When you’re choosing an EDI provider, there is no shortage of choices.EDI can be frustrating. The good news is that if you need an EDI provider, it means you’re doing business with major retailers. While EDI is used in all kinds of industries, the retail sector embraced it early to automate communications and speed the pace of transactions. Today, it continues to keep the category moving but EDI can be daunting to anyone at first. That’s why there are companies like ours that provide EDI software so you can manage it efficiently. Read more about how to choose the best EDI provider for your company.
Five Questions to Ask When Choosing an EDI Provider
1. What level of EDI support do you need?
Companies that have extensive experience with EDI or a staff dedicated to it will need less than most small businesses. Having a support team that gets it right and can resolve issues quickly allows you to focus on the important aspects of your business.
2. Does the EDI provider have experience in your industry or category?
EDI is used for transactions in all kinds of industries. Even within retail, there are EDI providers that specialize in specific categories — fashion, technology, apparel, etc. Ideally, you’ll find an EDI partner with a range of experience across all kinds of sectors, but it’s still valuable to work with a company that knows the ins and outs of your business.
Here at eZCom, we’ve adapted to the changes in retail by adding features that allow our clients to bring all their orders together — EDI, online marketplaces like Amazon Seller Central, and eCommerce integration such as Shopify or Magento.
3. Does the EDI provider offer pricing options that work for you?
Fees that are charged by EDI providers will vary. Just like any industry, the lowest price usually comes with a corresponding low level of service. If you’re comfortable with that, it may be the best choice. But just like in your daily life, there’s truth in the adage, “You get what you pay for.” Have an open and honest discussion with potential EDI providers about pricing, and demand transparency when it comes to fees.
4. Does the EDI provider have the capability to scale up as you grow?
EDI is driven by the quality of the software and the expertise of the people — so working with a large firm that has the most employees isn’t the most important factor. A robust platform and mapping to hundreds of retailers is what really matters when it comes to being able to scale to match your growth.
5. What kind of response times does the EDI provider offer?
When it comes to retail success, speed matters. If you have an issue, how quickly can you get an answer from the support team of your EDI provider? If you’re a smaller company will you get lost in the shuffle? Ask the EDI provider to walk you through their process, and then hold them accountable if you’re forced to wait for answers.
Talk to an EDI Provider you can Trust
Here at eZCom, we are committed to offering the best service at the highest quality. Our consistent level of support will make sure your company has the power to grow even if you’re starting out small. As an electronic data interchange provider, we support hundreds of EDI trading partners and can integrate our systems with major technology providers. Click here to learn why switching your EDI provider is easy!
If you need to streamline and automate your data – reach out and we will be happy to listen and help build the perfect solution for your brand.
If you need to streamline and automate your data – reach out and we will be happy to listen and help build the perfect solution for your brand
