Typical EDI Problems Discovered Daily
Here are a few of the problems that frequently occur even in stable EDI operations:
- Resolve unacknowledged outbound messages – Functional Acknowledgement reconciliation (997, 999, CONTROL) and FTPS message delivery notices (MDN)
- Re-start halted processes
- Correct illegal characters – processing stoppers Example: ` (to the left of 1 on your keyboard)
- Correct or notify of incomplete documents (810, 855, 856) that erred out due to missing or incorrect data. Examples: PO # too short or Part Number or missing
- Repair broken transmission (all customers) – perhaps an I.P. address changed
- Repair broken transmission (one customer) – perhaps a certificate expired
- Provide proof of delivery of Invoices (810, 880, INVOIC) and Shipment Notices (ASN, 856, DELFOR) – to speed cash flow
- Read and correct error messages – (864) Select messages always copied to DCS
- Resume AS2 firewall connections. Example, a port being erroneously closed during a security scan
- Perform maintenance routinely: weekly, monthly, quarterly, and end-of-year
- Update non-integrated print and screen entry forms
- Update customer required modifications. Example, changing from ship date to arrival date
- Monitoring B2B providers Examples: EDI outsourcers such as SPS Commerce, True Commerce, GXS, Sterling, iTrade, OB10, or 1SYNC service
- Optimizing inefficient processes Example: reduce cut’n’paste or the number of clicks needed to do a process
- Archive off inactive customers and old data
- Mini-training of I.T. and customer service, shipping, and accounts receivable users
Non-EDI errors. Some INbound errors will need to be resolved by customer service, not DCS:
- price incorrect
- part number unknown
- case quantity incorrect
- ship-to address unknown
A small amount of time spent by a skilled EDI consultant can save hours of time for your busy staff. It also ensures achievement of your process automation key goal: better key customer service.
Contact DCS to learn more about how we can help you with your EDI concerns.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the computer-to-computer exchange of routine business documents such as Purchase Orders, Shipment Notices, Invoices, and Remittance Advices without human intervention. Data moves from your customer’s computer system – through the Internet securely – to your computer system.