Electronic Data Interchange – EDI

EDI is provides automatic online integration of purchasing workflows between suppliers and customers. EDI provides an automated workflow so that your customer’s orders are automatically updated to your system. Therefore you will eliminate the need for re-keying of data, and at the same time you will eliminate delays and the risk of errors.

A typical EDI workflow

EDI workflows can be customised according to the functional needs of each organisation. The following workflow is therefore indicative only and in practice would be customised to the needs of your organisation.

Merchandising

Merchandising clerks check stock at the retail store e.g. Bunnings, Coles, Woolworths, etc.

Merchandising

Merchandising clerks check stock at the retail store e.g. Bunnings, Coles, Woolworths, etc.

Purchase Order Issued by Retailer

Retailer generates purchase orders which are automatically transmitted to the supplier.

Purchase Order Issued by Retailer

Retailer generates purchase orders which are automatically transmitted to the supplier.

Purchase Order Received by Supplier

Your business receives the Purchase Order. One of the Key Performance Indicators in the Supply Chain is DIFOT – “Delivery In Full On Time”.

Purchase Order Received by Supplier

Your business receives the Purchase Order. One of the Key Performance Indicators in the Supply Chain is DIFOT – “Delivery In Full On Time”.

Supplier Picks Order

Order is picked from the warehouse. Depending on the volume of orders being processed a different order picking method will be used. In a high volume warehouse environment a “wave picking” method will be used. With wave picking several orders are combined and picked together and then the orders are split and packed.

Supplier Picks Order

Order is picked from the warehouse. Depending on the volume of orders being processed a different order picking method will be used. In a high volume warehouse environment a “wave picking” method will be used. With wave picking several orders are combined and picked together and then the orders are split and packed.

Supplier Packs Order

Orders are packed ready for shipment

Despatch

Orders are loaded onto transport and despatched. EDI can also be integrated with freight companies, for automatic generation of freight documentation.

Delivery Advice to Customer

EDI processes automatically advise the customer that goods have been dispatched.

EDI workflows are the backbone of the wholesale-retail supply chain. Communicat can customise an EDI solution to provide the efficiencies you need for your business and your customers.

EDI v01

With Exo order processing, my guys can enter a customer order 10 times faster and when your average order is 20 SKUs, that’s a major time saving every day.

Paul Horsey
Director, Abyss Distribution

Management at the firm are fans of the software, as they can easily look at – and track – employee information, and health and safety data.

Kerri Martin
Administration Manager, Reliance Transport