What is e-commerce?

The printing press, the telegraph, telephone, fax ... certainly marked a before and after, not only in the world of communications, but in the cultural and social organization.

From these inventions, the time was becoming more valuable every time. Today the time is one of the most powerful market weapons; who thinks, who creates and who says it first, that is what counts.
In this market, the rules are strict and clear: who does not fit, is marginalized.
To compete, you must respond quickly to demand and, to the extent of the possibilities, we must also exceed expectations.
To meet this demand, it is necessary to set common goals and devise joint strategies between manufacturers and distributors.
Therefore, it is imperative to understand that acquiring a terminal does not mean access to EDI.
EDI is a philosophy of highly profitable and efficient, enabling customers and suppliers to relate from a common language.
EDI is still an alternative system, but very soon it going to transform into "the operating standard" of the market. When this happen, we must be prepared.

How to implement its EDI project?

Let us outline the steps and recommendations for good implementation process Electronic Data Interchange.

• Senior management commitment to invest in a project of this nature.
• Operational evaluation system (equipment).
• Analysis and review of current processes.
• Design and development of the EDI process.
• Analysis of the "Hardware" and "Software" for the implementation of your project.
• Identification of major business partners.
• EDI strategic plan and pilot.
• Exchange agreement, starting with the most important document, purchase orders, payment Breakdowns, etc.
• Extension of the implementation process to more areas of the company as they can be: accounts receivable, purchasing, finance, accounting, logistics, etc.

What is EDI?

It is understood by EDI (Electronical Data Interchange) the exchange of information (mainly business) from computer to computer (at best) between two entities (companies, institutions, individuals, etc.) using the international standards of syntax, semantics and technical specifications defined by organizations such as the CEPE (Economic Commission for Europe) and CEFACT / UN (United Nations Center for Trade, Trade and E-commerce Facilitation).

• It is an easy communication way, cheap and efficient way to communicate with everyone: it does not require specialized technicians.
• It establishes a common language among all customers, suppliers, banks, customs, etc.
• Direct from computer to computer saves time, paper, capture errors, bureaucracy, etc.

How to develop a strategic plan EDI?

Acquire the basic commercial concepts and familiarize yourself with the requirements necessary for proper implementation of EDI program.

• Form a work team of EDI project.
• Review and estimate the impact that an EDI project would have on the company.
• Sell the project to directive levels (they will be the main promoters of your project if they understand the concept).
• Investigate the status of EDI (in companies in the same commercial branch, in other areas, in government institutions in the country, etc.).
• Invite your business partners to participate in the implementation of EDI project (Integrate yourself into your customers Edi project, integrate your providers into your own EDI project)
• Select the EDI translator software.
• Select the communication channel through which information between you and your trading partners (VAN network, Internet, internal red, private communication channels, etc.) will be transmitted.
• Define the legal responsibilities of business partners (signature of agreements, agreements containing obligations and rights of each party).
• Determine applications that can be optimized as a consequence of the implementation of EDI.
• Define the EDI strategy (flexible) for its application and implementation in other areas of your company.
• Integrate EDI with electronic invoice and EFT (Electronic Founds Transfer). Close the EDI circle.

In Mexico, there are more than 80,000 users and in 2018 it is estimated that there will be more than 120,000.
Today it is used in Self-Service, Banking, Pharmaceutical, Transportation, Manufacturing, Government, etc.