Avr 23, 2021 | EDI
Combining AI and blockchain to increase the value of your EDI workflows
EDI is a constantly evolving technology that has existed since the 1990s. In 2020, 85% of the world’s supply chain workflows were handled using EDI. In this article, we explain why EDI is still relevant in today’s supply chain, and how emerging technologies are positioned to provide a response to the ever-growing demand for data synchronization and sharing between different players.
EDI, an aging technology ?
What is EDI?
EDI is used to exchange computer-based data between two companies, in particular between two information systems. All types of information can be exchanged and the workflows can be integrated automatically into information systems.
EDI is frequently used to exchange workflows for:
- Orders
- Deliveries
- Invoices
EDI standards also exist to digitalize many other types of documents, such as price lists, product reference data, shipping orders, and more.
EDI: when formats and standards evolve
EDI has been around since the 1990s, first emerging in the automotive industry, banking sector, and retail/supermarket sector.
Since that time, many business sectors and professions have gotten together to define standards and establish specific protocols for their activity, types of workflows, needs to exchange data in real-time, geographical region, and more. These professional communities largely contributed to the widespread adoption of EDI by companies across all business sectors.
The growth of the Internet and intensification of digitalized exchanges offered a way to make workflows more reliable while also reducing the cost of transporting messages. EDI technology is enriched continually as new technologies emerge.
EDI evolves by combining with other technologies
Recent technologies such as blockchain, the Cloud, and API networks are complementary to EDI. They provide solutions for new client challenges that are not, at this time, fully covered by traditional EDI standards, such as connectivity.
EDI will change, not disappear. Moving to the Cloud not only saves time and money for exchanges between partners, but it also offers a means to:
- Access other partners just as quickly
- Automate a variety of operations
- Handle much higher volumes of information
- Process information workflows faster
Combined with EDI, new technologies increase agility and connectivity for the supply chain, despite the complexity and heterogeneity of data workflows.
How do AI, blockchain, and APIs enhance EDI ?
Supply chains have become more extensive and more complicated than ever, requiring connectivity that is secure, reliable and, above all transparent. One of the limits of EDI, as it had been used previously, was that it worked well between two partners, A and B. As soon as other players were involved, messages had to be replicated between them to maintain the same level of information. With the growing exchange volume and increased format diversity, it was starting to become quite complicated to ensure consistency across all transactions.
EDI networks will continue to play their role in the supply chain, and external technologies will step in to address those issues:
- Blockchain to ensure transparency for exchanges
- Artificial intelligence to use the data effectively
How blockchain enhances EDI workflows
The blockchain is a registry shared by all supply chain stakeholders. It “locks” the various passing information. All the information in the blockchain remains unchanged. Blockchain brings a transactional layer to the system, simultaneously enabling EDI messages to be shared on a point-to-point basis and to be completed with information from other sources. Collaboration is therefore more transparent between all parties, and also more efficient (such as for detecting upstream errors or adding information).
How artificial intelligence enhances EDI workflows
It is important to be able to use all the data generated by the supply chain, connected objects (IoT devices), and other relevant external data sources. This is a role that can be handled by artificial intelligence, which “knows” the workflows, their nature, and related business issues, thus extracting usable information and enabling companies to leverage that information as appropriate. For example, imagine that you have an order on the way and there is a refrigeration problem during shipping. Instead of finding out upon receiving the order that it must be destroyed and a new order placed, the artificial intelligence can detect the error ahead of time and give you time to take corrective action much earlier.
AI can be used to address 4 key points:
- Alerts: providing information regarding potential risks before a deadline.
- Understanding: predict the “domino” effect related to risks.
- Resolution: extract relevant information to help operators find a solution.
- Learning: AI improves itself with experience and can offer increasingly relevant and targeted recommendations.
Companies therefore start with EDI (or with an EDI network) and then integrate additional technologies to better address new issues that arise. EDI is not an aging technology, but rather one that is indispensable and can be enhanced by AI, blockchain, and the Cloud.
Mar 3, 2021 | EDI, French finance law 2020, Invoices digitalization
Since Article 153 of the 2020 French Finance Law was announced, ICD International has had the honor of participating in various workshops led by the French Directorate of Public Finance DGFIP. These workshops will set the technical and operational conditions for applying the law.
