EDI Grows Stronger with XML

XML is advertised by many as the new language in e-commerce set to replace EDI. Direct EDI Inc, is finding that XML and EDI can work together to provide a more complete solution

San Diego, CA January 3, 2005 -- Electronic data interchange (EDI) has been the primary method for electronic business-to-business commerce in the retail industry for the past three decades. Today most major retailers rely on EDI for the majority of their ordering, invoicing and logistic operations. Despite the wide spread use of EDI, the technology has many critics. The critics complain relentlessly; touting XML as the grand solution to all the problems of EDI. EDI supporters retort that XML lacks the strict standards and common acceptance as EDI. Direct ED Inc shows how EDI and XML can be complementary rather than in competition. By combining the standards of EDI with the flexibility of XML Direct EDI created a more powerful tool than either technology standing alone.
   
While it is commonly accepted that EDI does have its short comings, the retail industry is far too invested into EDI to simply abandon ship and implement new technology overnight. XML provides dramatically improved flexibility for working with other applications, but lacks the standardization and widespread use that EDI has given the retail industry. By creating a file conversion technology, Direct EDI has shown that XML can be a very strong right arm to EDI.
   
The growth of EDI as an evolving technology continues through the companies that work with EDI. Direct EDI continues to push the limits of what is possible for the revitalized technology. Michael Davidovich CEO of Direct EDI states, By embracing XML flexibility to complement EDI, we are able to develop far more useful tools and extend integration capacity of our Internet EDI system. EDI standard has widespread use throughout the retail industry. XML provides the flexibility to work with a wide array of applications. By using EDI as the starting point and implementing conversion technology, the result is a powerful EDI/XLM tools. Direct EDI is able to use conversion technology to put EDI data into companies internal applications, while following the rigid EDI requirements of their trading partners.
   
New technologies such as XML have not uprooted and replaced EDI, but instead have complemented EDI. EDI continues to be the primary method for electronic business-to-business commerce in the retail industry. By finding ways for new technology to work with EDI; e-commerce continues to thrive.

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