{"id":9464,"date":"2023-09-01T08:45:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T08:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/"},"modified":"2025-04-14T11:37:55","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T11:37:55","slug":"edi-shipping","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/","title":{"rendered":"EDI Shipping: A Comprehensive Guide for Ecommerce Businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-toc single-toc\" data-controller=\"blog-toc-controller\" data-action=\"scroll@window-&gt;blog-toc-controller#scrollChanged:passive\" id=\"toc-component\"><div class=\"single-toc-overview\"><p>Table of Contents<\/p><div class=\"single-toc-read-time\"><p>** Minutes<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"#\">What is EDI shipping?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#\">Understanding EDI in ecommerce shipping<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#\">Important EDI documents<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#\">6 benefits of EDI in shipping and logistics<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#\">Challenges and complexities of EDI shipping<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#\">How to ensure safe and secure EDI transactions<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#\">The future of EDI in shipping and logistics<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#h-edi-shipping-faqs\">EDI shipping FAQs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>EDI shipping solutions have been around for decades, but the benefits have them are often unknown to business owners in ecommerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Countless ecommerce organizations use EDI shipping. Not taking the time to understand how it can enhance your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/shipping-strategy-can-improve-customer-loyalty\/\">shipping strategy<\/a> means missing out on an invaluable competitive edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this crash course on EDI freight and logistics processes, we\u2019ll dive deep into these widely used workflows and technologies so you can leverage them to in your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/ecommerce-shipping\/\">ecommerce shipping<\/a> operations. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is EDI shipping?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>EDI shipping and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/edi-fulfillment\/\">EDI fulfilment<\/a> allow for data transfer between partners to fast, efficient, and error-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>EDI (electronic data interchange) refers to a technological system designed to exchange business documents in a standardized electronic format. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are just a few of the documents EDI can manage and share in the shipping and logistics industry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Invoices and advance ship notices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Payment documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/shipping-documents\/\">Shipping documents<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inventory documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/customs-clearance\/\">Customs<\/a> documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shipping details<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Warehouse details<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bills of lading<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Purchase orders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When one entity sends an order or makes a request, the EDI technology instantly creates and uploads the necessary documents to the receiver\u2019s system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding EDI in ecommerce shipping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The efficacy of EDI shipping comes from the standardized electronic formats that all users have adopted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When all vendors, shippers, retailers, and logistics providers use the same operational system, information transfers seamlessly from one entity\u2019s system to another\u2019s database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The EDI workflow can be broken down into three simple steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Data preparation:<\/strong> Businesses use a standardized format to prepare electronic documents (e.g., purchase orders, invoices) for exchange.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sending:<\/strong> Next, the documents are sent from your EDI solution to the recipient \u200c across a secure electronic channel. This process occurs automatically and requires zero human input.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Acknowledgment and integration: <\/strong>Messages are validated, and acknowledgments are sent to confirm receipt. Errors are automatically flagged for review. The data is then automatically integrated into the recipient&#8217;s back-end systems.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Manually performing this workflow would likely take hours and involve multiple personnel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With EDI shipping technology, you can accelerate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orderful.com\/edi-blog\/edi-invoices\">invoice sending and receiving<\/a>, removing friction from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/ecommerce-supply-chain\/\">ecommerce supply chain <\/a>and expediting fulfilment processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Important EDI documents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>EDI freight and shipping solutions rely on a set of standardized EDI documents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are dozens of documents, each serving a specific function. Some of the most common EDI documents you\u2019ll encounter include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Purchase Order (EDI 850):<\/strong> A purchase order is a foundational EDI document sent by a buyer to order a specific number and type of goods at an agreed price.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orderful.com\/edi-blog\/edi-855\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Purchase Order Acknowledgement (EDI 855)<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A seller sends an EDI 855 to confirm that they\u2019ve received and processed their buyer\u2019s purchase order.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advanced Ship Notice (EDI 856):<\/strong> The seller sends an advanced shipping notice, or ASN, to allow the buyer to confirm all details before the cargo is shipped.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Invoice (EDI 810):<\/strong> In addition to an EDI 855, the seller will also send the buyer an invoice. EDI 810 outlines the charges due and includes repayment terms, such as \u201cpayment due upon receipt.