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EDI-Managed Services: A Guide to What You Need to Know

To keep your business running smoothly, minimize downtime, and resolve customer issues quickly, you need a strong IT infrastructure. Several options exist, but Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)-managed services often deliver the best ROI.

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Overview

Wondering how to find a reliable EDI provider or whether to choose a self-service or managed EDI service? This guide will break down EDI-managed services, their advantages, and why they matter for your business.

01

What are EDI-Managed Services?

EDI-managed services are cloud-based solutions provided by EDI providers to oversee a company’s EDI infrastructure. These services cover end-to-end EDI management, including support, integration, partner onboarding, and more. Managed EDI services can tailor solutions to meet the unique needs of businesses across industries, offering comprehensive packages that may include:

Onboarding and Mapping

The provider links EDI trading partners and sets up data translation formats, managing document exchanges and ensuring system compatibility. Full-service EDI providers often assign a dedicated engineer to manage partner details, conduct data testing, and streamline the onboarding process.

System Integration

Managed EDI providers configure a company’s cloud-managed platform and may offer API platform support for real-time integration. They work closely with businesses to build end-to-end processes, integrating seamlessly into systems like ERP, CRM, and TMS, essential for any supply chain.

Data Conversion and Transmission

The provider converts business documents (like purchase orders and invoices) into EDI formats and securely transmits them to partner systems, ensuring accurate and reliable exchanges.

24/7 Monitoring and Transaction Management

EDI-managed services include round-the-clock monitoring by a dedicated team that proactively manages issues like missing fields or invalid formats, ensuring everyB2B transaction is accounted for.

Maintenance and Support

Ongoing support covers technical questions, system requests, and maintenance to keep EDI systems current with security updates and industry standards. Providers offer flexible support options for checking request statuses, submitting new tickets, and more, ensuring systems stay secure and efficient.

EDI-managed services provide more than just infrastructure — they offer comprehensive support that keeps EDI systems running smoothly and optimizes how businesses interact with their partners.

02

EDI-Managed Services vs. Self-Service EDI vs. Full-Service EDI

Modern businesses often weigh these three EDI service options. While some prefer the control of self-service, others benefit from the full support offered by managed or full-service solutions. Let’s compare each type to see what best suits your business.

EDI-Managed Services

Ideal for companies with smaller IT teams or those managing large volumes of complex transactions, EDI-managed services place the responsibility of EDI development and maintenance on the provider. This setup reduces the technical burden on in-house staff, who can focus on daily tasks like customization and optimization without needing extensive EDI expertise.

Self-Service EDI

Self-service EDI is usually best for organizations with unique requirements and a strong in-house IT team. It allows full control over EDI processes without needing on-premise installations, as the solutions are accessible through cloud platforms. Businesses manage everything internally, from setup to monitoring.

Full-Service EDI

This includes integrating with your existing systems, monitoring the production environment, and ensuring constant uptime. The EDI provider also handles comprehensive testing and coordination with network trading partners.

Orderful offers both self-service and full-service EDI options, giving your business the flexibility to choose the level of support that works best. Our experts guide you through setup and training, ensuring your IT team has everything needed for seamless EDI management.

03

7 Benefits of EDI-Managed Services: Are They Right For Your Business?

EDI-managed services offer a range of advantages to businesses looking to streamline operations, cut costs, and maintain data accuracy. From cost savings to enhanced security, these services manage more than just basic EDI transactions, handling the full scope of daily operations and system support. Here are some benefits and considerations for deciding if EDI-managed services are a fit for your company:

1. Cost Reduction

Outsourcing EDI-managed services can save on hiring an in-house IT team and eliminate the need for costly hardware, as most providers operate through the cloud. If your internal team lacks dedicated IT support, managed services can ease the load and prevent the need for constant troubleshooting.

2. Enhanced Accuracy and Expert Knowledge

With professional integration, mapping, and continuous monitoring, EDI-managed services improve order accuracy and reduce manual data entry errors. Providers bring in-depth knowledge of EDI best practices, ensuring smooth, compliant, and efficient operations across your business. Their expertise also keeps your systems updated with the latest industry standards, minimizing risks.

3. Improved Customer Satisfaction

Speeding up processes across the supply chain and enabling real-time communication with partners, managed EDI platforms streamline workflows, shorten lead times, and help deliver orders on time. With providers bringing in proven best practices, customer satisfaction will likely improve, enhancing the customer experience.

4. Enhanced Security and Compliance

Managed EDI providers implement robust security protocols to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with industry standards. By staying on top of cybercrime trends, these providers help safeguard against data breaches. For industries with strict data protection requirements, outsourcing EDI to a secure, compliant provider can reduce risks.

5. Scalability

As your business grows or adds new trading partners, managed EDI providers offer scalable solutions that adapt to increased data flow, new connections, and evolving operational needs. Their flexibility means you won’t need to worry about frequent upgrades or handling complex onboarding processes as your business expands.

6. Minimized Downtime

With round-the-clock monitoring, managed services quickly identify and resolve system issues, minimizing downtime. Providers’ proactive support ensures EDI systems continue running smoothly, allowing your team to focus on high-priority tasks rather than IT troubleshooting.

7. Focus on Core Operations

Many businesses turn to managed EDI services to redirect their focus onto growth and strategic goals. With technical responsibilities handled by their provider, their team can dedicate more energy to customer service, product development, and market expansion, driving overall productivity.

04

Common Challenges with EDI-Managed Services: How Orderful Solves Them

Managed services can also present unique challenges, as not all providers offer the same features and quality. Here’s a look at some common issues businesses face with managed services and how Orderful’s full-service EDI platform addresses them.

Lack of Visibility, Flexibility, and Control

Many fully managed EDI providers don’t offer self-service options for integration or partner onboarding. This often means they retain full control over communication with your trading partners, leaving you without insight into those relationships.

Orderful’s approach is different. We provide full visibility into your EDI processes, allowing you to track progress and stay informed without getting bogged down in the technical details. With Orderful, you decide which partners we manage and which your in-house team handles, giving you flexibility without sacrificing control.

Slow Support and Response Times

Support quality varies widely among providers, with many relying on ticket systems where backlogs can lead to long delays. Urgent inquiries can take days or even weeks to resolve, impacting customer experience.

At Orderful, we prioritize fast, hands-on support. Our team manages all technical tasks, from onboarding to troubleshooting, with a two-hour first response time during business hours and prompt follow-up after hours. We proactively monitor your transactions and address issues as soon as they arise.

Slow Onboarding

Onboarding with some providers can be complex and costly, as each trading partner setup often incurs additional fees, especially when partners follow different standards or require customized configurations. These variations can lead to delays and heightened compliance risks if the provider lacks efficient coordination and oversight. 

Orderful’s onboarding is designed for efficiency. In our managed testing phase, we handle all partner requirements and test transaction flows to ensure accuracy. Once live, real-time monitoring tracks every transaction and resolves issues instantly. Plus, you’ll always be informed throughout the process, prioritizing compliance and transparency.

05

Optimize Your Operations with EDI-Managed Services

EDI-managed services let your business outsource all EDI tasks to a trusted provider who handles daily operations, secure data exchange, and system maintenance. With this support, your team can focus fully on core priorities like growth, innovation, and customer service without the interruptions of EDI management.

Ready to streamline your operations? Contact an Orderful expert today to schedule a demo today.

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