EDIFACT messages — the complete list and how each one is used
In short: EDIFACT (Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport) is the UN standard for B2B electronic data interchange, used dominantly across Europe and globally. The most relevant messages for retail: ORDERS, ORDRSP, DESADV, RECADV, INVOIC, REMADV, PRICAT, INVRPT — plus CONTRL and APERAK.
Key capabilities
- 10+ standard messages: ORDERS, ORDRSP, ORDCHG, DESADV, RECADV, INVOIC, REMADV, PRICAT, INVRPT, CONTRL, APERAK — all implemented and tested.
- Multiple versions: D96A (legacy), D01B, D07A, D14B, D16A — EDIconnect supports whichever version each retailer requires.
- Segments & syntax: Visual editor and validator for BGM, DTM, NAD, LIN, QTY, PRI, MOA, RFF segments — if a retailer has a custom spec, we configure it.
- Converted automatically: EDIFACT converts to and from your ERP's internal format (CSV, XML, JSON, IDoc) — you never need to see raw EDIFACT syntax unless you want to.
EDIFACT vs. alternatives (XML, UBL, JSON)
Although more modern formats exist (UBL 2.1, custom XML, JSON), EDIFACT remains the dominant standard for European retail for one simple reason: every major retailer and thousands of suppliers already have mature infrastructure built on it. A full migration to UBL would take decades. In practice: EDIFACT for retail, UBL 2.1 for tax e-invoicing (PEPPOL, national e-invoice mandates), custom XML for bilateral integrations.
EDIconnect supports all four formats from the same portal — you don't need to pick one standard, just use whichever each trading partner requires.
Frequently asked questions
What is EDIFACT?
EDIFACT (UN/EDIFACT) is the international UN standard for electronic exchange of commercial data between companies, managed by UNECE. It is dominant in Europe (compared with X12 in the US) and used across retail, automotive, healthcare, transport and banking.
Which EDIFACT messages matter most?
For retail: ORDERS (order), ORDRSP (confirmation), DESADV (dispatch advice/ASN), RECADV (receiving advice), INVOIC (invoice), REMADV (remittance advice), PRICAT (price catalogue), INVRPT (inventory report). All of these flow between retailer and supplier to complete a full order-to-cash cycle.
What's the difference between EDIFACT and X12?
EDIFACT is the UN standard, dominant in Europe; X12 is the ANSI standard, dominant in the US. Structurally, EDIFACT uses '+' as segment separator and ':' for sub-elements; X12 uses '*' and '~'. Semantically, messages map directly onto one another (ORDERS↔850, DESADV↔856, INVOIC↔810).
Why are there multiple EDIFACT versions?
UN/EDIFACT releases two new versions per year (e.g. D14B = second release of 2014). Older retailers still run D96A; modern ones run D14B/D16A. Each version adds new fields and refinements.
Do I need to learn EDIFACT syntax?
No. EDIconnect is designed so you never have to see raw EDIFACT syntax. You enter data through the web interface, or let your ERP export in its own format — we convert to and from EDIFACT automatically.