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New EDI Standards
Since EDI was established, and despite new technologies emerging, there are still an increasing number of businesses and corporations taking on EDI as a method of data transmission. The four major sets of standards are:
• UN/EDIFACT: the only international standard, which is mainly used outside of North America
• ANSI ASC X12 (X12), which is mainly in North America
• TRADACOMS standard used mainly in UK retail industry
• ODETTE standard used within the European automotive industry
These standards dictate the formats, data elements and character set which are required for the use of EDI. The codes are a string of letters, numbers and characters which provide information to the receiver regarding what the document concerns. Some information is mandatory, while other information is optional. Two documents can follow the same code, but appear completely different, depending on what industry they are associated with. For example, a dog food company may send information regarding expiry date, while an automotive company sends information regarding size of tire.
Since 2002 new standards have emerged, as more trading partners are using EDI through the Internet. These standards enable EDI to be securely transferred through e-mail, HTTP and FTP. While the use of the Internet as a protocol for EDI transmission has increased, VANs remain a valuable part of the EDI process for many users.
The Codes
Electronic Data Interchange requires standards of data formatting to function. These standards include EDIFACT, HL7, which are used world wide and various others which are used within certain regions. These standards are data formats, and each one has characters and symbols that identify what each row is recording. The data items are separated by special characters.
EDIFACT or UN/CEFACT
EDIFACT arose from the issues of using EDI not just across nations but across the globe. As there were different standards between Europe and the U.S., a single format was created that was sanctioned by the United Nations. This allows international communications to also enjoy the benefits of the fast and efficient communications which EDI provides.
EDIFACT was born of the fact that there were differing standards across Europe and indeed the world. For this purpose, EDIFACT allows documents to be sent and received from Europe to American (and the reverse) easily. EDIFACT is highly used in the European markets, and was established early. Therefore current competing systems such as XML, while making inroads are not likely to have major impacts within these markets due to the existing hardware and software that many of these industries such as civil aviation, retail and tourism have implemented.
X12
X12 is a standard which yet again regulates format type of and EDI document it was created by the Accredited Standards Committee.
HL7
This standard is health-related EDI which allows for exchange of health information electronically. It standards are used worldwide, and encourage the improvement of management, delivery and evaluation of health services within clinical practice.
AS2
This is the Internet Standard which allows for the secure and fast transmission of EDI documents via the Internet. It utilizes encryption and other authentication codes to ensure reliable and secure transmission.
Since EDI began many years ago, various codes have enabled trading partners to communicate with improved efficiency and accuracy. As the trading partners evolved to worldwide proportions, so did the standards. While various trading areas maintain their own standards, international standards allow for improved global communication.
Although trading use more open technology forms such as Internet, Email and HTTP, EDI through these means continues to provide secure and efficient transmission of data. As such, the standards will continue to evolve as do the industries and trading partners using the technology doing the same.
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