EDI? “Does that even still exist?” The answer is clear: “Yes” – and without EDI, many things we rely on in daily life would not be possible. Electronic Data Interchange is more important today than ever.
Because companies today face a massive challenge: The more business partners they have, the more digital interfaces, formats, and requirements they must manage — and the greater the risk of chaos, delays, or system breakdowns.
What has changed – and what has remained the same?
EDI has existed since the 1960s. Back then, it was used for the fast and secure exchange of military data.
Today, EDI forms the foundation of functioning supply chains – whether in the food trade, manufacturing, or logistics sectors.
👉 Today, hardly anything in the supply chain works without EDI.
But even though technologies have evolved, the core problems remain — just bigger.
The key challenges of modern EDI processes
- Increasing complexity: More and more business processes are being automated – from ordering and production to inventory, delivery, and invoicing.
- Growing partner landscape: Different formats and standards (EDIFACT, XML, ANSI X12, and more), new countries, and regulatory requirements.
- Lack of scalability: In-house solutions quickly reach their limits when faced with expansions, new projects, or short-term requirements.
The Solution: EDI as a Service
Many companies today deliberately choose to outsource their EDI. Why?
- Scalable Service that grows with your business
- No more effort spent on formats, standards, or system monitoring
- Fast projects with seamless integration of new partners
- Predictable costs instead of high licensing and personnel expenses
- Secure operations with monitoring, SLA, and 24/7 availability
Strong partnerships with IT Service Providers
A modern EDI partner brings more than just technical expertise – they provide real operational relief for businesses. New business partners – whether customers or suppliers – can be onboarded in no time. The entire communication between systems flows seamlessly, with complete transparency across all data exchanges – from the initial order to the final invoice.
Conclusion: EDI does not have to be visible to make an impact
The future of EDI does not lie in managing individual interfaces. It lies in having a system that runs reliably in the background – scalable, secure, and compliant.
Only then can companies focus on what truly matters: their core business and their customers.
We are always available to assist you.