Question of the Week January 25, 2008
Posted by Meg Sewell in News.Tags: EDI, EDI is dead, XML
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Today’s question is inspired by a great post that Bill Chessman wrote a few weeks back. Is EDI dead? What, in your mind, WILL “seal the fate of the venerable…ancient technology known as Electronic Data Interchange?” Or is EDI here to stay?
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EDI is “here to stay”….
While newer processes and technologies (Saas, XML, etc., etc.) may come along, they truly only “add” to the condept – the basic meaning – of EDI – and that is Electronic Data Interchange.
Data is still going to be transmitted. Company A will still need to get information to Company B and not have to worry about mail or fax or data entry errors or any of the things that EDI generally takes care of….
So, EDI is here to stay… and has been for decades… However, EDI just needs to be sure to change with new and emerging concepts, languages and ideas or it will go the way of the dinosaur. Or the Edsel. Take your pick.
Oh, and PS – what will “seal the deal” and kill EDI…?
An EMP – electro magnetic pulse – that will render pretty much EVERY SINGLE ELCTRONIC DEVICE to nothing but a worthless piece of scrap….
Just look at the fact that TrustedLink i-Series is still out there and being used TODAY – by many companies – and still functions and meets their needs – even now – many years after having been introduced!!!!
Once the EMP hits we will still be sending EDI, except it will be sent via Semaphore flags from the roof!
EDI is here to stay because no matter what technology is used to transmit the data, EDI is the best, most efficient way to format the data before it is sent. It doesn’t matter if you are going to use the flags, Morse Code, flashing lights, a modem, or AS2/3 via the internet.
As far as change goes, the standards groups have done well to keep EDI expanding into new areas, as well as keeping up with new requirements in existing documents.
XML didn’t take off because it is way too cumbersome, and when I send 10,000 invoices to my Trading Partner it needs to be there tonight, not next week.
As I tried to tell Bill, EDI isn’t really a technology, it is just a format for the data. The real technology is how we get the data there.
I’ve been working with TLi back to when it was part of ACS (yes, sonny that was the name before Premenos). And as long as we are working on the i5 (yes, sonny that was on the System38), we will be using this fine package that Jenny built.
The question is will we still be pairing it with BizManager, or will some new communications package come down the road to take its place?
So, the question isn’t if EDI is dead, but if the VAN concept is dead, killed off by AS2.
Just don’t confuse the media with the message!
[...] The efforts underway by both VICS and ASCX12 are being done mainly by volunteers. The participants in these groups share their expertise and collaborate to get the work done. The collaboration in both of these groups is central to each organization’s success and value of interoperability. If you have a member of your team who would like to attend a meeting, I certainly encourage it, as every time I go to one of these meetings,I learn about the experts and walk away with a better appreciation of the jobs done to keep things moving forward in business communities. With the amount of activity, the passion for contribution and the expertise of the participants at both of these events it is clear EDI is NOT DEAD. [...]