Electronic Data Interchange and EDI software have been around for years, yet there are still many common misconceptions about the technology. For small businesses that have not yet integrated EDI with their system, you may have heard some popular myths concerning EDI. These myths may have even stopped you from pursuing EDI integration.
However, for small and medium-sized businesses, you’ll want to reconsider implementing an EDI solution for your business, as it can help you grow and streamline your B2B communication processes.
There are many benefits to implementing an EDI solution, so you’ll want to consider the technology for your small business. We’ll go over three common myths that many people come across to help dispel any apprehension you may have about adopting EDI integration software for your business.
Myth #1: EDI Is Too Expensive for Small Businesses
One of the biggest myths surrounding EDI has to do with costs. Many people incorrectly assume that EDI is too expensive for small businesses. While outsourcing for your EDI needs will cost your business money, you’ll make up that difference in other ways.
EDI integration solutions streamline systems and processes that lead to better efficiency and productivity. For manual entry of data and other forms of communication, you’ll need to have your employees spend their time on repetitive tasks that could be automated. As your business grows, having your employees spend their time on these tasks will be costly and hard to maintain.
Additionally, automated software, like EDI, eliminates the risk of errors. When you need to manually type in data and conduct document exchanges, there will inevitably be human errors. You’ll also need to account for the quality assurance steps your business needs to take in order to catch these errors. Quality assurance can easily eat up your time and resources on mundane and repetitive transactions.
Overall, implementing EDI for your small business ensures that your business is operating at optimal efficiency. As your business expands, it will also ensure that your systems and processes scale to growth. With EDI, you’ll be able to handle large data transfers and won’t lose out on opportunities with trade partners.
Myth #2: Implementing an EDI Solution is Too Complex and Time-Consuming
A lot of small businesses don’t have a lot of free time on their hands, as there are a limited number of employees who can put in the work. While that fact is true, many people might have encountered the myth that implementing EDI is not doable for small businesses due to its complexity and time-consuming nature.
The truth is that implementing an EDI solution for your business doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, you don’t even need to have an in-house professional to manage your EDI needs. For most small businesses, outsourcing this part of their business is the most practical option.
EDI providers will be able to get your EDI solution up and running promptly. Though large corporations’ EDI solutions may take many months or even years to fully implement, small businesses generally do not take much time to get started. At Integration, Inc., we can get your small business started in days or weeks.
Myth #3: APIs are More Suitable for Small Businesses Than EDI
You may have heard the myth that APIs are suited for small and medium-sized businesses, while EDI caters exclusively to large corporations. It’s true that large corporations use EDI technology to transfer large amounts of data.
However, EDI is perfectly suitable for small and medium-sized businesses as it can be scaled to grow with your needs. Many smaller businesses use EDI for their needs. Some businesses may even choose to use both API and EDI jointly, as they have their own pros and cons. Combining the two systems often gives businesses the best approach, as the two technologies are complementary.
If your small or medium-sized business is looking to boost efficiency and productivity, you’ll want to consider implementing an EDI integration solution. This solution can help automate tedious and repetitive tasks and streamline systems. However, there are some myths circulating about EDI for small businesses. You may have heard that EDI is too expensive, complex, and time-consuming for small businesses. This is untrue, as EDI can help you save money and grow your business. Our team can help you find the right EDI integration solution for your business, so get in touch with us.
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