eZCom Software Blog

X12 vs. EDIFACT 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?…

If you are a cannabidiol (CBD) brand, you know that more and more retailers are stocking CBD products. No longer found primarily on the shelves of small health food shops, CBD has landed on the shelves of retail giants such as CVS, Whole Foods, and The Vitamin Shoppe. The market is growing rapidly, as more and more consumers embrace the health benefits of CBD. Looking forward, the brands that will enjoy lasting success will be those with reliable supply chains. An essential part of that? EDI for CBD brands and products…

As your business grows, increase automation of EDI and order processing. As demand for your products grows, your company evolves. And whether you’re just exiting startup mode or you’re an established company finding success in new markets, nothing is static. The more you can automate EDI and order processing to control costs, the less challenging your journey will be…

What is the EDI 820? Often called the Payment or Order Remittance Advice and sometimes simply The Remittance Advice, the EDI 820 is sent by retailers to suppliers. Essentially, it informs the supplier that the invoice has been received and will be paid. When a retailer receives an invoice—the EDI 810—they follow up with the EDI 820. Which is nice, of course, because it means money is heading your way…

Spend less time on shipping labels and packing slips. Getting the right information on shipping labels and packing slips for EDI and online orders, in the least amount of time, is a critical component of an efficient supply chain. It’s hardly surprising that here at eZCom, where we’re always trying to automate tasks and eliminate errors, we have solutions that make it easier for our clients to generate shipping labels and packing slips for EDI and online orders…

Check-check....testing...1-2-3….EDI testing. When you begin exchanging EDI documents with a retailer, many are going to demand testing before trading begins. Unless you enjoyed final exams during high school, chances are it’s not going to be a process you’ll enjoy. But EDI testing is something you need to do well. And quickly…

Choose your 3PL with EDI in mind. At some point, just about every supplier will need to consider adding the services of a Third-Party Logistics Provider (3PL) to improve distribution and fulfillment while enhancing EDI. It's part of the natural evolution from startup to fully-fledged company — eventually your guest room can no longer serve as your warehouse. And you can no longer act as Chief Executive Officer, Lead Merchandiser, Design Director, Chief Marketing Officer — and Head of Shipping. Even the most independent thinkers will eventually realize they can’t do it all. They also understand that moving to their own full-scale distribution center isn’t an investment that makes sense either…

Less time processing EDI and online orders. More time for growth. Back when you first launched your business and started to get orders, your days were filled with excitement and anticipation. You probably didn’t give much thought to how much time it was taking to process EDI and online orders — you were elated to have them. After all, orders meant that people wanted your stuff and you were growing. The last thing you were going to do was complain about the time you spent managing the orders you were so happy to have…

The GS1 and the supply chain. As soon as you start selling your products to major retailers, you’ll need to create unique identifiers for your products. It doesn’t matter if your products are sold at physical locations or online, your trading partners want to be able scan and immediately identify them. You'll need a GS1, but maybe you're wondering: what is a GS1?…