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bill of Lading (EDI 211):<\/strong> An EDI 211 is equivalent to a paper Motor Courier Bill of Lading. The shipper sends this to the courier and provides a description of the delivery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Functional Acknowledgement (EDI 997):<\/strong> The payee or shipper sends a functional acknowledgment in response to each transaction request.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Payment Order\/Remittance Advice (EDI 820):<\/strong> Payers use EDI 820 to provide sellers with information about pending payments.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>The EDI documents you need depend on your position within the supply chain, the trade partners you work with, and the vertical you operate in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6 benefits of EDI in shipping and logistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Integrating EDI transportation and shipping processes into your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/retail-channel-strategy\/\">ecommerce strategy<\/a> can yield a multitude of benefits, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-efficiency\">1. Efficiency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Efficiency is the biggest benefit of EDI shipping solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Exchanging paper documents requires a significant amount of manual input. Your team members must fax or scan and email paper documents, wasting valuable time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, EDI lets you automate data entry and optimise efficiency in your supply chain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>EDI solutions send and receive documents almost instantly while consolidating your order data in a secure and centralised location.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-cost-savings\">2. Cost savings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>EDI shipping is also beneficial for your budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Manual ordering and invoicing strategies are tedious and labour-intensive, distracting your team from more dynamic tasks and leading to labour waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you implement EDI-based processes, you can drastically reduce labour costs related to invoice and purchase <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/automated-order-processing\/\">order processing<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also slash your document management expenses, as you\u2019ll no longer have to process, manage, retain, and organise hundreds of physical documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-reduced-errors\">3. Reduced errors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>EDI shipping solutions remove the need for manual data entry, transforming your workflows and reducing the risk of data entry errors. EDI helps ensure you and your partners receive accurate, timely shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, minimising errors facilitates an enhanced experience for your end-consumers. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/inventory-kpis\/stockout-costs\/\">prevent stockouts<\/a>, inventory shortages, or mispicked shipments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/order-accuracy\/\">Order accuracy<\/a> is important, since it improves your brand image and helps you achieve your growth goals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-improved-inventory-management\">4. Improved inventory management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you manually manage invoices, purchase orders, and other documents, you\u2019re constantly working with information that\u2019s days or even weeks old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inaccurate or outdated data causes delays, mis-managed inventory, and stockouts \u2014 all bad news for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With EDI shipping solutions, you can access <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/inventory-management\/real-time\/\">real-time inventory<\/a> and order data. These insights will help you maintain an adequate supply of goods, avoid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/overstocking\/\">overstocking,<\/a> and strengthen your cash flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To maximise visibility across your entire organisation, ensure your EDI system is integrated with your other software solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When your applications are fully integrated, you can create a unified communication hub for all your shipping, ordering, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/ecommerce-logistics\/logistics-operations\/\">logistics operations<\/a>. The result is a far more efficient and agile business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-reduced-waste\">5. Reduced waste<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In recent years, the logistics industry has made a concerted effort to reduce its carbon footprint and produce less waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>EDI shipping and logistics technology play a vital role in decreasing waste production. When you go digital, you can drastically reduce your paper consumption, as you\u2019ll no longer have to create, distribute and store physical documents.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By taking the digital approach, you can also tap into auxiliary cost savings since you\u2019ll no longer have to expend resources performing the following tasks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Buying paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Managing physical documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recycling invoices and other paper documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mailing <a href=\"https:\/\/visme.co\/blog\/invoice-vs-receipt\">invoices, receipts<\/a>, and purchase orders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your organisation is committed to going green, EDI shipping is a valuable addition to your initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-enhanced-partner-relations\">6. Enhanced partner relations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to nurture positive relationships with your partners, strive to make interactions with your company as frictionless as possible. EDI solutions help you do just that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With EDI, you can convey messages instantly, improve business efficiency, and more effectively serve your partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They can also quickly relay information to your business, place orders, make purchases, and get the resources they need to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you and your vendor partners use EDI, everyone wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Challenges and complexities of EDI shipping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>EDI