We are pleased to inform you about some of the progress that was made based on the February 2020 workshop. Three main topics were covered:
- Definition of the main objectives for e-invoicing, along with an implementation calendar
- Characteristics of the data to be transmitted
- Definition and principles of e-reporting
1) DEFINITION AND MAIN GOALS
According to DGFIP, an e-invoice (electronic invoice) is defined as being a document that includes all the invoice information related to an invoice sent to a customer and tax authorities. The electronic invoice implemented by DGFIP has four main goals:
- Strengthen VAT fraud prevention and the fight against fraud
- Reduce invoice processing costs in order to improve competitiveness
- Improve knowledge about the economic situation by continually providing information concerning company activity.
- Reduce filing costs and simplify declarations with pre-filled documents in the long-term
IMPLEMENTATION CALENDAR
Obligatory electronic invoicing, combined with transmission to tax authorities, is scheduled for July 1, 2024 at the earliest (previously planned for 2023) and January 1, 2026 at the latest. In particular, implementation must take the size of impacted companies into account:
2024: Requirement for all companies to receive electronic invoices; requirement for large companies to issue invoices in electronic format
2025: Requirement for mid-sized companies to issue electronic invoices
2026: Requirement for VSE and SME companies to issue electronic invoices
2) CHARACTERISTICS OF DATA TO BE TRANSMITTED
There are two different types of cases regarding data:
For invoices sent in structured format, the data to be extracted for tax authorities includes:
- All mentions required by tax regulations and commercial law
- Two new mentions that are useful to include as a requirement for invoices: VATpayment options on debits and the nature of the operations (sales, service, combined) [Note: the customer’s business license number (SIREN in France) is already information required by the French Commercial Code].
Long-term objective: progressive elimination of PDF format, both native and non-native
Mentions obligatoires des factures au sens du code général des Impôts et du code du commerce
Required information on invoices according to France’s General Tax Code and French Commercial Code
3) Definition and principles of e-reporting
Establish an obligation to electronically send tax/administrative authorities information concerning operations performed by parties subject to added value tax, that is, information not extracted from electronic invoices:
- Additional information
- Information about operations outside the scope of electronic invoicing
- Information about operations not subject to VAT invoicing
- When using invoicing applications: data sent to authorities shall be identical to that send for e-invoicing. It is worth noting that for B2C cases, a customer identifier is only required if it exists in the application.
- When cash register software is used, a daily summary (“Z ticket”) shall be sent to authorities.
- In cases where only accounting software is used: aggregated data with transaction amounts for B2C sales and service transactions. For international B2B: operation details with the client identifier will be required.
- If software is not used: aggregated data for sales and performed services – pre-tax amounts, VAT rate, VAT amount, reason for exemption.
Workshops with DGFIP will escalate as we move forward. Upcoming topics to be covered include:
| Technical workshops |
Calendar |
| Archives |
March |
| Formats |
April |
| Control |
April |
| Certification |
May |
Technical and functional conditions for e-reporting should be presented in a bulletin to be published within 9 months, no later than September 28.
We will keep you posted on progress after each workshop so that you can start getting ready for the next milestones.
We are at your service to help with any questions you may have, or to provide information about Article 153 of the 2020 French Finance Law.
Jan 13, 2021 | EDI, Invoices digitalization
7 key steps for successfully onboarding suppliers :
Why should you adopt an EDI deployment strategy for suppliers ?
In order for exchanges between clients and suppliers to lead to better productivity, using an EDI or electronic channel is a catalyst for improving performance.
Annual negotiations between clients and suppliers are part of a win-win approach for both parties. The financial gain achieved with EDI exchanges helps ensure that the client does not force the supplier to bear the costs of manual processing.
Invoice-related disputes following human errors are eliminated, thus streamlining the client’s payment process to suppliers.
How to successfully onboard suppliers ?
Your company’s suppliers are heterogeneous, each with a different level of maturity regarding electronic exchanges. Knowing how to adapt to your suppliers’ different typologies will enable you to onboard them quickly and efficiently.
To do this, you must implement an onboarding strategy that takes the following points into consideration:
1) Defining your company project
You must be clear about the objectives you intend to reach, including the types of workflows to digitalize, how to handle change management, and assigning resources to a supplier onboarding project.
2) Having up-to-date reference data in your information system
It is essential for your supplier and product article databases to be up to date.
3) Deployment methodology, supplier audits
- Define the target suppliers to onboard (volume in terms of the number of suppliers as well as according to the number of article references to deliver).
- Evaluate suppliers’ capacity to implement EDI.
