DCS EDI Consultants Can Help You Meet Your EDI Warehouse and 3PL Challenges

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a fundamental method for document exchange in the warehousing and third-party logistics (3PL) industry, allowing you to track real-time movement of goods across the supply chain. EDI simplifies the logistics management, and helps your operations run more efficiently, keeping you current with the requirements of your customers, partners and vendors, and most importantly, helps you to remain competitive.

Now is the time for Public Warehousing, Cold Storage, and Third-Party Logistics (3PLs) to make EDI improvements that set the standard for success. Medium sized manufacturers and importers are beginning to require shipment, replenishment, and inventory information to be automated and updated daily. You need to ship, inventory, and replenish promptly and accurately. This means routine, high volume communication should be automated using the same processes as current EDI.

 

Benefits of Warehouse & 3PLs Automation

Since warehouses already monitor shipments and stock closely, sharing that information automatically with partners will build upon existing proven processes. The benefits accrue to both parties.

A wider shipping window is provided resulting from accurate data being in the system at the start of the day providing a competitive advantage. Greater precision results when the data received from customers is processed without manual entry.

EDI provides the foundation to pursue the automated order process and inventory management capabilities for businesses to scale and thrive. EDI continues to prove that it can streamline workflows within an organization, improve trading partner relationships and enhance supply chain predictability.

Reduce manual processes and errors: EDI can reduce or eliminate manual processes. Every keystroke performed by human hands creates the chance for expensive errors to occur.

Reduce costs: Transactions done via the phone, fax or e-mail can be costly. Electronic transactions cost significantly less to process without the chance of errors.

Increased predictability and performance: You can more accurately scrutinize your business needs due to the clarity offered by EDI, allowing you to use the knowledge to make positive changes to internal processes.

Improved forecasts: You have a more accurate picture of what’s going on within your business, allowing you to manage inventory more closely, make better choices and service offering decisions. Just-in-time (JIT) and lean production is nearly impossible without the real-time information provided by EDI.

Control over margins: By eliminating costly manual processes, automation is predictable and reliable helping you improve your margins.

Free up valuable resources: Automation via an EDI solution frees up your staff and resources to focus on more strategic efforts that grow your business.

 

Warehouse and 3PL EDI Transaction Sets

The most common EDI documents that are exchange are purchase orders (EDI 850), invoices (EDI 810) and Advanced Shipment Notices (ASNs/EDI 856). There are additional EDI documents that are used widely in the warehousing and 3PL industries. These transaction sets fall in the 900 series and include:

  • 940 – Warehouse Shipping Order
  • 943 – Warehouse Stock Transfer Shipment Advice
  • 944 – Warehouse Stock Transfer Receipt Advise
  • 945 – Warehouse Shipping Advice
  • 946 – Delivery Information Message
  • 947 – Warehouse Inventory Adjustment Advice
  • 997 – Functional Acknowledgement
  • 856 – Advance Shipment Notice/Manifest

The exchange of these documents helps to pin-point the gaps in the complicated supply processes. You get a full understanding of stocking only goods buyers need and reduce your inventory costs. Click here for more in-depth description of these transaction sets.

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Meeting Your Warehouse EDI Challenge

Whether you are new to EDI or a veteran, DCS EDI specialists can help with our extensive experience in the warehousing industry and are ready to help you capture a larger share of the market and reduce costs. Take advantage of our no-cost assessment, outlining the process and estimated costs needed to meet your EDI challenges.