In this post I will review how electronic data interchange (EDI) is used in fulfillment. Fulfillment is the process of filling orders by picking ordered product from inventory and shipping it to the buyer. Fulfillment is what Amazon does when you buy a product on their web site. The interactions between the buyer and seller vary depending on whether the buyer is a consumer (B2C) or a business (B2B). For consumer purchases, the order is usually accepted through an online store or app.

If you work with data integration in any kind of supply chain related role, it’s likely you will encounter electronic data interchange (EDI). Although EDI is an older technology which is gradually being replaced by alternatives like application programming interfaces (APIs), it’s still very commonly used in the supply chain and logistics domains. There are a huge number of legacy EDI implementations that are driving some of the worlds largest supply chains.

In the modern workplace, data integration skills can help you supercharge your career. Regardless of what kind of job you have, it’s likely you will be working with some kind of software. It might be a cloud billing system, an appointment scheduling system, warehouse software, or even just email. Most software applications are driven by data inputs and outputs. If you have even basic competency with data integration, it can open up many opportunities for you to automate tasks and leverage data to solve business problems.

It’s clear that we are living in a data-driven world. Our steady transition toward highly digitalized lives is making data a key asset in the modern economy. When we go online to make purchases, consume content, or share on social media, we are generating valuable data. Many of the largest tech companies are now operating on business models that depend on leveraging data. However none of that is possible without data integration.