Various forms of electronic file exchange have been in use since the 1960s. In the mid-1980s, what’s now known as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) was first introduced. It formalized the process of exchanging files in a structured, standard format. Over time, EDI has evolved to include a broader range of technologies under the umbrella of Electronic Commerce (EC).
EDI is used to some degree in nearly every industry. It has become widely adopted because it offers companies the ability to become more efficient and productive, and thereby more competitive. EDI gained wide acceptance during the 1990s, backed by strong mandates from the retail, manufacturing and transportation industries. Some industries have forced EDI compliance on their trading partners, while others are more casual about adopting the technology. Today’s global economy is putting more pressure on everyone to bring their costs down, and EDI is one way to reduce those costs. While EDI is the backbone of EC technology, it is by no means the only technology available for increasing productivity... |
