Answer to question 1  "Does EDI LINE cooperate with clearing centers?"

EDI LINE is an independent EDI converter including an integration with large ERP systems e.g. »Sage« New Classic oder Office Line Evolution.

That is the reason that no clearing center is required on the other side. EDI LINE communicates instantaneous with each EDI partner. This represents a unique and fast connection like no other.

We recieve your business data in your data format, convert it into the format of your business partner and transmit it to your partner. Of course this works vice versa, also.

Moreover we deliever interface formats (converters) to nearly all clearing centers, e.g. Seeberger, Rocket Software Germany (formerly known as Trubiquity/Mosaic), stratEDI, TWZ, BizTalk. These converters enable further data transformation from a third party product or another service provider, this includes data reception, format control and data transfer.

back

Answer to question 2  "What is EDI?"

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the electronic transmission and exchange of business data in a standardized message format. The EDI system exports data from one in-house sytem of a business partner (e.g. an ERP system) to the in-house system of the EDI partner within seconds. Often it is utilized in a customer-supplier-relationship.

back

Answer to question 3  "What is EDIFACT?"

EDIFACT = electronic data interchange for administration, commerce and transport. The UNO has stuctured the EDIFACT format for the interchange of every economical messages between companies. The version D.96A is still the most used way of productive EDI in Germany. "96A" refers to the first term of the year 1996.

back

Answer to question 4  "Does EDI LINE transmit SSCC/NVE information?"

It is a wellknown fact, that the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) or in Germany known as Nummer der Versandeinheit (NVE) is a worldwide unique number for the identification of shipping units (e.g. cartons, pallets, container etc.).

To enable voucherless purchase and vending processes data from the ERP system (e.g. »Sage« New Classic or Office Line Evolution) must become legibly and importable again for EDI LINE. This is vitally important for stocks of inventory and other ERP data. SSCC/NVE information is included standardized or by means of individual settings by EDI LINE, depending on the type of data management.

back

Answer to question 5  "What is an EDIFACT Subset?"

An EDIFACT subset is an extra, sectoral version of the EDIFACT standard. Due to complexity these subsets do not contain all segments, but the essential segments for each industry sector. Data segments which are nonessential for a sector are faded out. E.g. the subset EANCOM is the applied standard for the trade sector while the technical trade (ventilation, sanitation, heating) utilizes the subset EDITEC.

back

Answer to question 6  "What types of communication are there?"

Part of EDI is the communication of data between business partners . It differs in asynchronous and synchronous communication. Data is stored by a provider (e.g. E-Mail or X400) in the former manner, while the latter enables synchronized, direct EDI between sender and reciever (e.g. FTP or AS2). Today, the internet provides most of the connections; whilst there remains the historical alternative of point-to-point connection via ISDN or an analog modem.

back

Answer to question 7  "What is VDA?"

Essentially VDA is the "Verband der deutschen Automobil-Industrie"/ German Association of the Automotive Industry. In connection with EDI, VDA is a special data format of the german Automotive sector, which plays an important role in JIT manufacturing. The delivery schedule (VDA 4905) and the dispatch notification (VDA 4913) are two of the most important business transactions.

back

Answer to question 8  "What is OFTP?"

OFTP is the acronym for "Odette File Transport Protocol". The automotive sector uses it for the secure and safe exchange of business data via EDI. It is applicable using a telephone; a more modern method is an IP-based internet OFTP-connection (OFTP II).

back

Answer to question 9  "What is X.400?"

X.400 is a communication protocol used in VANs - value added networks. A provider like the german Telekom has VANs with costs for the exchange of business data available. Data is uploaded in the VAN, where the reciever downloads it, thus the communication is asynchronous.

back

Answer to question 10  "EDI for »Sage« 100, »Sage« 200, »Sage« 300, »Sage« 500 and »Sage« ERP X3"

EDI LINE supports the nongerman »Sage« Group product line (e.g. United Kingdom or USA) via inhouse interface. The external interface of the EDI converter recieves the data due to the fact, that EDI is not integrated in the ERP system. The quality of the data exchange remains as ideal and reliable. EDI LINE is the leading solution for all »Sage« products, including:

a) »Sage« X3
b) »Sage« ERP b7
c) »Sage« Eurowin
d) »Sage« Despachos

back

Answer to question 11  "Which documents does EDI LINE transmit?"

EDI LINE as a multiformat converter connected to »Sage« New Classic or Office Line Evolution transmits all relevant documents for purchase and vending, depending on the interface (converter) applied.

These documents are for example: the import and export of assignments, delivery notes, dispatch notifications, bills, orders, goods receipts, item data (like stock of inventory, specifications and prices) or sales reports. Tributary to the scope of services by the converter and the ERP system, the SSCC/NVE is transmitted, too.

back

Answer to question 12  "What is AS2?"

AS2 is an IP communication defined by Drummond Group. It is a HTTPS connection for the exchange of data between EDI partners. The software should be Drummond Group certified. A AS2 connection requires a fixed IP or a service which identifies the server with the AS2 communication component on the internet respectively.

back

Answer to question 13  "What is an EDI converter?"

An EDI converter is a software that changes the structure from one EDI format to another. The conversion usually takes place between an in-house ERP format and a standardized EDI format and vice versa. The assignment of the source field to the target field is determined by mapping, thereby data can be transformed, isolated or changed in a different manner.

back

Answer to question 14  "What about XML and EDI?"

XML is the acronym for eXtensible Markup Language. It represents a special computer language for the description of data, information and messages. The determination of the data structure by XML scheme has an automatized import and the import of structured files are advantages of XML and are ideal for EDI messages. Reknown formats are BMECat for master data and OpenTrans or BizTalk for single business transactions. Nevertheless XML does not play a major role in conventional EDI procedures.

back