- Subdivide suppliers based on audit results (by profile, size, product type, etc.).
- Offer a range of technical solutions with EDI and WebEdi to unite all your suppliers.
4 – Defining a tentative roll-out schedule
5 – Creating communication kits
- Develop communication that explains the project’s objectives and advantages, along with operating methods, schedules, and more.
- Provide technical and functional specifications that include expected business rules.
6 – Onboarding suppliers
A dedicated and agile team must assist suppliers with production tests:
- Distributing all materials to targets and/or organizing webinars.
- Contacting suppliers, reminding them, convincing them, working with each one to schedule the project’s various steps and ensure effective management.
- Running tests, controlling data quality and respect for specified rules.
- Certifying suppliers following a series of conclusive tests (technical and business validation).
- Using a test platform to ensure that your suppliers remain independent.
7 – Following up on deployment
- Implement tracking KPIs with respect to the volume and number of suppliers deployed (onboarded).
For over 30 years, ICD has worked with major industry companies and distributors in a wide variety of sectors, including retail, automotive, optical, wholesale, and more.
ICD is ready to help you with all your onboarding steps.
Déc 3, 2020 | Documents digitalization
EdiPub chooses ICD International to digitalize its Mandate Attestations in the media and communications sector.
Early in the summer of 2020, EdiPub launched a call for tender to digitalize mandate attestations.
We are proud and pleased to be chosen by our peers to work with all the stakeholders in the media sector on this major change in the digitalization and digital transformation space.
What is MyMandat ?
A mandate attestation between an advertiser and their media and/or communication agency is a document required in France since the Sapin Law of 1993. The document is considered as a power of attorney by the advertiser to their agency, by which the advertiser authorizes the agency to serve as its intermediary for managing its purchase of advertising space.
“MyMandat” is a shared, secure, cross-media platform that generates and distributes a structured and signed mandate attestation per advertiser for all concerned parties.
There are many benefits for everyone involved:
- Time and energy savings thanks to automated and secure workflow
- More reliability for invoicing thanks to controlled and shared reference data (automatic checking of SIRET business license numbers)
- Legal security with MyMandat (electronic signaturesand archives)
- Automatic reminders
- Easy integration with information systems (less data entry)
- Streamlined agency/production relations
To conclude, here are a few words by Evelyne Sosnovsky, EdiPub General Delegate:
“After launching a call-for-candidates among EdiPub member solution providers, the advertising community association chose ICD International to digitalize, structure, and secure 2022 mandate attestations. ICD’s MyMandat project matches the requirements in terms of both cost and functionality.
EdiPub already chose ICD to build a web platform, called EdiOnLine, which enables small players in the Press sector to exchange workflows with media agencies using EDI without any major technical investment. EdiOnLine meets the needs of these production entities perfectly.”
Nov 23, 2020 | Just In Sequence, Vendor Managed Inventory
What is L3PS ?
Since 2002, ICD International has deployed the Syflux L3PS (Programmed Performance Logistics for Synchronous Operations) solution developed in partnership with RENAULT, based on their specifications.
An L3PS is an order that is sent to supplier up to 10 days before parts delivery. It enables sequential production to be carried out in the call order used on the Renault assembly line.
This delivery mode is increasingly used in the automotive sector.
Today, we enable our customers to use our L3PX solution to take logistics performance even further.
How to use L3PX ?
ICD International is updating its Syflux L3PS application to fully support this complementary L3PX or SPS (Synchronous Sequenced Forecast) workflow management method.
With the new version, suppliers will also receive manufacturing orders ahead of the synchronous signal. As a result, the signal is sent when the vehicle enters the assembly line.
LP3X enables suppliers to optimize their manufacturing using the long film provided by L3PS, and to make short synchronous adjustments for sequencing while taking into account vehicles desynchronized by Renault.
Each car has its own sequence number containing all the parts required for the build, including options ordered by customers.
In Just In Sequence mode, orders must be delivered in the same sequential order as the vehicles go through the assembly line, which creates challenges for suppliers. They must be meticulous and well organized, with constant controls.
This software solution provides suppliers with the support they need to manage their logistics workflows. This sequential production method makes it possible to limit inventory of finished products by respecting the film provided by Renault, while also meeting the need to set aside temporarily desequenced parts.
The method offers significant benefits to suppliers, who can reduce their inventory with sequential production while also enabling Renault to optimize the use of its storage space.
