilbert is often referred to as the “father of EDI” in the industry.

How do you identify an EDI file as valid? ›

You can do so by going to the EDI JSON tab. Modify the EDI data in the editor and then click the Validate button.

The ANSI X12 EDI 850 is the Purchase Order Message sent by a customer to a supplier requesting services or goods. An electronic purchase order message is one of the most fundamental documents for automated B2B Transactions that should be part of an EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) workflow.

EDI 997 documents follow the x12 format set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a not-for-profit organization that regulates EDI formats in the U.S. For businesses using the EDIFACT standard, the equivalent of EDI 997 is the CONTROL message.

What is an ANSI X12 EDI 856 Message? The ANSI X12 EDI 856 message – commonly known as Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) – is a document the supplier sends to a customer for notification about an upcoming delivery via EDI.

The biggest difference between the two standards is how they're used and the geographic location of users. In particular, X12 has made significant inroads into the healthcare market, and is used to create HIPAA-compliant healthcare documents whereas EDIFACT does not offer HIPAA documents.

The ANSI X12 EDI Message Standard

The goal of ANSI X12 is to uniform standards for inter-industry electronic exchange of business documents, namely EDI. ANSI X12 is a global set of rules for the intercompany electronic data exchange between two EDI Trading Partners.

The X12 EDI standard uses Interactive Exchange Protocol, which allows companies to exchange business-related messages and documents directly. This dynamic exchange improves communications for both parties, providing shorter response times and removing the problem of delayed responses and inefficient data connections.

An EDI 997 is an acknowledgement to indicate whether an EDI transmission has been received and translated whereas an EDI 824 indicates whether an invoice is accepted or rejected by the Accounts Payable system. Essentially, the EDI 824 is used to transmit invoice disputes with their notes.

The EDI 855 is solely intended to notify the buyer that an order has been both received and processed. After an EDI 855 is received by the buyer, a 997 Functional Acknowledgement is then sent back by the buying trading partner to indicate the successful reception of the EDI 855 transaction.

What is the difference between 997 and 999 in EDI? ›

Both the 997 and 999 are used to confirm that a file was received. However, the 999 includes additional information about whether the received transaction had errors. This includes whether the transaction is in compliance with HIPAA requirements.