Making electronic data interchange facilities available to all.

Bringing EDI to the masses

Electronic data interchange (EDI) systems are essential for transmitting information, buying instructions, prices, stock availability and other transaction exchanges. So why are they so expensive, exclusive and exceptionally complicated? The traditional reason has been that there have been very few providers of the service, and to join the electronic retail trading community was the prerogative of the largest suppliers and retailers who did not shy at the high prices the small band of providers were charging. However, as with all the other things, this has changed; the Internet may be bringing EDI to the masses.

Electronic data interchange is used primarily between large retailers and their larger suppliers. Information gleaned from sales information from cashiers' tills automatically triggers reordering when stocks of a particular good fall below a certain point. The key to EDI networks is automation because the supplier and the retailer …