What is EDI Messaging?

EDI Messaging

First of all let’s define what messaging is defined as.
Messaging is the sending and processing of messages between a sender and a receiver that are transmitted electronically (by email, text, app, or similar electronic means).

So then what is EDI messaging?
EDI messaging is the sending and processing of EDI messages between a sender and a receiver that are transmitted electronically (by computer systems).

What is an EDI Message?

An EDI message is just a business document that is sent electronically in a standardised format. They are also known as EDI transactions or EDI documents. The standardised format means that the receiver’s computing system can automatically understand the information contained in the business document since all parts are identifiable and in their correct place within the document. EDI messaging allows trading partners to automate the processing of business documents using their computer systems rather than manually through paper documentation.

What documents can be sent as an EDI message?

Some examples of documents sent as EDI messages include:

Purchase Order
Invoice
Advanced Shipping Notice

EDI Standardised Formats

EDI standardised formats define the structure of the EDI message and will specify what information goes where within the structured message. There are a number of EDI standards and examples of these EDI standards include EDIFACT, Tradacoms, EANCOM and ANSI X12.

Businesses can choose their own preferred EDI document standard so this means that trading partners may in fact use different EDI document standards. If this is the case, then the senders document needs to be converted to the recipients document standard if it is to be accepted into the internal business system of that recipient. An EDI solution converting one document format to another document format is known as mapping.

As this EDI mapping process requires a significant level of technical ability, then the optimum way to help with and implement this for a business is to engage a managed EDI service provider. An EDI service provider such as Celtrino will be able to facilitate the transmission of business documents using an EDI solution – removing almost all internal business effort. Once restructured, the data from an EDI message can be eventually integrated into back-end systems.

EDI message types

All EDI standards have their own corresponding message types.

So, for example, EDIFACT message types are identified by a six-letter reference but ANSI X12’s are identified by a three-digit number. For the EDIFACT standard, an invoice is referred to as INVOIC whereas the ANSI X12 standard refers to it as 810.

A list of message types for EDIFACT and ANSI X12 Standards can be seen below: