B2B Data Integration and Transformation Blog

Often times when helping companies modernize their B2B integration, I get a glimpse of their old systems and gain insight as to why they felt the need to modernize. One of the most common reasons is to get all their integration software onto one comprehensive package. Generally, companies add additional software tools one by one as needs arise in their EDI department for requirements which older existing tools will not accommodate. In the instance of IT backlogs, Line of Business folks will procure integration solutions as a work-around to the capacity limitations of their IT department. Acquisitions frequently result in overlapping systems as well. Over time, more becomes less as complexity and inefficiency rise with each additional integration tool- a typical case of too many cooks.

Through my 5 years at Remedi, I have been constantly searching for the best EDI talent in North America. There always seem to be plenty of EDI Administrators available but I can’t say the same for EDI Mappers, Developers, and Architects. These individuals tend to have full schedules throughout the year. Many EDI Managers wonder when is the best time of the year to find the best talent in EDI. Most new EDI projects usually kick off in January for the 1^st quarter of the following year where the budget is available. In my experience, if you wait until January to start hiring you have missed an incredible window. Most EDI projects wrap up with companies in November before the Thanksgiving holiday where people usually take vacations, which means most EDI talent is looking for a new project in December.

It is interesting to me the diversity in the titles of the people I speak with that deal with EDI at different companies.  From EDI Analysts, EDI Managers, EDI Directors, CIOs to CFOs, VPs of Sales, Business Development Managers, and Business Analysts, they are all affected by EDI one way or another.  They have all become involved in my conversations with companies that are in the process of architecting, planning, or evaluating their EDI environment. 

We are in the middle of the 4^th Quarter and most companies are focused on finishing strong! That can mean different things to different employees within your organization. Are you accountable to not only yourself, but your company and its’ success?

Last week, I played "Undercover Boss" without the undercover part :)   Our office manager, Debbie, was on vacation, so it seemed like a great opportunity to see If someone else could do her job using the notes and documentation she had left.