Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi all.  As I begin to talk with department stores, most are asking that we have EDI capability in place.  However, I seem to remember from my technology years that it`s an expensive software solution.  Has anyone implemented EDI into their order processing, and if so, who did you use, what was the cost, did you have to hire outside help just for the system?  Thanks!

The cost of EDI integration has decreased, microsoft has got a good solution called BizTalk, there`s a wide range of EDI message shipped in the box in various format such as EDIFACT

You can do virtually all sort of flow

ORDERS -> Integrate orders from your customer into your system (which ERP system do you use)

DESADV -> Returned the picked shipped qty for the order

INVOICE -> Return the invoiced qty for an order

INVRPT -> if you have consigment stock

If you don`t have an inside EDI coordinator, I suggest you get a Biztalk consultant do all the setting up with someone at your company and train someone for setting up new EDI flow (ie: setting up a new customer for receiving orders)

From my recollection the cost of BizTalk is $25K for the licence + a server for running Biztalk + SQL Server + Consulting Services.

I guess that you could budget around $70K for this project, I suggest you contact Microsoft and ask them for certified BizTalk consultant in your area that could provide you with some quotes, ask for references, you really want someone who has already a few BizTalk & EDI integration under his belt ...

Hi Martyvan.  I am also getting set to implement EDI.  Have you decided on a provider and are you satisifed with them?

Thanks

Doug