Advanced Issues


Quality Control: EDI can be viewed as a series of interconnected programs. It's critical that your EDI system work in concert with your other internal systems, and with external systems like VANs and other trading partners. The quality control process must address these interconnection issues.

Test Data: Companies are available that can create test data to validate your EDI system once it is up and running. The test data should have known inaccuracies in it so your system can be validated. You should use test transactions when adding a new application, working with a new trading partner, working with a new internal department, or any time a significant change occurs in your system design.

Reality Checking: Once the testing is complete you should plan on a "reality check" process to ensure your system is actually doing what you intend once you and your trading partners are online. This area is often referred to as "modeling".