Dhaval Gajjar 
Dhaval Gajjar
Sr. Implementation Consultant.
Published May 28, 2015
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Anyone involved in the EDI industry has probably questioned what certification is available. How do we know the qualifications of a potential hire? Recruiters are used to “black and white” qualifications that make their role easier. Every once in a while this topic surfaces in discussions on, for example, LinkedIn. Let's elaborate on what we mean by EDI certification and why there is no “black and “white” answer.
MicroSoft, Cisco, IBM and others have certification exams for all sorts of things, but how can we judge EDI professionals? Most technical certifications we see are based on proficiency with a particular software or hardware product. If you could design and give a certification program, someone somewhere would complain that it was not representative. Yes, someone could design a certification program for a specific software product, but:
(1) that is only part of the job of an EDI specialist; and
(2) today's software products are very simple to use.
Skills of an EDI specialist are more in analysis of business documents and understanding of the business issues. This is far more important than knowledge of a particular piece of software. You can quickly learn a new tool if you need to.
No certification will give a person skill of understanding the business documents and issue relating to them within a given industry. Then, for example, automotive industry has unique EDI challenges which are completely different than, let's say, the apparel and footwear industry. How can any certification or course teach somebody to handle those industry specific EDI related business issues?
Could we look at the overall skills/knowledge that makes a position unique? Perhaps an overall certification program sub-divided by major industries? But then, you become too specialized by industry? Start by defining the skill sets required to be an EDI professional and then see if it merits breaking it down by industry.
Testing on several different EDI documents and formats might make sense but that would be a lot of different tests. Then on specific software, there can be many different possibilities employers might require. If someone has been with one employer for a long time, they might not know all of the system capabilities.
For advancement, courses in EDI that focus on best practices could be helpful.
But as a true EDI certification, that maybe something that could ever be accomplished. That's like saying you're ERP certified.
Many state that the only certifications are probably going to be product specific.
What knowledge would you consider necessary for EDI certification? EDI is a bigger discipline than simply knowing a software suite. You can learn to use software rather quickly, but can you learn to identify what EDI REF-01 qualifier code would best fit your company and industry standard for a shipping unit of widgets (Box, case, carton, each, pallet, etc.)? Would you be able to pick the best document format for cross industry supply chain documents (i.e a grocery store purchasing truckloads of copy paper from a pulp and paper mill)? Can you define EDI, its goal and purpose? Can you provide a mapper with the specifications of a database to X12 (or even an XML) mapping? There is a lot of things, I think, that an EDI expert should know for certification purposes and not just a software suite. I should think a good EDI person doesn't necessarily need to be an expert in a software suite to be a sought after EDI person (although the ability to learn EDI software swiftly is important.
Like any knowledge domain, your ability to judge another's skill is directly proportional to your own skill in that domain. A certificate is much like a University degree - you can have a Master’s degree but be fully unable to prepare a Business Requirements Document. Many people will say they've worked on EDI projects because EDI 'touches' everything, but have no real EDI skills themselves. If someone has '834 EDI' on their resume though, try printing out a sample, raw 834 file and ask them to explain it during a job interview. A skilled EDI person can describe the basic loops without having any implementation guide nearby. If they speak clearly and with confidence exactly what the file is doing, that is much better than a certificate, plus you may learn something as well.
A recruiter has found thru personal experience that there is no substitute for well-planned scenario based questioning coupled with in depth and specific reference checking in order to verify someone's logic and problem solving skills needed for success (as opposed to possessing a mere command of the basic syntax or concepts). Certifications are terrific "icing", but experience and a verifiable track record of success are the "cake".
Most of IT generalist recruiters or freelance hunters have not a great added value in selecting an expert. Most of them, didn’t understand/know what is an EDI standard.
EDI skill is composed of building blocks knowledge:
- the EDI translator;
- knowledge such as the Standards (EDIFACT, XML/EDI….);
- telecommunications (traceability of the exchanged flows);
- knowledge of the related business;
- methodology of test plans, etc.
