eZCom Software Blog

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…

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the cornerstone of seamless exchange of business data between brands and their trading partners, facilitating faster, more accurate, and efficient communications. But the complexity of EDI can sometimes lead to errors that disrupt these processes. Here are the most common EDI errors and how to avoid them…

Supply chain demand planning is the crystal ball of the business world. Imagine if every time you went grocery shopping, you knew exactly how much milk, bread, and eggs you'd need for the week ahead. That's what demand planning does for companies, but on a much larger scale. At its core, demand planning is all about predicting what customers will want and when they'll want it. Sounds like a guessing game, right? Yes… But not really…

In today's dynamic business landscape, supply chain visibility is no longer just a buzzword; it's a necessity. With consumers demanding transparency and agility, brands must prioritize improving their supply chain visibility to stay competitive and resilient. Fortunately, there are several straightforward strategies that brands can adopt to enhance that visibility. Let’s dig in…

When a brand is considering an EDI provider (or any technology service provider, for that matter), they need to have data security at the top of their checklist. Specific to EDI, brands are trusting their provider with critical business information ranging from items and prices to customer details and should consider the following criteria……

X12 vs. EDIFACT In the world of EDI, there are two standards that facilitate the exchange of information between suppliers and trading partners: X12 and EDIFACT. Ultimately, these standards define EDI documents. The main difference is actually pretty simple: X12 is the preferred EDI standard in North America while EDIFACT is used throughout Europe and Asia. As your business expands globally, you’ll eventually hear about EDIFACT. And if you are already familiar with EDI for your company, your first question will probably be: how is EDIFACT different from X12, the EDI format used throughout North America?…

For many beauty, health, wellness and apparel brands, November and December tend to see the highest volume thanks to Black Friday and the holidays. But with Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, February and May aren’t far behind. Whether they’re major or mini, these seasonal peaks can strain any organization across a range of departments – accounting, ecommerce, inventory, compliance… you name it. The keys to reducing that strain? Integration and automation. More specifically, integration and automation powered by EDI. Let’s run through some of the most common EDI integrations and automations that can help your business handle seasonal peaks…

Brick and mortar retail is dead. How many times have you heard that? We’re betting plenty. But the thing is, that statement couldn't be further from the truth. While “ecommerce sales in the third quarter of 2023 accounted for 15.6 percent of total retail sales,” 72 percent of consumers still shop in stores on a weekly basis. For every argument there is a counter argument. So what’s that tell us?…

The holiday season can be a whirlwind for suppliers, with increased sales, higher order volumes, and a surge in customer transactions. For brands that rely on electronic data interchange (EDI) systems to manage their trading partner relationships, it's crucial to assess how well the system performed once the holiday dust settles. Here’s what to look at…