High Level EDI Business Flow

Various documents need to be exchanged during the lifecycle of a business transaction. A generic flow is shown below, this focuses on the business processes, not a particular EDI implementation (we'll get to that later).

There may be other communication, for example business process/contracts may dictate that all changes are requested and approved by email prior to the ERP systems being modified.

Example Business Flow

• Buyer (customer) creates a purchase order (PO)
• PO is sent to supplier via EDI
• Supplier loads a Sale Order in response to the PO, with optional changes.
• Supplier acknowledges PO (with any changes)
• Buyer changes quantity of a line (part)
• Buyer-initiated Change Request is sent to supplier via EDI
• Supplier implements or rejects changes
• Supplier sends summary of changes/rejects to buyer via EDI
• Supplier needs to delete a line as they can no longer supply
• Supplier sends supplier-initiated change request to buyer/customer via EDI
• Buyer receives change request and implement or rejects changes
• Supplier ships material
• Supplier sends an Advance Ship Notice (shipping manifest) via EDI
• Supplier sends invoice via EDI