shipping is convenient and widely used, but that doesn&#8217;t mean it&#8217;s a flawless solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite being the most pragmatic way to manage your shipping and other logistical workflows, EDI presents its fair share of shortcomings, including the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Costs and complexity&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest drawback to EDI shipping is the associated costs and complexities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To set up and maintain your system, you must purchase a software license, implement the EDI technology, and integrate it with your other solutions. This process can take several months and place \u200csignificant demands on your IT team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you operate a smaller business with a less robust IT department, you may have to bring in outside resources to facilitate your integration. Doing so will compound the costs of implementing EDI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even when your system is up and running, you\u2019ll need to continuously devote resources to it to keep it functioning as designed. These ongoing maintenance costs will yield a strong return, but you must be aware of them before jumping to EDI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Compatibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Although EDI documents are considered \u201cstandardized,\u201d you may still encounter cross-compatibility issues. Each business may require different fields and accept different data within the same document formats, leading to integration roadblocks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These differences often require organizations to build and maintain separate integrations with each of their partners. Additionally, each partner may require a different method of securely communicating, requiring additional infrastructure that will need to be built and maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, EDI documents are continuously updated. Even if you and your partner use documents from the same platform, you may not have the same version of each file. Compatibility issues may arise if you\u2019re using the newest document version and they\u2019re using last year\u2019s variant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Data privacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Amid rampant cyberattacks, businesses are rightfully concerned about data security.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To engage in EDI shipping and logistics, you need to create a connection between your network and your vendor partners\u2019 networks. If not properly managed, these network connections can leave your IT infrastructure vulnerable to attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that in mind, it\u2019s crucial to implement clear protocols for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atera.com\/blog\/rmm-for-internal-it-departments\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">maintaining your IT infrastructure<\/a> and network. Adhere to the latest cybersecurity best practices,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/nordvpn.com\/blog\/phishing-detection\/\">like better phishing detection<\/a><strong>,<\/strong> and maintain modern protective software, such as firewalls and <a href=\"https:\/\/cybernews.com\/best-antivirus-software\/antivirus-for-windows-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">anti-virus solutions for Windows<\/a> or macOS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, you must rigorously vet your trade partners. Before engaging in EDI shipping with a trading partner, it\u2019s important to confirm that they take cybersecurity seriously.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to ensure safe and secure EDI transactions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to reap the benefits of EDI shipping transactions without exposing your organisation to undue cybersecurity risks, be sure to check the following boxes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Select a secure EDI protocol<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A suitable EDI protocol lays the foundation for fast, efficient, and secure data-sharing between your business and trading partners. Although there are many different protocols available, three of the most common and secure are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>HTTP\/HTTPS: <\/strong>Hypertext Transfer Protocol and the extension Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure are two of the most widely used security protocols for EDI because they can be encrypted using a variety of solutions, including TLS or SSL. That said, they aren\u2019t as reliable or robust as the other security protocols outlined below.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AS2 (Applicability Statement 2): <\/strong>AS2 operates over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssl2buy.com\/wiki\/http-vs-https\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HTTP or HTTPS<\/a> protocols but offers greater reliability and security. It uses encryption and digital certificates to safeguard your data during transfer.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>FTP\/FTPS:<\/strong> File Transfer Protocol offers better reliability than HTTP and HTTPS at the cost of simplicity. File Transfer Protocol Secure and Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) are secure versions with distinct strengths and ideal use cases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your chosen protocol profoundly impacts the security of your EDI shipping connections. As such, you should carefully assess each option before settling on a protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clarify and establish policies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When implementing new technologies and work processes, you must create policies to govern them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same rule applies to EDI shipping. Provide your staff with clear, easy-to-follow procedures for EDI so they understand expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your policy should outline which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orderful.com\/edi-blog\/what-edi-transactions-do-your-trading-partners-require\">EDI transactions<\/a> each trading partner requires. By providing clear guidance on who needs which documents, you can optimise your information-sharing strategy and increase the ROI of your EDI technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Implement access control infrastructure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Leading EDI technologies include built-in access control infrastructure, allowing you to restrict who can view or alter your data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use these solutions to limit access to your EDI system based on each user\u2019s role and permissions within the organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For