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Interactive EDI

 

In the realm of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), there is a concept called “Interactive EDI,” which refers to the direct exchange of EDI messages between two applications within a pre-programmed context. This type of interaction enables automatic and bidirectional communication between systems, without human intervention and without the need for a message transfer/reception network.

Elaboration:

Interactive EDI allows two applications to exchange EDI information directly and automatically within a predefined context. This approach is beneficial in situations where two systems need to communicate consistently and efficiently without involving manual user intervention.

Use case:

An example of using Interactive EDI can be found in the logistics industry. Let’s consider a scenario where a transportation company and a logistics company want to exchange information about shipments and delivery confirmations. Through Interactive EDI, the two applications can communicate directly by exchanging EDI messages containing details about transportation orders, routes, inventory, and other relevant information. This way, the collaboration process between the two companies is automated, eliminating errors and delays caused by manual intervention.

Example code:

import ediconnect

def process_order(order):
# Pre-programmed context for interactive EDI
if ediconnect.check_preprogrammed_context(order):
# Perform EDI exchange between the two applications
response = ediconnect.send_and_receive_edi(order)
return response
else:
return “Pre-programmed context not met. EDI exchange cannot be performed.”

order_data = {
‘order_number’: ‘12345’,
‘customer_ID’: ‘67890’,
# other order details…
}

result = process_order(order_data)
print(result)

Best Practices:

1. Clearly define and establish the pre-programmed context for the interactive EDI exchange between applications.
2. Ensure that both applications involved adhere to and utilize the same EDI message structure and format.
3. Implement validation and verification mechanisms for EDI messages to ensure data integrity and accuracy.
4. Monitor and log the exchange of EDI messages for auditing and troubleshooting purposes.
5. Use a robust and reliable EDI platform, such as EDIconnect, to facilitate and manage the interactive EDI interaction between applications.

To successfully implement Interactive EDI within EDI solutions, you can utilize the EDIconnect platform, an EDI solution provider. EDIconnect offers a comprehensive range of tools and services to help you integrate and manage the electronic data interchange in an interactive and automated manner between applications.