In this post I will review how electronic data interchange (EDI) is used in fulfillment. Fulfillment is the process of filling orders by picking ordered product from inventory and shipping it to the buyer. Fulfillment is what Amazon does when you buy a product on their web site. The interactions between the buyer and seller vary depending on whether the buyer is a consumer (B2C) or a business (B2B). For consumer purchases, the order is usually accepted through an online store or app.

If you work with data integration in any kind of supply chain related role, it’s likely you will encounter electronic data interchange (EDI). Although EDI is an older technology which is gradually being replaced by alternatives like application programming interfaces (APIs), it’s still very commonly used in the supply chain and logistics domains. There are a huge number of legacy EDI implementations that are driving some of the worlds largest supply chains.

One of the challenges of a tech career is the necessity to stay up-to-date on technology advancements. A key part of your ability to solve business problems with technology is understanding how to use the latest advancements to create a solution. Therefore your value as an individual contributor or manager is partially driven by the amount of knowledge that you have cultivated during your life. Technology is a Moving Target Acquiring this knowledge isn’t easy.