4 questions to help you choose your EDI provider.

Whether you're a supplier, distributor or retailer, knowing how to choose your EDI provider is essential. Working with the right partner can make all the difference, enabling you to significantly improve your processes and make substantial savings.

Here are 4 criteria to consider when selecting the right EDI provider.

1. Does the EDI provider know your business?

Your EDI supplier must be able to understand your business processes, so that he can provide you with fast, coherent solutions that take into account your specific sectors and business challenges.

It must be able to audit, analyze and understand the various components of your business. That's why it's important to study your service provider's past business experience beforehand.

2. How can you be sure he's an expert in his field?

As well as being familiar with your specific business requirements, your EDI service provider must also have a thorough understanding of EDI technologies and how they can be integrated into your information systems.

Certification by standards organizations is a guarantee of quality and reliability. You should also check with your supplier that he has mastered your ERP and the main solutions that make up your company's IS.

The ability of your EDI solution to keep pace with the development and evolution of your business is an essential criterion. Challenge your EDI service provider on the durability of the solution it offers.

Relying on an experienced EDI supplier, who works with a large number of companies in a wide range of sectors, ensures that you get the right advice and real added value for your operations.

3. What range of services does it offer?

Whatever the size of your company, the objective or the scope of your EDI project, your service provider will not only have to offer you an appropriate, high-performance solution, but also provide the support services you need to make the most of your EDI system.

Make sure your EDI supplier can support you from project scoping to system maintenance. Evaluate precisely the service commitments proposed, so that they match your needs and the requirements of your business.

4. What are your EDI provider's customer references?

When it comes to investing in an EDI system, you want to be sure you're choosing the right resource for your business.You need easy access to professional references.
To validate your EDI supplier's level of customer service, technical and business expertise, and ability to carry out your project, don't hesitate to ask for customer references and business cases.

On the basis of these references, you'll be able to assess the service provider's project approach, its ability to audit your needs and deploy your project, making the most of your EDI.

By assessing the business expertise, technical skills and IS knowledge of your future service provider, you can be sure of receiving tailor-made support and sound advice. The associated service offering is also a key criterion for ongoing EDI operation over the long term.

For over 30 years, ICD International has been providing its customers with validated and approved EDI solutions for a wide range of business sectors.ICD International's solutions have been approved by the main standardization organizations: EDI Optique, EDI Pub, GALIA, GS1, ODETTE.