greater security and control, consider requiring two-factor or multi-factor authentication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These require users to pass through multiple layers of verification before they can access your network. For instance, they may have to provide a password and scan their ID badge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch out for suspicious and unauthorized activity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Conduct regular audits of your EDI technology to identify any unusual activity or suspicious orders early on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During an audit, your team should look for any activities that deviate from expected trends, such as unusually large purchases or unrecognized transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maintaining the security of your EDI processes requires a proactive approach. You\u2019ll therefore need to conduct <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getastra.com\/blog\/security-audit\/penetration-testing-providers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">regular security testing<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of these tests, your IT team should attempt to pinpoint vulnerabilities within your digital infrastructure and remedy them before bad actors access your network.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The future of EDI in shipping and logistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>EDI technology has been a staple of the shipping and logistics space for decades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although there have been significant advancements in other logistics technologies, such as transportation and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/warehouse-management\/warehouse-management-system-wms\/\">warehouse management systems<\/a>, EDI in shipping solutions has continued to be custom-built, cumbersome, and slow to implement.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To stay competitive, ecommerce businesses need to focus on maintaining <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/supply-chain-agility\/\">supply chain agility<\/a> by sourcing a shipping and logistics partner with a more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orderful.com\/\">modern approach to EDI<\/a> that gets them to market with new customers and suppliers in days rather than weeks or months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A modern approach reduces EDI\u2019s complexities, allowing companies to integrate their backend systems using more modern development technologies, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orderful.com\/edi-blog\/json-to-edi-a-much-better-approach-for-edi-integration\">APIs that use JSON<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It eliminates the need to build custom integrations for each partner and properly convert data to the required EDI format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As ecommerce solutions evaluate new shipping and logistics solutions, they should ask upfront about EDI capabilities, resources needed, and the time it will take to go live with new trading partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Orderful offers EDI solutions for the ecommerce businesses to optimise logistical workflows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When combined with ShipBob&#8217;s EDI fulfilment technology, online businesses are able to supercharge their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/multichannel-retailing\/\">multichannel retail<\/a> strategy by integrating their storefront with different retailers and marketplaces to create a seamless fulfilment and shipping operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-blog is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cLearning to tailor our sales strategy, marketing, and packaging to each retailer\u2019s requirements has been a challenge, but that\u2019s where ShipBob really comes in handy. ShipBob is EDI-compliant with dozens of popular retailers, and their API integrations make it possible for them to fulfil orders according to each retailer&#8217;s compliance guidelines.\u201d <\/p>\n<cite>Aaron Patterson, COO of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/blog\/adventure-challenge\/\">The Adventure Challenge<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>To discover how your brand can leverage ShipBob&#8217;s EDI-powered B2B fulfilment solution to automate and streamline your B2B channels, click the button below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/b2b-quote\/\">Request b2B fulfilment pricing<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-edi-shipping-faqs\">EDI shipping FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are answers to the most common questions about EDI shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 class=\"single-faq-title\">What types of businesses can benefit from using EDI in shipping and logistics?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div>\n\n<p>Any retailer, courier, or logistics entity can benefit from EDI shipping processes and technologies.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 class=\"single-faq-title\">How is an EDI in shipping different from a paper invoice?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div>\n\n<p>EDI serves as a replacement for paper-based invoices and purchase orders. Instead of managing physical documents, shippers, couriers, and retailers can conduct all transactions digitally.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 class=\"single-faq-title\">What is the difference between EDI and EDIFACT?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div>\n\n<p>EDI and EDIFACT are quite similar in terms of capabilities and function. However, EDIFACT is mainly used in Asia and Europe. Conversely, EDI is primarily used in the United States and other North American nations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 class=\"single-faq-title\">Is EDI shipping feasible for businesses of all sizes?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div>\n\n<p>For the most part, yes. Most businesses, including small and medium-sized companies, can implement EDI shipping. However, there are exceptions, such as small companies that have an antiquated tech stack and no room in their budget to upgrade.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 class=\"single-faq-title\">How long does it typically take to implement an EDI system in a shipping or logistics operation?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div>\n\n<p>Implementing an EDI system can take 30&ndash;60 days or more, depending on various factors, including your organisation&rsquo;s size and the IT resources you have in place. Implementation may take longer if you encounter technology compatibility issues or other challenges.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ready to take ecommerce operation efficiency to the next level? Here\u2019s what you need to know about EDI shipping.