For houseware brands, electronic data interchange (EDI) is the lifeblood that facilitates seamless transactions with trading partners, enhancing supply chain visibility and ensuring accurate order processing.
Going with the wrong EDI provider can result in disaster. Chargebacks. Ugly retailer scorecards. And eventually, severed relationships.
Here’s what houseware brands should look for in an EDI provider that will not only help them nail communication with trading partners, but also scale their business.
Industry Experience and Expertise
Houseware brands should look for an EDI provider that has experience working with… you guessed it, houseware brands!
An EDI provider that understands the specific needs and nuances of houseware brands can deliver more tailored solutions and faster implementation. More often than not, houseware brands have specific compliance standards (i.e., GS1) that brands need to meet for retail distribution.
Here at eZCom Software, we check both of those boxes. For over 20 years, we’ve worked with countless houseware brands and have a deep understanding of how they need to interact with trading partners, big and small. And on the compliance side of things, we’re sort of GS1 geeks, particularly as it relates to the GS1-128 shipping label. This allows for easy product identification, no matter where they are in the supply chain.
Integration Capabilities
An EDI solution that integrates with ERP systems like NetSuite is almost non-negotiable these days – especially for houseware brands selling both B2B and DTC. This will ensure that data is accurate and disruptions are minimized. And as business scales, the EDI solution should be able to accommodate increased transaction volumes and expanding operations without compromising performance.
At eZCom, our award-winning EDI platform, Lingo, integrates seamlessly with ERPs like Netsuite, Infor, Acumatica, Zoho and more. Our US-based setup and integration teams are hands-on and ready to build custom integrations to meet each brand’s requirements.
Custom Solutions
For houseware brands (or any brand, for that matter), EDI is rarely a one-size-fits-all effort. This is often dictated by trading partner requirements. An EDI provider that can work with a brand to develop custom solutions to meet those requirements can deliver extra value and strengthen trading partner relationships. For example, at eZCom, we offer content labels that can be paired with the GS1-128 labels. This is useful for trading partners that do not print carton contents on their GS1-128s. It also helps warehouse staff ensure that they’re putting the right labels on the right boxes. Some retailers allow brands to place these content labels on the outside of boxes while others request they not be visible, in which case the paired labels can be placed on the inside flap.
We also offer a combined label that creates a single label custom-designed to include FedEx or UPS shipping details alongside a brand’s required GS1-128 label information, eliminating the need to match shipping labels to GS1-128 labels!
Automated packing types is another area where an EDI provider can deliver custom solutions. Take prepack, for example. With pre-pack, we’re able to define a pattern and repeat it across multiple shipments. If the customer has a defined group of items that are pre-packed within the brand’s warehouse, they only have to define it once in Lingo in order to apply it to multiple shipments. Less data entry. Fewer mistakes.
Then there’s standard pack, in which the EDI system can automatically configure full cases for the trading partner. Say the SKU comes in cases of six and the trading partner orders 66 units. The system makes 11 cases.
Bottom line, your EDI needs are unique. An EDI provider that can build custom solutions is worth its weight in gold.
Support, Reliability and Security
Responsive customer support and hardened infrastructure reliability are crucial for houseware brands when it comes to their EDI provider. Ensure that a provider has a well defined issue escalation process that prioritizes minimized disruption.
At eZCom, our US-based support team is available by phone and email during extended business hours.
In terms of security, houseware brands should consider an EDI provider’s technical approach as well as how staff is trained. They should get a good understanding of the provider’s network and systems security, its encryption protocols, privacy policies, data backups and levels of access.
Future-Readiness
The right EDI solution is not an off-the-shelf purchase. houseware brands should consider their EDI provider’s commitment to innovation. Are they building new integrations? Are they developing automations designed to help their customers save time and money? Are they exploring frontier technologies like machine learning and AI?
The point is this: you don’t want to go with a provider that believes that EDI innovation began and ended with the jump from fax machines to computers.
Think in Terms of Partnership
An elite EDI provider delivers much more than a software solution. They are an extension of a brand’s retail supply chain operation, providing data, insights and innovative thinking. The right EDI provider can play a pivotal role in helping houseware brands strengthen their trading partner relationships in both the short and long term.
Want to learn more about how EDI can help you scale your housewares business? Get in touch!
