Small business advisory: Launching and managing EDI doesn’t call for undue IT burden

Starting up an EDI initiative can be a costly and time-consuming project for small and midsize businesses with limited IT resources when it comes to managing the software, network services, and support necessary for EDI. Read here about options that can facilitate an EDI launch.

By Jim Fulcher, contributing editor (jimfulcher@comcast.net) January 20, 2009

Everyone appreciates the benefits of using EDI.
But starting up an EDI initiative can be a costly and time-consuming project for small and midsize businesses with limited IT resources when it comes to managing the software, network services, and support necessary for EDI. There are, however, several options for these companies.
One alternative is offered by True Commerce , known for delivering end-to-end EDI solutions. Designed for small to midsize companies, True Commerce EDI can be used with numerous accounting or business solutions, including Sage Software MAS 90/200/500, Microsoft Great Plains, SAP Business One, Sage ACCPAC, Intuit QuickBooks, and Peachtree.
That level of integration offers a great deal of benefit for companies like Swanson Tool , manufacturer and distributor of the Swanson Speed Square and other carpentry tools.
In 2005, Swanson Tool management wanted to replace an old EDI solution to cut labor costs and data-entry hours. With that solution, a little more than five hours were spent each day on duplicate data entry. After deploying True Commerce EDI that time has been reduced to just more than an hour each day, says Trena Julien, manager of the Frankfort, Ill.-based company.
“We wanted to eliminate duplicate effort, but we were pleased with the Sage MAS 90 ERP solution we had in place. So we searched for EDI solutions that integrated well with Sage,” Julien says. “The fact that True Commerce is a partner and has such a great business relationship with Sage played a huge factor in our decision process because we knew the True Commerce solution would be extremely compatible with the Sage solution.”
Currently, only Swanson Tool’s largest customers use EDI, but the number is growing, Julien says.
“We’ve significantly reduced the labor hours and data-entry errors associated with EDI by using the True Commerce solution,” Julien says. “It’s a big relief to know that we will be ready as demand for EDI continues to grow.”

“Users of Sage Accpac ERP can confidently add the benefits of True Commerce EDI functionality knowing that Sage has certified the solution as being well designed and supported.”
—John Kachaylo, VP, True Commerce

Additionally, True Commerce continues to further its relationship with companies such as Sage Software to incorporate additional user benefits. True Commerce recently announced its EDI solution has been exclusively certified as an Endorsed Solution for Sage Accpac ERP. True Commerce is the only EDI solution provider designated by Sage as an Endorsed Development Partner.
As such a partner, True Commerce’s EDI solution is exclusively certified and recommended by Sage Software for use with Sage MAS 90/200 ERP, MAS 500 ERP, Sage PFW ERP, and Peachtree by Sage, says John Kachaylo, a True Commerce VP. This new announcement extends this endorsement to include Sage Accpac ERP.
“Users of Sage Accpac ERP can confidently add the benefits of True Commerce EDI functionality knowing that Sage has certified the solution as being well designed and supported,” Kachaylo says.