It always astounds me that people who say they are experienced in EDI can't even spell EDI . Ask how they handle working with their Trading Partners. If they have nothing to say about EDI being an agreed upon standard of exchanging data between your company and another company. Look for answers that show they understand that EDI is organized by industries. Most have a set of standards agreed upon at the national level that all trading partners follow. See if they are used to trading partners changing their EDI data by such things as adding a new qualifier or sending in a new element out if the blue. I don't put a lot of weight on specific transaction sets. If you are in the Retail business, you ideally want someone with experience with VICS X12 standards. If you are in the Health Industry, you will want a person experience with HIPAA specific transactions. However, I find if you know EDI in one industry you can easily pick up a different industries' transactions. You will quickly eliminate many candidates in a phone interview.
Understanding transactional data structures (i.e. looping, hierarchical structures, etc.) as applied to e-Business is more important than a drag and drop tool. If you understand the concepts, you can learn to use the software tools pretty quickly to get the job done.
There is no expert on the 837 since as you mentioned there are 3 X12 versions and there are also regional and CMS versions as well as those who as always make up their own rules. As one version of the saying goes the joy of having a standard is you get to pick which one to use.
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Coming from an I.T. background and migrating over to the procurement process in Manufacturing, I manage a helpdesk that supported proprietary procurement portals, I also ended up managing the L1 support team for our EDI implementation, I have to say you are dead-on that any potential candidate should not only understand things likeEDI REF-01 qualifier code widgets that directly apply to that company and the supplier esp with catalog items but realize their importance as that can create serious issues if implemented incorrectly esp when a Buyer is trying to procure or even invoice for qty of an item(s). In my opinion, any EDI certification should not only test the technical knowledge but a person's understanding of procurement in general especially in regards to enterprises and supply chain esp the Buyer and the Supplier relationships and importance of invoicing and how an error can delay payment issues. One other thing that is important, the candidate personality is very important in their ability to explain complex implementation in a way others can grasp it as that helps when there is a technical issue and one is required to provide an RCA to a CSM or other decision-makers. as EDI setups can in some cases involve a CIO or any other high-level executive. All points I can gather that you are well aware of. I look forward to reading more articles like this from you.
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Aimee Forcada
I couldn't agree more. EDI is a whole world and it takes years to get to a certain level of understanding of such principles. But you have to go further... beginning with understanding the business and its necessities in order to apply that achieved experience. It's very difficult for a person with little to no knowledge to determine your experience during an interview.
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FAQs
Is there an EDI certification? ›
EDI certification also proves trading partners can meet consumer privacy and industry compliance requirements. For example, healthcare-related businesses must test their EDI transactions to ensure HIPPA compliance. In Retail, behemoths like Walmart or Amazon have their set expectations for how EDI needs to function.
How do I become an EDI specialist? ›To be qualified for the job, an EDI specialist is required to have at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology. They will also be preferred if they have at least two years of hands-on experience working with EDI technologies.
What does an EDI specialist do? ›The Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Analyst will develop new systems for clients, analyze requirements, produce mapping documents, test systems, and establish communication with trading partners.
What is the difference between EDI analyst and EDI developer? ›What qualifications do EDI developers possess? They have studied IT and have at least five years of experience programming applications, designing methodologies, and investigating systems abilities. An EDI analyst ensures that the EDI system operates the way it is supposed to and meets the needs of users.
Is EDI being phased out? ›But EDI is here to stay for now as it still works well for many users. But he said for companies that find EDI non-accessible (whether it's due to a lack of expertise, technical resources or infrastructure), there are still options.
Is EDI the same as ERP? ›EDI refers to Electronic Data Interchange. Discovered in 1980, EDI is a technology for exchanging documentation from one PC to another. ERP is business management software that puts everything into a single centralized database. It produces real-time updates from various business departments, processes, and activities.
What is EDI in salary? ›EDI Analyst salary in India ranges between ₹ 2.3 Lakhs to ₹ 10.5 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 5.0 Lakhs.
How much does an EDI specialist earn in California? ›How much does an EDI Specialist make in California? The average EDI Specialist salary in California is $83,768 as of February 27, 2023, but the range typically falls between $74,126 and $95,194.
What is the future scope of EDI? ›The global Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) software market size was valued at USD 1.70 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow from USD 1.88 billion in 2022 to USD 4.04 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 11.6% during the forecast period.
What is EDI training? ›This IIRSM & Citation approved Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Training course was created in collaboration with global EDI experts and introduces the protected characteristics, discrimination, victimisation, and unfair treatment within a professional environment.
