How EDI is Shape Shifting Your Legacy Systems
Communication and data transfers are no longer elective activities for a business in both B2B and B2C models. And Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) plays a significant role in establishing viable communications. Organizations that stay up-to-date in this regard achieve greater success.
EDI has been around for a while, and it helps in the standardization of the data transfer process. But the long-standing technology is currently under scrutiny. It is because organizations have become much more complex, and their enterprise-level requirements are growing on a global scale.
Yes, legacy EDI systems still exist, but they can pose new challenges. Modernization of EDI protocols and processes is the only solution. This process of modernization of legacy systems is particularly essential if one of the business partners is still stuck with older technologies. Emerging solutions are the order of the day to improve their profits.
Future-oriented Solutions
Workflow Unification
Diverse legacy EDI systems become fragmented and unwieldy. For example, Value-added networks (VAN) get disjointed and require multiple tools. Otherwise, it is not possible to ensure file transfer and mapping or back-end integration. Such systems can also stretch the wits of the trouble-shooters.
Workflows get slowdown as different tools are essential to process orders. Communicating with trade partners and system upgrades also become challenging. But modernizing EDI improves end-to-end workflows. It also enhances supply chain visibility and facilitates faster upgrades and system repairs.
User-Friendliness
Legacy systems can challenge the HR resources of any company. The staff has to undergo training for diverse tools usage. It makes the process of building teams, and expertise takes time and cost money too. Not all employees will be on board and thrilled by the prospects of reading lengthy manuals, either.
Modern EDI systems have convenient UI/UX and friendly drag-and-drop features. They eliminate coding needs and provide a single, seamless front-end for quick mastery. The visual interfaces appeal to the users, and they even show a willingness to do remote work.
Faster Productivity
Asynchronous file transfer and batch processing were the banes of older EDI systems. These processes were slow, and scheduling demands stressed out the managers. But now, cloud computing and mobile phone access is a reality.
Data collection, storage, and back-end processing are faster. They happen in real-time, and syncing features resolve data redundancies and replication issues. Cost control becomes efficient and overall productivity and profits of the organization increase.
Innovative Edge
In the future, companies that adapt to modernity will thrive. They will have an innovative edge over their competitors on a global scale. Technologies and tools have also become more reliable and refined. Web interfaces, robust APIs, mobile data collection, and superior security are assuring.
Data decentralization through Blockchain technology enhances transparency. The modern EDI tools are faster, convenient, and more reliable.
Superior Security
Older IT systems and legacy EDI tools have multiple security flaws. They are vulnerable and require constant upgrades and updates. This requirement increases maintenance costs and disrupts the workflows. But modern EDI VANs ensure data security, compliance, and optimized supply chains. They reduce the risks of data storage and file transfer and address privacy issues also.
Complementing APIs
Modern EDI solutions are not in conflict with APIs. The developers are endorsing their simultaneous usage. Legacy system problems like rigidity and inflexibility can get dealt with API-first architectures. Cutting-edge interfaces like JSON, REST, and OData create feature-rich apps. Besides, customized, code-free APIs enhance workflow integration, data access, and publication. Developers can provide secure, real-time access, even to legacy databases, Excel sheets, etc.
Scalability
Integration with legacy EDI requires considerable investment. The specialists have to set-up expensive servers, cloud interfaces, web, and mobile apps. Modern solutions reduce such complexity through container technologies. The project managers can design scalable solutions in advance, and even implement them quickly and accurately with superior software development tools.
Collaboration Support
Legacy desktop applications rely on version control systems and package repositories. It facilitated data maintenance and collaboration to a limited extent, but modern EDI solutions create an eco-system using APIs, web, and mobile interfaces. So, collaboration becomes more rapid and reliable.
Flexibility
Traditional IT infrastructure gets limited by platform dependencies. It extends from hardware to operating system requirements. Thankfully, modern EDI deployment and integration are platforms- agnostic. You can set up the system on UNIX and Windows, or run it as a cloud-based application.
This flexibility accelerates end-to-end workflows without compromising security and privacy. Moreover, the modern system is not only interoperable but also easy to maintain and upgrade. It also addresses the organization’s business needs without a breakdown in supply chain processes.
Conclusion
To conclude, modern businesses operate in a dynamic environment. They are under pressure to compete and resolve complex problems very quickly. Mere automation of business processes and data communications is not sufficient anymore.
Modernizing EDI is not easy for business partners in e-commerce. They have to deal with legacy systems and spend on new technology. Also, integration with existing IT infrastructure is challenging. But the emerging solutions are too enticing, and safety in familiarity is not an option anymore.
CloudGen’s SmartEDI is one such solution, which can be a perfect fit into any of the B2B transactions. Easy setup and implementation with accelerated onboarding process is our promise to the struggling new companies, to head out successfully in taking off the EDI systems. Contact us for a live demo, which helps you to understand more.
