EDI and the Internet: Can They Coexist?
Does the rise of the Internet mean the death of EDI, just as the rise of compact discs consigned vinyl to garage sales and eBay? Not quite.
As Carl Lehmann, vice president of e-Business Strategies for Stamford, Conn.-based META Group says, The data and process efficiencies enabled by supplier relationship management will improve the control of collaborative processes, minimize order exceptions, and enable more accurate and timely shipment of orders.
Can't We All Just Get Along?
The answer to the question posed in this article's headline is Yes. EDI and Internet-based e-commerce can most definitely coexist. EDI is, and will continue to be, a very effective tool for large manufacturers and their largest EDI-integrated suppliers. That won't change. What will change is that other tools, such as SRM, will play a growing role in bringing e-communication to a manufacturer's complete community of suppliers. Only then will the vision of a fully collaborative, streamlined supply chain that is necessary to compete in the global marketplace be fully attainable.
Stuart Sawabini is president and CEO of Eventra in Milford, Conn. and is a longtime board member, and former president, of the New England EDI Users Group.
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