With TrueCommerce EDI, automation replaces paper documents and manual business processes to streamline incoming and outgoing document types like purchase orders, advance ship notices, and invoices. EDI software uses specific transaction codes to transmit data between computer systems in a standard format. In North America, EDI transaction codes use the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) X-12 standards. European businesses use another EDI protocol, called EDIFACT.

While EDI has been around since the 1980s, the push for digital and agile supply chains has increased and EDI has become an integral part of the current business landscape. Some businesses need to use EDI because it’s required by many Big-box stores and Online retailers, others choose to use EDI to accelerate their order processing and scale their business operations across digital channels like eCommerce and drop shipping.

Integrated EDI takes the automation process one step further, by delivering incoming data directly to your Sage X3 system. When Sage X3 accepts an incoming message, it can then jumpstart key order processes by interacting with your other systems, like your OMS or WMS. It can also perform other automations based on incoming data, be they inventory management or accounting functions. On the other end of the process, integrated EDI solutions like the one from TrueCommerce can retrieve outgoing messages from Sage X3, without the need to manually retype data from one system to the other. This makes it much easier and faster to turnaround document responses, shortening lead times and accelerating the order-to-cash cycle.

Electronic Data Interchange also lets brands meet compliance requirements for retailers and distributors, to ensure every outgoing document has complete data in the correct format. By “mapping” data to meet these requirements, suppliers can easily meet buyer expectations, and create seamless communications, while saving time. While some EDI solutions require a heavy lift from your IT department, TrueCommerce EDI is supported by a managed service model that handles compliance communications, mapping, and ongoing oversight of EDI transactions. And since the solution is cloud-based, there’s also no need to maintain expensive on-premises servers.

Using TrueCommerce’s EDI integration for Sage X3 doesn’t just save your business time and money. It also makes it easier and more cost-effective for your partners to do business with you. This gives you an edge over your competitors. When you’re easier to do business with, you can do business in every direction.