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Why is this archaic format still used in the face of easier-to-use technologies? Does it provide some benefit that I'm not seeing? It seems that a large amount of vendors still provide data only in this format, instead of something more manageable and easier to use such as XML; at the least it would make sense to me to offer both formats.
Also, what are some good ways to deal with and utilize EDI when you have no other choice but to use it? Something like BizTalk is out of the question as it's far too expensive. Are there any free/open source applications that make EDI easier to work with?
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EDI continues to be the primary system for data transmission EDI is the standard for B2B communication, while API is better for use in other processes. EDI helps improve processes across the supply chain and reduces paper usage.
EDI Replaced by API in the Next 10 Years “For many companies, using a cloud-based integration platform (iPaaS) accelerates the process and reduces the time to complete EDI integrations. Modern iPaaS is intuitive enough for business users yet robust enough for the needs of IT.
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.
What Is EDI? EDI lets businesses exchange documents in a standard electronic format that replaces paper-based documents, such as purchase orders. It automates paper-based transactions, which means that organizations save time and eliminate costly, manual processing errors.
EDI is not that hard to understand once you familiarize yourself with the delimiters it uses. You might ask yourself as well why anyone would still be using CSV or tab-delimited data.
The answer is probably that those formats are "domain specific languages" defined by committee and standardized in a certain industry, and that a lot of money has already been invested in supporting those formats. Where's the business case to throw that all out again?
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One word, Inertia. Developing the EDI formats by committee between various companys and organisations with different agendas was a nightmare (sad to say I have been there).
Asking them to abandon these with yet another round of committees agreeing web service API standards is going to take even longer, how do you sell the idea of replacing one electronic format with another to a non-technical board? What possible busness advantage does it give them. Originally the benefits of electronic exchange were clear but replace one with another is not. We're talking really big companies here.
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You may be interested in the following project:
http://bots.sourceforge.net/en/index.shtml Google code archive
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