So, what is this EDI specialist business that you’ve been hearing about? Great question, let’s answer it with another question: Do you like jumping through hoops and going through tedious manual processes when trying to interpret or convert the most simple, but sometimes most important, electronic documents from your business partners?

No? Surprise, surprise!

The EDI Specialist Is Definitely Something You Need

Here’s the real answer as to why enlisting the help of an EDI specialist can be invaluable for your business. An EDI specialist is an expert in Electronic data interchange (EDI), which is the computer to computer exchange of business documents in a standard electronic format between business partners. They’re basic files you’re already familiar with: the purchase order, the Advanced Shipping Notice), the invoice, and more.  Even though there are widely accepted standards on how to exchange these electronic documents, each company can format the transactions and data to best fit their business needs.

What EDI does is use “maps” to connect each document’s data format to the format needs of the receiver systems.  Once the data is mapped, the receiver can then receive the data into their internal system to be processed.  The transfer of information from one partner to the next is seamless between systems!

A conceptual image of an EDI environment where the EDI Specialist presides over maintaining an EDI framework.

One of the biggest advantages of exchanging documents electronically is the lower margin for error.  Not only is the data sent securely over the internet, but it avoids the hassle and vulnerability of being hand entered by an entry team. EDI also gives companies a faster order cycle time resulting in automated processes and instant communication with trading partners.

So with all the benefits, why haven’t you been utilizing EDI all along?  It is no secret that many companies are faced with daunting deadlines, never-ending priorities, and a constant change of focus.  They may feel lost on where to start or find it difficult to form an implementation or integration game plan. They may not have the resources, and struggle to achieve desired results.  That’s where an experienced and professional partnership with a services organization can really benefit one’s business.

Allow that partnership to create a robust execution method for implementation of your EDI services with your business goals and systems in mind.  This permits you to focus on your business while the services organization adds additional value by guiding your company through EDI implementation, supporting your business with expertise, and creating competitive advantages against your competitors.

So don’t wait! Now that you have all the questions answered, get started today with an EDI implementation through a services organization and take full advantage of goal-focused improvements and endless benefits that accompany exchanging business documents electronically through EDI!

Our EDI Solutions

What differentiates Epicor’s B2B Integration and EDI Managed Service On-Demand from other business integration solutions is the ability to provide our customers with the identical software tools if the business need outgrows that of an outsourced solution. Epicor’s on-demand data integration software uses its commercially available and fully supported software tools to connect our customers to their business partners as a service. As trading partner or application maps, profiles, and workflows are created for your business-specific environment, they are always available to the customer to utilize internally. The EDI Managed Service On-Demand solution grows as your business needs dictate.

Epicor’s EDI integration technology is now available on demand for customers looking to outsource their eCommerce function. Epicor has an array of service-based XML/EDI, data synchronization, and B2B integration offerings that allow organizations to reap the full benefit of Epicor’s powerful Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Customers outsourcing eCommerce processes to Epicor enjoy the advantages of true eBusiness—conducting business electronically with any party regardless of the service or solution their business partners use.

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of Industry.


I’ve been reading many opinion articles lately about New Year ERP implementations. Namely, shooting for the New Year, January 1, as the day the new software goes live. None of them had a particularly rosy outlook on that goal: Your employees, if they’re not all still on vacation, won’t be back into the rhythm of things after the holidays, will still have work to attend to and catch up on, and so on.

I agree, it seems impractical, maybe even impossible. But this is where Encompass shines. In fact, we are, RIGHT NOW, taking four of our clients to Go-Live over the new year on their brand new Epicor ERP 10 systems. It can be done, and done well! Here are some of our tips and tricks we keep in mind while we get our clients running right out of the gate.

Consider This For New Year ERP Implementations

If you’ve got your sights set on a New Year Go-Live, consider these important factors to make your implementation and subsequent onboarding a much smoother process.

Strong Employee Support

It’s not a bad idea to postpone a launch of new software until everyone at the organization has had the time to settle back into the rhythm of the day-to-day, to catch up with outstanding items, and, of course, serving customers and processing deliverables. While all this means that there is less focus on system adoption, an external company such as Encompass can provide the support needed to take your users through it successfully and painlessly.

Walking Before Running

Some argue that business is slower at the start of the year, and that there are not enough transactions happening that will test the full functionalities of the system, or allow it to run at full capacity. This is a good thing! Your team, already spreading their focus onto ramping back up into the new year, won’t be under pressure to process orders while learning the new handles, or to do so at full speed. Rushed mistakes are costly to any company!

Change Management

Preparedness is key. Before the New Year begins and the switch happens, you need to be ready for it, and that also means being ready when things start to go wrong. Our post on Change Management provides a glimpse at the solutions we can help provide.

Feel the Fear

… And do it anyway! Rip the band-aid off, tell your dad to let go of the bike seat, jump right in the deep end. The best way to learn something is to do it, so don’t mistake hesitating for preparing. The time you lose waiting is time you could be using learning and improving.

We at Encompass Solutions would like to wish all of you a smooth and successful start to the New Year!

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of Industry.