Overview
EDI Exchange enables the EDI communication with customers and trading partners for Infor applications that are connected to ION. It facilitates the transformation of standard EDI messages to BOD messages and reverse. EDI Exchange can be used in non-automotive, discrete order-based business processes.
EDI Exchange receives EDI messages from customers and trading partners. EDI Exchange transforms an EDI message from a customer into a BOD message and forwards it to ION. An ERP system that is connected to ION receives the BOD message and processes it. On the other hand, EDI Exchange transforms BOD messages from ERP applications that are connected to ION into standard EDI messages that are sent to customers.
EDI Exchange includes these functional areas:
- Transformation Services
- Shipping
- Compliance
- Administrative Functions
- Exchange Services
Transformation Services
Transformation Services is the universal message transformation engine of the application.
Transformation Services enables you to manage and monitor the automatic EDI communication with your customers and trading partners according to the requirements of their business processes. If required, messages can be imported, edited, and adjusted manually.
Transformation Services transforms messages that contain
structured data from one format into another format. Structured data are BOD
messages, EDI messages, or files of special formats such as XML and other structured data formats.
You can set up rules for the transformation of data and messages for
specific trading partners and business processes. The core transformation is based
on and controlled by XSLT style sheets. An XSLT style sheet is defined for a message type, a
message standard, and a trading partner.
Transformation Services uses Exchange Services for the EDI communication with external trading partners. Additionally, the classical file system can be used to exchange messages.
Shipping
Shipping is the solution for shipping and foreign trade. This functional area covers the comprehensive requirements in export, shipping, and carrier business.
Shipping imports shipment information and commercial and proforma invoice information from the connected ERP system. The imported information is shown in the Shipping area and processed according to the configured workflow. As one step of the workflow the information is used to print documents and labels, for example, barcode labels, waybills, and advance ship notices. If required, you can edit shipments, warehouse containers, packaging instructions, and the packaging of shipments. Missing information can be added manually.
Shipping exports the processed data to Transformation Services. There, it is transformed into the trading partner's preferred EDI format and transferred to the connected OEM system through Exchange Services.
Compliance
You must ensure that no financial transactions take place with persons or organizations listed on sanctions lists. No goods may be delivered to these persons or organizations.
Therefore, you must check these lists after each update of a list and you must document these checks. Checking the sanctions lists manually is a time-consuming and error-prone process.
To simplify this process, the Compliance area monitors names and addresses of companies and persons. It checks each address against all important international anti-terror sanctions lists. The Compliance area updates the lists and automatically performs and writes the verification results into a log file. If there are matching addresses, then a warning is generated.
Administrative Functions
In , you can manage additional data and master data that are used by the functional areas Transformation Services and Shipping.
Additional data is stored in code lists and codes. These code lists and codes are exclusively used by the application to configure business processes for special trading partners. Code lists and codes represent data that is required to run the application properly. This information is not contained in BOD messages that are processed by the application and is not provided by an ERP system.
Usually, master data is automatically imported from an ERP system. Sometimes, special master data cannot be provided by the ERP system. This information can be stored and managed in the area. You can add, for example, the preferential trade agreement, the preference criterion, the commodity code, and the customs procedure to the item master. The information is used by the Shipping area to process and print export-related documents.
You can also use the master data management as a stand-alone solution. For example: For packaging material that cannot be imported from the ERP system, you can create and manage your own item master data.
Additionally, you can manage print jobs, scheduled jobs, sequential numbering, users, accounting entities, locations, roles and permissions.
Exchange Services
Exchange Services is used to manage and monitor the EDI message exchange between external trading partners and applications that are connected to Infor ION.
Exchange Services sends outbound EDI messages from Transformation Services to external business partners, receives inbound EDI messages from trading partners, sends them to Transformation Services, and polls for data.
Exchange Services supports different protocols such as FTP, FTPS, OFTP, OFTP2, AS2, and X.400 for ISDN. OFTP and OFTP2 are available for ISDN and TCP/IP connections. OFTP2 supports high-speed internet connections and offers enhanced options for a secured data exchange.