EDI
EDI is the automated exchange of structured business data between IT systems. Orders, despatch advices or invoice data are transmitted in an agreed, machine-readable format and can be processed further without being re-entered by hand.
Glossary
The terms that keep coming up in conversation.
Short, dependable explanations of EDI, e-invoicing and data integration – written for people who have a requirement on their desk right now.
EDI basics
EDIFACT
EDIFACT is an internationally standardised format for exchanging structured business data electronically. Messages such as orders, despatch advices or invoices follow a fixed syntax; which fields a trading partner actually uses and expects is set out in their implementation guideline.
FORTRAS
FORTRAS is a data exchange format widely used in German-speaking freight forwarding and groupage traffic. It carries consignment and bordero data as well as status messages between forwarders, cooperation partners and their systems.
SAP IDoc
An IDoc (Intermediate Document) is the format in which SAP systems exchange business data with other systems. It carries orders, deliveries or invoices, for example, into and out of an SAP system in structured form.
EDI messages
DESADV
DESADV is the EDIFACT message for an electronic despatch advice. It announces a shipment before it arrives and can represent the packaging structure of a delivery alongside article and quantity data.
INVOIC
INVOIC is the EDIFACT message for invoices and credit notes. It transmits invoice data in structured form so the recipient can check, match and process it automatically.
ORDERS
ORDERS is the EDIFACT message for electronic purchase orders. It transmits the order header, line items, quantities, dates and further agreed details in structured form into the supplier's system.
Transmission methods
AS2
AS2 is a standardised method for exchanging business data directly over HTTP. It supports signing, encryption and electronic delivery receipts, and is widely used for EDI connections between companies.
OFTP2
OFTP2 is a protocol for secure and reliable file exchange between companies. It was developed for the requirements of the automotive industry and is used there particularly often for EDI messages, CAD data and other business-critical files.
Invoice formats
XRechnung
XRechnung is a German standard for structured electronic invoices based on the European norm EN 16931. The invoice consists of structured XML data and is used above all for electronic invoicing with public-sector clients.
ZUGFeRD
ZUGFeRD is a hybrid e-invoicing format that combines a human-readable PDF rendering with structured XML invoice data in a single file. The same document can therefore be displayed and processed automatically.
Accounting
DATEV ASCII interface
The DATEV format is a standardised file format for exchanging accounting and master data with DATEV financial accounting. It is widely used to hand data from upstream systems such as merchandise management, invoicing or point-of-sale over to the accounts.