3 Things Your EDI Documentation May be Missing

However, preparing a thorough and detailed manual comes with experience. Effective Data consultants have compiled many customized training manuals for hundreds of companies. During company re-organizations or situations where you might lose your EDI employee, comprehensive documentation allows a company to continue their EDI efficiently and effectively, with little or no downtime during a transition.

Here’s a look at why documentation is essential, what to include, the most common mistake to avoid and more.

Make sure your documentation includes these three key elements
You’ll need a detailed overview of your entire inbound and outbound EDI landscape, including the platform you’re running on, the type of communication you’re using, and the type of database it connects to. It should summarize what you have, how to maintain and fix day-to-day issues, and how to add to your current solution—with screenshots. When Effective Data prepares your documentation for you, you’re assured that these and other critical details have been recorded.

There are many key components when compiling a comprehensive EDI documentation manual. Our EDI documentation includes how to set up your trading partner, easy onboarding instructions and integration, and how to troubleshoot errors. With Effective Data’s expertise, our consultants prepare detailed written documentation and screen shots for easy access and visibility. 

•  Trading partner profiles – Ensure this is as complete as possible. Record everything from the types of transactions the business uses (invoice, PO, ASN, etc.) to communication parameters, SKU master updates, ship-to locations and other unique details. The goal is to record everything proactively so you don’t have to chase it down later.
•  Onboarding – To expedite the process, make sure you have a complete, simple, step-by-step guide for your specific procedures. Even if you call us for assistance, having this information at your fingertips speeds things up because you’ll have the answers to the questions we’ll ask.
•  Troubleshooting instructions – When something goes wrong, you need to know what to do and how to fix it immediately. Often, companies forget to include support instructions when they write their own documentation.

Don’t make this common mistake
When creating their own documentation, many customers don’t think beyond their infrastructure. They forget to document external aspects of their environment, such as the trading partner portals and communication networks that hold their information. It is critical to record all these technical details.

Advantages of letting Effective Data prepare your documentation
We’ve prepared EDI documentation for numerous customers, providing a vital, thorough and accurate resource they wouldn’t have the time or expertise to create themselves.

Since documentation is part of our assessment process, we know what to document and how to map it out effectively and efficiently. We can use our proven template, or follow your company’s format and policies. We can also recommend the ideal place to store this essential information.

To create the full documentation you need to ensure smooth performance of your EDI solution, contact us.