Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a set of standards that facilitate the electronic exchange of business documents between organizations. EDI (B2B) has evolved significantly over the years, with various versions of the standards being developed and implemented. In the 1970s, EDI was established as a method for businesses to electronically exchange commercial documents such as purchase orders and invoices. At that time, proprietary systems were commonly used to implement EDI, and specialized hardware and software were required to transmit and receive data.
Trading partners use EDI integration to streamline communications with customers, vendors, and other business partners. The process involves mapping the data fields of EDI documents to the corresponding fields in the target system or application, such as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, a warehouse management system (WMS), or a supply chain management (SCM) system. This ensures that the data is accurately transferred between systems, minimizing errors and enabling seamless communication between trading partners.
Today, EDI has evolved to include new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and mobile devices. This has made it easier for businesses to exchange data in real-time from anywhere in the world. EDI has become an essential tool for businesses of all sizes to streamline their operations and improve their efficiency.
EDI Modernization refers to the process of updating and improving the technology and processes used for EDI to meet modern business requirements. EDI has been in use for several decades, and businesses need to update their EDI systems and processes to keep up with the latest technologies, regulations, and business needs. Modernizing EDI opens up opportunities for integration with emerging technologies like AI, machine learning and blockchain. These technologies can be leveraged to extract insights from EDI data, predict demand patterns, optimize inventory levels, and ensure supply chain transparency and traceability. Modern EDI systems enable businesses to enhance their overall competitiveness, and comply with regulatory requirements and industry standards. It also offers enhanced security features and data encryption, reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access. With the increasing digitization of businesses, modernizing EDI has become essential to keep up with the changing demands of customers and partners.
NEECOM (New England Electronic Commerce) Conference 2023 was a highly anticipated event. This year’s NEECOM event was unique because it was the first face-to-face summit held after the Covid pandemic on May 11 at Double Tree Hotel, Westborough, MA; consequently, it attracted nationally renowned technology experts. NEECOM has been organizing national event twice a year since 1990, it is an oldest group of EDI/B2B technology in the nation today. NEECOM’s summit was packed full of announcements and exciting new topics, focus on helping business unlock their potential through latest technological advancements. Attendees received an immersive learning experience featuring interactive sessions covering topics such as Artificial Intelligence, The Digital Shelf, Automated Drop Ship, Advancements to RFID, cloud computing, data visualization and more.
“EDI B2B Modernization” topic presented by Hiteshkumar (Hitesh) Baraiya was well received and played a strong foundation for the field of Automation and Modernization. Hitesh explored the many ways B2B/EDI technology has evolved with cutting-edge technologies such as API, AI, partner onboarding automation and more, and how this type of modernization can have positive impact on today’s businesses. “EDI modernization enables businesses to operate more efficiently, reduce costs, improve accuracy, and enhance collaboration with trading partners. It fosters agility and competitiveness in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, ultimately driving growth and customer satisfaction,” he says.
The keynote speaker, Hitesh Baraiya, Lead Solutions Architect at SEEBURGER Inc., is a premier specialist and technology expert in the world of EDI B2B Automation and Modernization. His significant contributions around EDI integration, automation and legacy modernization has paved way to multiple innovations and developments of the field. While presenting at NEECOM 2023, he demonstrated a range of use cases of EDI Modernization, API Integration, Automation and Cloud Migration and went further to address the critical need of modernizing B2B Ecosystem.
Cloud computing plays a crucial role in EDI modernization as it offers scalability, cost efficiency, enhanced collaboration, robust security, reliability, rapid deployment, and data analytics capabilities. Leveraging cloud-based EDI solutions enables businesses to leverage the benefits of modern technology while focusing on their core competencies and driving innovation in their operations.
