EDI Terminology
Home Up

 

line4.gif (1057 bytes)

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is on the cutting edge of computer technology today.  Read through this quick glossary of EDI terminology and be up to speed . . .

Glossary of
EDI Terminology
EDI Glossary

 

ACHBusiness enterprise through which banking transactions are routed.
AIAGAutomotive Industry Action Group. An organization that designs and maintains EDI transaction sets for the automotive industry. Also the name of the X12 subset used by the automotive industry
ANSIAmerican national Standards Institute. An organization that maintains standards on many different topics.
ANSI ASC X12ANSI Accredited Standards Committee X12. The ANSI subcommittee appointed to develop standards for EDI in North America.
ASNAdvance Shipment Notice. The EDI document transmitted from a supplier to its customer to describe a pending shipment.
Business Process Re-engineeringThe modification of computer applications and related procedures in order to streamline processing.
Communications SoftwareSoftware to electronically link two computers for the exchange of information.
Compliance CheckingComparison of EDI data being sent or received with the applicable EDI standard. Normally part of the EDI translation process.
Data MappingProvides significant enhancement and transformation of data from multiple sources to multiple target formats. For example, converting a purchase order file in a proprietary format to a set of EDI purchase order transactions.
Data TransformationSee Data Mapping.
Data ConversionSee Data Mapping
DEX/UCSDirect Exchange UCS. EDI transaction sets used by the direct store delivery segment of the grocery industry.
DISAData Interchange Standards Association. The organization responsible for performing the administrative duties of the ANSI X12 subcommittee.
DownloadThe transfer of data from a large computer to a smaller computer used for front-end or back-end processing.
DSDDirect Store Delivery
EAGLEAn EDI standard developed and used by the hardware and houseware industry. Part of X12.
ECElectronic Commerce. The conducting of business through electronic means such as EDI, E-mail, fax and file transfer.
ECREfficient Consumer Response. Technologies, procedures and practices used in the grocery industry to eliminate supply chain waste and inefficiencies.
EDIElectronic Data Interchange. The computer-to-computer transfer of business transactions using standard, industry-accepted message formats.
EDI DocumentAn EDI transaction set.
EDI TranslatorSee translation software.
EDI VANSee Value Added Network.
EDIAElectronic Data Interchange Association. The organization that wrote the original UCS and WINS standards. It currently acts as Secretariat for the EDI standards for the Ocean, Rail, Motor and Air industries.
EDICAElectronic Data Interchange Council of Australia. The Australian EDI administrative organization.
EDICCElectronic Data Interchange Council of Canada. The Canadian EDI administrative organization.
EDIFACTEDI for Administration, Commerce and Transport. Also known as UN/EDIFACT. The international EDI standard developed through the United Nations and administered in the U.S. by DISA.
EDXElectrical Industry Data Exchange. The organization which develops EDI data requirements for the electrical industry and represents the industry regarding maintenance of the X12 standard.
EFTElectronic Funds Transfer. Computerized systems for processing transactions between financial institutions. The electronic transfer of funds through the banking system.
E-formElectronic Form. Usually refers to a computerized version of a paper form.
EIDXElectronics Industry Data Exchange. The organization which develops EDI data requirements for the electronics industry and represents the industry regarding maintenance of the X12 standard.
Electronic CommerceSee EC
EncryptionA procedure for scrambling data to make it indecipherable to an outside observer. The receiver of the encrypted data must use a decryption procedure to unscramble the data.
FileA collection of related records which serves as a basic unit of storage in a computer system.
Financial EDIEDI activity that supports financial activities such as billing, paying, and reconciliation.
Functional AcknowledgmentAn EDI transaction set sent to acknowledge the receipt of a prior transaction set.
GAS*FLOWThe mission of the Natural Gas Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Pilot was to bring together a group of companies performing different roles in the transportation of natural gas to test and validate the use of the GAS*FLOW EDI Implementation Guide.
HubLarger organizations that encourage their paper-based business partners to begin using EDI. Wal-Mart and General Mills are examples of hubs.
HCFAHealth Care Finance Administration. Government agency responsible for implementing laws relative to medicare and medicaid transaction and information reporting.
Implementation GuideA publication that documents the EDI messages used by a particular industry or company.
Integrated EDIAn approach to EDI implementation requiring no human involvement in the computer-to-computer exchange of data.
InterconnectThe transmission of EDI data from one VAN to another. Enables trading partners to use different VANs.
ISOInternational Standards organization. An organization that works with the UN to maintain the standards for all applications of technology and mechanics for furthering global industry.
Just-In-TimeAlso JIT. A business approach that assures the receipt of a product at a manufacturing site just in time to be used in the manufacturing process.
KitAn EDI software solution that has been pre-configured according to the EDI specification of a hub organization in order to simplify EDI implementation.
LANLocal Area Network. A network of computers that enables access to the same computer software and files from all locations.
MailboxA file storage area where data is placed until it can be retrieved by the intended receiver.
MappingSee data mapping.
NEX/UCSNetwork Exchange UCS. Refers to EDI transaction sets used in the direct store delivery segment of the grocery industry.
OdetteAn EDI standard used by the European automotive industry.
PIDXPetroleum Industry Data Exchange. The organization which develops EDI data requirements for the petroleum industry and represent the industry regarding maintenance of the X12 standard.
Point to PointRefers to a type of communication where messages are sent directly from one trading partner to another without the use of a VAN.
Point of SaleAlso POS. A computer application that enables the seller to collect product identification information at the time of sale.
Proprietary Data FormatA format that does not comply with X12 or EDIFACT standards. Usually a data format specific to a company or application.
Proprietary StandardsIndustry specific or company specific data formats that do not comply with X12 or EDIFACT standards.
ProtocolA set of conventions between communication devices that validates the format and content of messages to be exchanged, and controls the communication session.
Quick ResponseAlso QR. Refers to technologies, procedures and practices used in the retail industry to eliminate supply chain waste and inefficiencies.
Re-engineeringThe modification of computer applications and related procedures in order to streamline processing.
StandardSomething established for use as a rule. Within EDI, the agreed-to format for exchanging business transactions.
Stand-alone EDIAn approach to EDI implementation where the EDI software is not linked to computer applications.
TDCCTransportation Data Coordinating Committee. The organization within the U.S. originally responsible for developing EDI and furthering its growth.
TradacomsMessage standards for data interchange between major UK retailers and suppliers.
Trading PartnerA customer, supplier or other partner with whom business is conducted using EDI.
Transaction SetThe EDI equivalent of a complete business documents such as an invoice, a purchase order, or a remittance advice.
Translation SoftwareA program used to convert data to and from EDI formats.
UCCUniform Code Council. The organization that administers the UPC symbols and other retail bar code and retail standards.
UCSUniform Communication Standard. An EDI standard designed for and used by trading partners within the grocery industry.
UPCUniversal Product Code. A code that uniquely identifies a product. Used extensively in the retail and grocery industries.
VANValue-added Network.
VICSVoluntary Inter-industry Communication Standard. A committee active in EDI on behalf of the retail industry. Also the name of standards (now part of X12) that were developed by that group.
WINSWarehouse Information Network Standard. A standard developed to support warehouse applications. Now part of X12.
X12 StandardA public EDI implementations widely used in North America. The standard incorporates many industry-related standards such as VICS, WINS, AIAG, PIDX, EIDX and UCS.
Year 2000A set of issues pertaining to the format of dates when 19 cannot be assumed to be the first two digits of the year.
 

   Copyright 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 EnviroTech Financial, Inc. (714) 532-2731