EDI software — modern electronic data interchange platform for B2B
In short: EDI software automates the exchange of purchase orders, invoices, dispatch advices and other B2B documents between trading partners' IT systems. EDIconnect EDI software is a cloud, browser-based platform with 30+ pre-built retailer connections, 40+ ERP integrations, AS2/OFTP2/PEPPOL support and pricing from €24/month.
Key capabilities
- Cloud-based, no install: Runs entirely in your browser. Zero on-premise footprint, no client to deploy on operator workstations.
- 30+ retailer templates: Kaufland, Carrefour, Lidl, Auchan, Metro, Mega Image, Selgros, Cora, Dedeman, eMAG and more, pre-mapped.
- 40+ ERP connectors: SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle NetSuite, WinMentor, Charisma, Senior, Odoo, SAGE — native or REST API.
- All EDIFACT / X12 messages: ORDERS, ORDRSP, DESADV, RECADV, INVOIC, REMADV, PRICAT, INVRPT + X12 850/855/856/810/820/832.
- Full audit & 10-year archive: MDN receipts, digital signatures, encrypted archive for tax audit and reconciliation.
- Multi-tenant, role-based: Unlimited users per company, roles (admin, operator, accountant), granular per-document permissions.
What modern EDI software actually does
EDI software sits between your ERP and your trading partners. Inbound, it receives EDI messages (ORDERS from a retailer, for example), validates them against the partner's specification, converts them to a format your ERP understands, and injects them via API or file drop. Outbound, it takes documents from your ERP (invoices, dispatch advices), converts them to the required EDI format, signs and encrypts them, and transmits them via the protocol the partner requires (AS2, OFTP2, SFTP, PEPPOL).
Modern cloud EDI software also handles trading-partner onboarding, exception management, retries, MDN reconciliation, archiving, and monitoring — all in a single dashboard. This is why suppliers moving from custom scripts + email to a real EDI platform typically cut order-to-cash cycle time by 40-60% and eliminate 95%+ of manual data-entry errors.
How to choose EDI software
A pragmatic checklist for EDI software selection:
- Coverage: does it already have templates for the retailers/partners you need to connect?
- ERP fit: is there a native connector for your ERP, or a well-documented REST API?
- Protocol support: AS2 (retail), OFTP2 (automotive), SFTP, PEPPOL (EU e-invoicing), VAN (legacy).
- Standards coverage: EDIFACT (Europe), X12 (US), UBL 2.1 (PEPPOL), ODETTE (automotive).
- Deployment model: cloud/SaaS (fast, low cost) vs on-premise (control, high cost).
- Total cost of ownership over 3 years, including onboarding new partners.
Frequently asked questions
What is EDI software?
EDI software is a specialized application that lets two companies' IT systems exchange structured commercial documents (purchase orders, invoices, dispatch advices) automatically, in a standardized format (EDIFACT, X12, XML), without email, PDF or manual re-entry. Modern EDI software is cloud-based and accessed through a browser.
What is the best EDI software?
The best EDI software depends on your context. For small-to-mid-size suppliers with 1-50 trading partners and volumes under 10,000 docs/month, a cloud Web EDI platform like EDIconnect is the fastest, cheapest and most maintainable option. For very high volumes and dozens of custom mappings, an on-premise or hybrid EDI translator (IBM Sterling, OpenText) may be justified.
How much does EDI software cost?
Cloud EDI software (SaaS) starts at €24/month per company for low volume and scales with the number of trading partners and documents. Managed EDI (SaaS + human onboarding of every partner) sits at €200-500/month. On-premise EDI translators require €15,000-100,000 upfront plus annual maintenance and IT operations cost.
Does EDI software integrate with my ERP?
Yes. Serious EDI software exposes a REST API or file-based interface (CSV/XML drop) and ships native connectors for the major ERPs (SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle NetSuite, Odoo, Sage). EDIconnect has 40+ certified ERP integrations.
Is cloud EDI software secure?
Yes when the vendor uses TLS 1.3 in transit, AES-256 at rest, 2FA authentication, EU hosting (GDPR compliance) and full audit trail. Additionally, transport protocols like AS2 add digital signature and MDN receipts on top.
How long does an EDI software rollout take?
For a cloud Web EDI solution: 5-10 business days per trading partner (setup, mapping, end-to-end test). On-premise EDI implementations typically take 3-9 months for the platform, then weeks per partner.