Is EDI a skill? ›
Skills required for an EDI specialist:
Understanding of EDI transaction sets. General knowledge of networking protocols and web architecture. Solid understanding of EDI standards and practices – EDIFACT, XML. Strong communication and organizational talent.
APIs are widely regarded as the biggest disruption to traditional EDI. Although few experts predict an imminent migration from EDI to APIs, some foresee APIs will replace EDI at least partly within a few years. Gartner reports that API could facilitate more than half of all B2B transactions in 2023.
Is API better than EDI? ›This kind of real-time connection is what makes API so effective when compared with EDI. APIs are able to transfer data in less than a second, which means that all of the data can be updated instantly, without the need for an intermediary. It's easy to see the benefits that this can bring to supply chain management.
Can API replace EDI? ›Although EDI has been the standard document exchange method for decades, application programming interfaces (APIs) have been growing in popularity as an alternative to EDI.
Why is EDI becoming obsolete? ›EDI has too many hurdles for today's supply chain – it's too difficult to implement, too expensive to maintain, and too rigid to work in a dynamic marketplace. The future of freight transportation connectivity is Freight APIs.
Does Walmart still use EDI? ›EDI Data Transfer
Drop Ship Vendors can use two different data transfer interfaces to transfer data between Walmart.com, either: Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or XML.
EDI is too expensive:-
EDI is expensive and requires a heavy investment to launch and maintain the technology. Small companies might find it difficult to invest in EDI because of the expenses to be incurred in implementing and maintaining it.
QuickBooks offers inventory, EDI, and order fulfillment tools, but capabilities are limited for a growing business with more than one trading partner.
Is Salesforce an EDI? ›Electronic Data Interchange (commonly known as EDI) is essentially the standard method when it comes to exchanging files in modern industry. Since its inception in the 1980s, EDI can be found in industries ranging from manufacturing to health care.
Is SAP an EDI? ›SAP EDI is a paperless electronic exchange of business transactions within different applications of a system. It is an industry-standard method that represents electronic documents. It enables document exchanging for internal transactions.
Is EDI easy to learn? ›
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) can be incredibly complex to integrate into your business if you do not have the understanding necessary to make it a success. With so many types of EDI out there, it can be difficult to understand not only what it is, but which is right for your business.
What is EDI in data entry? ›Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the electronic interchange of business information using a standardized format; a process which allows one company to send information to another company electronically rather than with paper.
What is EDI career? ›Electronic data interchange (EDI) analysts are technical consultants who design, implement, and maintain data interchange systems between companies or departments. They analyze the needs of the business and design a system to efficiently transfer information between multiple parties.
How much does an EDI specialist earn in USA? ›How much does an EDI Specialist make? Edi specialists make $80,654 per year on average, or $38.78 per hour, in the United States.
How much does an EDI coordinator earn in Los Angeles? ›While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $97,696 and as low as $34,141, the majority of Edi Coordinator salaries currently range between $53,049 (25th percentile) to $78,786 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $91,917 annually in Los Angeles.
How much do dos make in California? ›How much does an Osteopathic Physician make in California? The average Osteopathic Physician salary in California is $225,133 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $176,994 and $291,250.
Is EDI analyst a good career? ›You must also be able to handle projects and collaborate with huge groups. An individual with a bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, or other computer-related fields is well-positioned for employment in this field. EDI Analysts earn between $54,000 and $139,000 yearly.
Do companies still use EDI? ›EDI Will Continue to Dominate B2B Data Transmission Well into the Future. Given today's unprecedented business environment, it is unsurprising that EDI's role as the key enabler of B2B transactions is under review. However, the reality is that EDI is a long-standing protocol that still works well for its users.
Is IT good to learn EDI? ›Learning about EDI can be a daunting task, so make sure you are choosing the online course that is best for you. EDI is instrumental in helping you exchange business documents faster and securely. This skill is essential in helping businesses increase in value by lowering costs and improving speed and accuracy.
What should EDI training include? ›- For Staff. Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education (HE) ...
- Promoting Inclusion. Available for all Staff. ...
- Bullying and Harassment. ...
- Active Bystander. ...
- Unconscious Bias Awareness. ...
- Equality Impact Analysis. ...
- Identifying and Responding to Student Mental Health Problems. ...
