DCS Provides EDI Training for Equipment Distributor

The Business Need

United Refrigeration Inc. (URI) is a distributor of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heating parts and equipment. The company needed foundational training on EDI as a prerequisite for learning how to use its EDI and ERP systems. To address this need, URI partnered with Data Communication Solutions (DCS) for expert guidance.

The Solution: Customized Training Program

DCS first needed to assess URI’s specific training requirements and develop a customized program tailored to their operations. The training was designed to be interactive, incorporating live case studies and Q&A sessions to ensure a practical understanding of EDI concepts.

The Training Process

DCS followed a structured approach to preparing and delivering the training:

1. Needs Assessment – Conducted interviews to identify URI’s specific challenges and objectives.
2. Customized Agenda – Developed a training agenda based on URI’s operational needs.
3. Training Materials – Created PowerPoint presentations, handouts, and instructional resources.

The training covered three core areas:

• Introduction to EDI – An overview of EDI, its history, common transactions, and standards.
• Introduction to Standards – A deep dive into the ANSI X12 standard.
• Communication Fundamentals – Explored data flow, communication protocols (VAN, AS2, FTP, SMTP), and best practices.

Additional handouts provided guidelines on purchase order mapping (X12 850), data segment structures, a comparison of X12 and EDIFACT, hierarchical level (HL) explanations, and a glossary of key EDI terms.

As part of the training, URI’s staff also learned to use EDI Notepad for troubleshooting. This free tool helps identify errors in EDI documents and translates raw EDI data into a human-readable format—both critical functions that URI plans to use regularly.

The Result 

With DCS’s training, URI’s team has gained a much stronger understanding of EDI. Their support staff is now better equipped to troubleshoot and resolve issues efficiently, leading to improved response times and overall operational effectiveness.

Do you need specialized EDI training for your company? If so, DCS has the expertise you need, learn about our EDI Training Service or contact us today to get started.