Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

Tech Data's Transaction Capabilities Summary (24K .pdf)

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) typically refers to the exchange of documents such as purchase orders, shipment notices, and invoices in the form of electronic transactions rather than paper forms, faxes, or verbal conversations between two organizations. The EDI transactions that Tech Data currently exchanges with its trading partners are approved by the American National Standards Institute Accredited Standards Committee X12 (ANSI ASC X12). By following the standards adopted by ANSI ASC X12, Tech Data and its trading partners have enjoyed access to a common set of transactions that are in wide use through out the IT supply chain industry.

Is EDI the right solution for your business?

• Do you want to lower your high-volume operational costs?
• Do you want to reach a broader market of customers?
• Do you want faster order fulfillment delivery times?

How your business can benefit from engaging in EDI with Tech Data

• Reduce administrative expenses. Document handling, mail, and document management costs are eliminated when business transactions are conducted electronically.
• Increase efficiency and accuracy. Errors arising from manual entry of data are eliminated. No need to re-enter an order each time it is submitted for fulfillment.
• Reduce cycle and lead times. Faster delivery times attributed to system to system communication over mail, fax, or phone delivery of information.
• Improve control. Transaction deliveries are confirmed and communications are secure.
• Gain an advantage over your competition. More companies choose to deal with suppliers who use EDI giving them a larger market share over non-EDI enabled resellers.
• Free ground freight for qualifying orders.

Tech Data's current offering of EDI transactions

• Price/Sales Catalog (832) Product description and price information
• Inventory Advice (846) Product availability either by warehouse or aggregated in total
• Purchase Order (850) Traditional pick and ship orders for hardware, software, peripherals, and many other product and service categories
• Purchase Order Acknowledgement (855) Order line status in response to a Purchase Order
• Ship Notice/Manifest (856) Key shipment information from the Purchase Order
• Order Status Report (870) Key information on order lines submitted from the Purchase Order
• Invoice (810) You can have invoices sent electronically rather than receiving paper invoices
• Payment Order/Remittance Advice (820) Payment of invoices can be made electronically
• Customer Product Activity Report (852) Sale and movement of product can be reported by you to Tech Data in support of replenishment activities

As an incentive for using this method of communication, Tech Data pays the ground freight charge on all EDI orders that meet specific requirements. Contact your Tech Data sales representative for details..

Getting started

If you feel that EDI would enhance your relationship with Tech Data, please discuss the details with your Tech Data Territory Manager who can help you assess whether this method of communication will save you money or not. Your Tech Data Sales Representative can put you in touch with the appropriate Territory Manager.