B2B Data Integration and Transformation Blog

Are you trying to decide between virtual EDI software or an in-house EDI solution? One of the best things about what I do on a daily basis is that I get to talk with clients about their ideas and blueprints for their EDI/eCommerce environments in the near-term and the long-term. This is the time of the year that strategic planning is high on the priority list for companies as they review and evaluate their current situation. One of the questions I am most asked of by clients is what my thoughts are on utilizing software in an in-house installation or a virtual capacity. There are many different flavors to the in- house and virtual possibilities, but for the sake of brevity associated with a blog, let’s use these terms as general terms. In-house referring to having EDI/ eCommerce software on-site, installed within your company’s premises versus virtual referring to EDI/eCommerce software installed outside of your company’s premises or hosted by another company that offers this type of service. As companies evaluate all of the factors that go into this decision, it can lead to quite a difference in opinion within organizations. Read More

What you will learn in this video:

• 5 areas your Managed File Transfer (MFT) software should be addressing but probably isn't
• 5 reasons your MFT software should be managements' favorite piece of software
• 4 tools your enterprise is missing for ultimate MFT

Read More

In the last issue, we explored software currency policy and application rationalization. This month, we discuss the pros and cons of upgrading to comprehensive B2B integration suites. The most important advice for any decision maker considering an upgrade is to do your research. We include a checklist of points to consider before you spend a dime. For the technicians, we delve into the functionality of the suites and their role in a comprehensive integration strategy. Of course, upgrades and implementation require a thorough examination of your staffing capabilities. Are you ready to move forward, or do you need to reconfigure your staffing model first? Lastly, MFT functionality is a critical component of any integration suite. 

Read More

Although it has been a while since I was involved in the techy parts of EDI, I still remember getting implementation guides from trading partners that were so different you questioned what part of the standards were standard. We did some very creative things in the map and pre and post processing to get a customer the data they demanded. Read More

As IT continues to evolve at warp speed, it is imperative to keep the department working at peak efficiency. Upgrades can be costly and can result in downtime, but can also offer features that help your organization be more effective and efficient. So what happens when your software version(s) is no longer supported by the manufacturer? Companies continuing to operate unsupported software may save money in the short-term but open themselves to a risky business scenario, particularly when running mission critical ERP, EDI, B2Bi, and MFT applications that are past End of Fix, End of Support, and End of Life time periods.

Read More