• Gather EDI contact information from your trading partners’ end
• Gather EDI mapping guidelines for the EDI documents to be transmitted along with their preferred communication method from your trading partner(s)
• Start testing the EDI documents with your trading partner(s)
• If everything goes well in the testing or pilot phase, setup a go-live date for production

If you are new to EDI, you must be worried about setting up a new trading partner. Don’t over complicate it.

If you plan to go with a third-party managed EDI service, you’ll need to select a solution that is fast-paced, able to work with your trading partner ever changing requirements and provides on-going support.

Remember, communication between both the parties-you and your trading partner (and any external entity like a consultant involved) is very important for a successful implementation. This is one of the major reason for the delay in implementations.

1. Gathering Contact Information:

You’ll need to get the contact information (phone and email) of the EDI team on the trading partner side that will work with your tech team.

2. Gathering Mapping Guidelines:

Procure mapping guidelines from your trading partner(s) that outlines the format in which EDI documents will be sent and received, trading partner’s preferred communication method, vendor compliance and label requirements.

3. Testing

Whether you are using a managed EDI service provider’s EDI solution or your in-house solution, you’ll need to go through a testing process to make sure documents are flowing correctly. After establishing the communication with your trading partner (via FTP, VAN or AS2), you will send and receive will send test documents. At this point, your trading partner is verifying if the documents match their compliance requirements and gives you a go when they are satisfied

4. Establish a go-live date

Congratulations! It’s time to schedule the go-live date with your trading partner. Once this has been established, you are all set to go into production!