8 Reasons To Invest in Your EDI Services
A good EDI system flows seamlessly, working in the background to keep your business moving forward. Is your EDI system a boon to your business, or a headache? If you are experiencing problems with your current system, these 8 questions can help you determine if investing in your EDI system is a smart choice.
Are you still verbally communicating information to the warehouse?
In today’s business climate, a clear distinction is made between business goals of the past, and the goals facing today’s companies. For your business, conquering the information war may define the difference between success and failure. Information technology provides a perfect opportunity to capitalize on obtaining accurate and timely information in order to make informed business decisions on a daily basis- but it only works if you take advantage of the technology available.
EDI systems not only eliminate the need to reproduce information, they transmit that information to those who need to know. With an adequate EDI system in place, your employees can stop playing phone tag with the warehouse, and can get back to focusing on important tasks like improving production or enhancing customer satisfaction. In today’s digital age, there’s no need to waste time with verbally communicating information to the warehouse.
Is your current EDI system flexible enough to handle changes that occur during product fulfillment- without massive manual intervention?
Seamless, automated order processing does not have to be an unattainable goal for your business. EDI has the capability to catch errors before they reach the production phase, and adapt to any changes without requiring employee intervention.
Change happens. When it does, your system should not require a halt in the order fulfillment process. Work should proceed as normal while adjustments are made to the order- without the assistance of a problem-solving employee.
Are you reprinting more packing ships than you would like?
If you are still using paper packing slips, you know how frustrating it can be to reproduce missing slips. With an EDI system, your packing slips are generated automatically and delivered to the proper destination- all without human intervention.
If your current system is failing to produce packing slips in a reliable manner, it may be time for a change in the system.
Do your Advance Ship Notices arrive after the product ships?
Advance Ship Notices must consistently arrive before the product is delivered. This allows your customer to efficiently operate their warehouse. Advance Ship Notices also improve order delivery accuracy and help production and shipping run smoothly. Managers can accurately schedule production if the company utilizes Advanced Ship Notices. In fact, some companies require their use.
When a customer calls to check on an order, do your employees play phone tag for 20 minutes trying to track down the current information?
Utilizing the self-service features of ERP and EDI systems allows you to place the customer in control of tracking order progress. If a problem arises, and a customer needs to speak with a CSR directly, the system delivers the most current information in a matter of seconds, eliminating the need for multiple phone transfers and placing the customer on hold.
This enhanced customer service makes your company look good and frees up employees from the tedious task of tracking down someone who can provide the answers they need.
Would speeding up your order processing significantly increase your cash flow?
A positive cash flow is always good for business. EDI can help streamline order processing to the point that your cash flow is affected. Customers that receive EDI invoices pay much quicker which improves your cashflow.
Is your business growing enough to take on well-known large clients that require EDI?
Large corporations like Target, Costco, and Wal-Mart each impose their own set of strict EDI guidelines that must be followed by all suppliers. This specificity has the potential to create inefficiencies, increased manual effort, and errors if you are using an outdated or inadequate EDI system.
Are you paying Too Much for an EDI consultant?
Technical consultants and after-hours repairs can be costly for any business. For a small business, these costs can be fatal. Fortunately, a managed services agreement with a fairly priced company can save you thousands of dollars in overtime and eliminate the need for high-end consultants. Sometimes the solution to high costs is to invest in a system that better serves your current and future needs and then have the right team managing it. If you are using the right solution, changes are not only seamless, but they are anticipated in many cases.
Investing in your EDI system is often an investment in productivity, customer satisfaction, and business growth. These 8 reasons for investing in your business’ EDI system are only a few examples of how EDI can help your business be more productive.
If you’re looking for EDI Solutions, have questions about EDI Services or you’re thinking about EDI Outsourcing, Enterprise Services Management (ESM) can help. Our experienced team will help you develop a solution at a cost far lower than others. We can be found at http://www.esm.com
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Tagged With Advance Ship Notice, ASN, ERP, Order Processing, Target EDI, Wal-Mart EDI
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