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EDI fundamentals

Start here if you are new to EDI or need to explain it to your team. Each guide gives a direct answer first, then the detail.

A reading path through the fundamentalsSuggested reading order for the EDI fundamentals: what is EDI, how EDI works, X12 vs EDIFACT, VAN vs AS2, and EDI vs API.A reading path through the fundamentalsEach article builds on the one before it1What is EDI?The idea and thebuilding blocksStart here2How EDIworksFive steps, oneorder end to end8509973X12 vsEDIFACTThe two standardsand their syntaxSTUNH4VAN vs AS2How documentstravelMDN5EDI vs APIWhen to use each,and running bothJSON
A reading path through the fundamentalsSuggested reading order for the EDI fundamentals: what is EDI, how EDI works, X12 vs EDIFACT, VAN vs AS2, and EDI vs API.A reading path through thefundamentalsEach article builds on the one before it1What is EDI?The idea and the building blocksStart here2How EDI worksFive steps, one order end to end8509973X12 vs EDIFACTThe two standards and their syntaxSTUNH4VAN vs AS2How documents travelMDN5EDI vs APIWhen to use each, and running bothJSON

The path goes from the concept to the mechanics, then to the standards, the transport and the alternatives. Each step opens its article, and each article starts with a short answer, so you can skim the path first.

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  1. What is EDI? A practical guide for business and IT leaders

    What electronic data interchange is, why trading partners require it, and what it takes to run it well.

    Read

  2. How EDI works: from purchase order to payment

    A step-by-step walk through the EDI process, from creating a document in one system to processing it in another.

    Read

  3. X12 vs EDIFACT: differences between the two EDI standards

    How ANSI X12 and UN/EDIFACT differ, where each is used, and how organizations trading globally support both.

    Read

  4. EDI VAN vs AS2: how EDI documents travel between partners

    How VANs, AS2 and other channels move EDI documents, and how to choose the right one for each partner.

    Read

  5. EDI vs API: differences, strengths and when to use each

    How EDI and APIs differ, where each fits, and why most organizations need both.

    Read

Continue with the X12 transaction guides

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