- Digital Accessibility.
What is EDI coding? ›
EDI, which stands for electronic data interchange, is the intercompany communication of business documents in a standard format. The simple definition of EDI is a standard electronic format that replaces paper-based documents such as purchase orders or invoices.
What are the types of EDI? ›- Direct EDI/Point-to-Point. Brought to prominence by Walmart, direct EDI, sometimes called point-to-point EDI, establishes a single connection between two business partners. ...
- EDI via VAN or EDI Network Services Provider. ...
- EDI via AS2. ...
- EDI via FTP/VPN, SFTP, FTPS. ...
- Web EDI. ...
- Mobile EDI. ...
- EDI Outsourcing. ...
- EDI Software.
A: The 4 major components of EDI are: standard document format, translation and mapping, preferred communication method and communication network to send and receive documents.
What type of business can use EDI? ›EDI has been used in the past primarily by automotive and retail businesses, however in the past few years, the format has been more widely adopted. Manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceutical, utility and construction companies are good examples of EDI clients.
What is the best example for EDI? ›1000s of standard business transaction documents can be sent automatically using EDI. Some common examples include: purchase orders, invoices, shipping statuses, customs information, inventory documents and payment confirmations.
Is EDI Big Data? ›In healthcare, most data is exchanged electronically between partners via EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), and “Big Data” is helping the industry become more efficient and productive. EDI originated because it provided a structured mechanism for sharing data between disparate organizations and systems.
What is an EDI consultant? ›An EDI consultant is an EDI expert who can help your business maximize the use and value of electronic data interchange (EDI). Most companies hire an EDI consultant on a temporary basis when initially implementing EDI. However, some keep an EDI expert on retainer to manage their EDI systems.
Is EDI part of SAP? ›EDI stands for Electronic Data Interchange. In SAP, EDI exchanges business application documents with an external partner's system. EDI is the backbone of huge parts of the world economy.
Is EDI a SAP technology? ›EDI stands for Electronic Data Interchange. EDI is a much older term and has been used in existence much before SAP. EDI is a generic technology that has been standardized using ANSI and EDIFACT standards. EDI is a very standard Industry standard used for business communication across partners.
What software is used for EDI? ›| Tools | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| GoAnywhere | Securely moving the data. | Get a quote. |
| Software AG | Automating B2B processes end to end. | Get a quote |
| Cleo | EDI mapping and API integration | Get a quote. |
| Progress MOVEit | Secure file transfer & automation | Get a quote |
Is it good to learn EDI? ›
Learning about EDI can be a daunting task, so make sure you are choosing the online course that is best for you. EDI is instrumental in helping you exchange business documents faster and securely. This skill is essential in helping businesses increase in value by lowering costs and improving speed and accuracy.
What is EDI skill? ›The term EDI stands for Electronic Data Interchange. It describes the electronic exchange of business documents. This is normally done in the form of structured data. Role Overview – EDI Specialist. EDI aims to exchange data from computer to computer with minimal or no human intervention.
Does Amazon use EDI or API? ›Amazon Vendor has long used Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to send and receive information about purchase orders, shipments and invoices. In Q2 2020, Amazon Vendor also launched an API, which is particularly suited to Direct Fulfillment Vendors, although the functionality of the two is roughly similar.
Which are the 2 main technologies replacing EDI? ›Instead, emerging technologies like IoT, blockchain-based networks and AI will drive those investments, with a unified platform for API and EDI transactions working alongside.
Is Oracle An EDI? ›Oracle Applications provides users with the ability to conduct business electronically between trading partners based on the Electronic Commerce standards and methodology. One form of Electronic Commerce is Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).
Is EDI part of supply chain? ›Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) can be considered the supply chain's first great disruptive digital technology. The quick and accurate exchange of supply chain EDI transactions has accelerated business and improved customer experience.
What EDI software does Amazon use? ›Connectivity for Amazon Vendors
This makes it easier for vendors to manage their inventory and keep track of their sales. Amazon supports two standards for EDI messages, EDIFACT and X12.
Known for Making EDI Painless since 1995, over 2,000 QuickBooks users utilize our Trading Partner Network, comprised of 92,000 trading partners. We make it easy to meet EDI mandates set by retailers, because our managed service provides mapping updates, maintenance and customer support at no additional charge.