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":253,"featured_media":9466,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"blogcategories":[9,13,14],"class_list":["post-9464","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blogcategories-logistics","blogcategories-shipping","blogcategories-supply-chain"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.5 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>EDI Shipping: How Does EDI Work in Shipping and Fulfillment?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ready to take ecommerce operation efficiency to the next level? Here\u2019s what you need to know about EDI shipping.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"EDI Shipping: A Comprehensive Guide for Ecommerce Businesses\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ready to take ecommerce operation efficiency to the next level? Here\u2019s what you need to know about EDI shipping.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ShipBob Australia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-14T11:37:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2023\/09\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/blog\\\/edi-shipping\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/blog\\\/edi-shipping\\\/\",\"name\":\"EDI Shipping: How Does EDI Work in Shipping and Fulfillment?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/blog\\\/edi-shipping\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/blog\\\/edi-shipping\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/33\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-01T08:45:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-14T11:37:55+00:00\",\"description\":\"Ready to take ecommerce operation efficiency to the next level? Here\u2019s what you need to know about EDI shipping.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/blog\\\/edi-shipping\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/blog\\\/edi-shipping\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/blog\\\/edi-shipping\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/33\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/33\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg\",\"width\":1400,\"height\":560,\"caption\":\"Shipping Cargo Container.Trailer Truck Parked Loading Package Boxes at Dock Warehouse. Cargo Shipment. Supply Chain. Industry Freight Truck Transportation. Shipping Warehousing Logistics.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/blog\\\/edi-shipping\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"EDI Shipping: A Comprehensive Guide for Ecommerce Businesses\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/\",\"name\":\"ShipBob Australia\",\"description\":\"Just another ShipBob Network site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"EDI Shipping: How Does EDI Work in Shipping and Fulfillment?","description":"Ready to take ecommerce operation efficiency to the next level? Here\u2019s what you need to know about EDI shipping.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"EDI Shipping: A Comprehensive Guide for Ecommerce Businesses","og_description":"Ready to take ecommerce operation efficiency to the next level? Here\u2019s what you need to know about EDI shipping.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/","og_site_name":"ShipBob Australia","article_modified_time":"2025-04-14T11:37:55+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1400,"height":560,"url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2023\/09\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/","name":"EDI Shipping: How Does EDI Work in Shipping and Fulfillment?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2023\/09\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg","datePublished":"2023-09-01T08:45:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-14T11:37:55+00:00","description":"Ready to take ecommerce operation efficiency to the next level? Here\u2019s what you need to know about EDI shipping.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-AU","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2023\/09\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2023\/09\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg","width":1400,"height":560,"caption":"Shipping Cargo Container.Trailer Truck Parked Loading Package Boxes at Dock Warehouse. Cargo Shipment. Supply Chain. Industry Freight Truck Transportation. Shipping Warehousing Logistics."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"EDI Shipping: A Comprehensive Guide for Ecommerce Businesses"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/","name":"ShipBob Australia","description":"Just another ShipBob Network site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-AU"}]}},"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"EDI Shipping: A Comprehensive Guide for Ecommerce Businesses","url":"http:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/edi-shipping\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2023\/09\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg?w=160","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2023\/09\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg"},"articleSection":"Uncategorized","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Erik Kiser"}],"creator":["Erik Kiser"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"ShipBob Australia","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2023-09-01T08:45:00Z","datePublished":"2023-09-01T08:45:00Z","dateModified":"2025-04-14T11:37:55Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"headline\":\"EDI Shipping: A Comprehensive Guide for Ecommerce Businesses\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/blog\\\/edi-shipping\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/blog\\\/edi-shipping\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/33\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg?w=160\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/33\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/380fbbffdd601e77c56576cf75c128ec.jpg\"},\"articleSection\":\"Uncategorized\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Erik Kiser\"}],\"creator\":[\"Erik Kiser\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"ShipBob Australia\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[],\"dateCreated\":\"2023-09-01T08:45:00Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-01T08:45:00Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-14T11:37:55Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/shipbob.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/9464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/253"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/9464\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19785,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/9464\/revisions\/19785"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blogcategories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blogcategories?post=9464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}