B2BGateway

B2BGateway is a fully-integrated, cloud-based EDI solution provider. Since 1999, B2BGateway has provided global EDI solutions to nearly all accounting and ERP packages.

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Why Outsourcing EDI may Make Sense for your Organization

Although EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) has been around since the late 1970’s, it started gaining increased traction in the early to mid 1990’s. The increased popularity in the 1990’s was mainly due to a heavy push from large organizations with large transactional volumes that wanted to reduce costs and increase efficiencies through automation.

Unfortunately, the very thought of EDI, can be daunting for any organization that has not used EDI before or has limited IT resources. The initial reaction is that EDI has been ‘forced’ on their organization by a large retailer or trading partner. Terms such as ANSI X12, UN/EDIFACT, Tradacoms, VAN, AS2, seem like Double Dutch and better still, the traditional English language has been replaced by numeric values, e.g. a Purchase Order is now called an 850, an Invoice becomes an 810, a Ship Notice becomes an 856, and so on. After a short period in production, the new EDI user will suddenly realize the benefits of EDI for their organization – reduced errors, shorter order to payment cash cycles, and reduced costs.

As mentioned above, there are many standards and communication protocols associated with EDI – in North America ANSI X12 is the predominant EDI standard, whereas in Europe and the Far East a far more popular standard is UN/EDIFACT. Some trading partners prefer to communicate through a VAN (Value Added Network), whereas others will prefer AS2 or FTP. Add to this mix a myriad of 318+ recognized EDI documents, customized mapping and reporting functions and it is clear to see why EDI becomes a daunting task to implement for any organization.

It is at this stage that outsourcing your EDI requirements should make sense to your organization. Outsourced EDI solution providers come in various shapes and sizes. Some providers will require you to invest in your own mapping solution and they then develop the maps. Then there are others, like B2BGateway.Net, that provide the entire service and are also the first point of contact between your organization and your trading partners to resolve any EDI issues that may arise.

For further information on B2BGateway.Net’s fully outsourced EDI solutions please visit www.B2BGateway.Net or email [email protected] 

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3PLs: Automate, Automate, Automate....

In Real Estate we are always told the key to success is all about Location, Location, Location! I would like to try and bring this maxim to the world of Third Party Logistics (3PL), where I believe the key to success should be Automate, Automate, Automate!

 Having a smooth, successful supply chain operation can be achieved by automating as many tasks as possible. At B2BGateway.Net we can help 3PL's achieve this by automating the entire business document flow between the 3PL, their clients and their trading partners. By introducing B2BGateway.Net’s cloud-based, fully integrated EDI solutions, 3PL's can eliminate the need to re-key data into their ERP/WMS systems, giving seamless communication between all trading parties. Eliminating the need to re-key data will increase efficiencies, dramatically decrease errors and help contribute to a greater overall bottom line.

  B2BGateway.Net has been providing cloud-based, fully-integrated EDI solutions since 1999 and we are highly proficient in the EDI X12 200 and 900 transaction sets. As a global organization we can also handle all international recognized data standards (X12, EDIFACT, Tradacoms, Eancom, Odette, XML, etc.) and all communication protocols (VAN, FTP, FTPs, AS2, etc.). For further details on B2BGateway's EDI solutions and services for 3PL’s please visit http://www.b2bgateway.net/flipbook/3pl/3pl_prospectus.html  or call [phone] 

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Check out B2BGateway and ERPVAR's next webinar, 'Closing the Sale' on January 24, 2013. Log on to http://www.B2BGateway.net for more details!

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EDI: What is the Purpose of an EDI 830 Forecasting Document?

Question: Hi Louisa, I work for an automotive supplier and one of our customers recently stated that they wanted to start sending us an EDI 830 document. Would you be able to explain more about what an EDI 830 is and its purpose? 

Answer: An EDI 830 (DELFOR in EDIFACT) is a forecast schedule. It is a document your trading partner sends to inform you of their projected product needs and is primarily used in the automotive industry. 

The EDI 830 Forecast Schedule document may be used in a number of different ways, such as:

A simple forecast.

A forecast with the trading partner’s authorization for the vendor/supplier to commit to future resources such as labor or materials.

A forecast that is also turned into a firm Purchase Order. 

One caveat here is that not all 830s can be used to create a Purchase Order. Only trading partners with 830s that have release capabilities can be used to create a PO. The 830 forecasts weeks or even months in advance so you would only want to create orders that have a firm commitment and ignore the ‘probable orders’ until a later date when they become firm or agreed. 

If you would like a more thorough explanation about the EDI 830 document or if you supply to the automotive industry or any other industry that requires the EDI 830 transaction set, please feel free to call us at 401-491-9595, visit www.B2BGateway.Net or email [email protected] for further details. 

Louisa Gooding is the Director of Sales & Marketing at B2BGateway.net

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Dollars, nickels and dimes - What do you really save with EDI?

In 2010, GS1 UK commissioned Professor Richard Wilding of the Cranfield School of Business Management to carry out a report on EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) with regard to the UK retail sector. Professor Wilding and his team performed exhaustive research and highlighted in great detail all the advantages that are normally associated with EDI: It's faster, data is more accurate, improved process efficiencies, cost savings and it eliminates paper. He also went one step further; he put the savings associated with switching from manual, paper-based processing to EDI processing into a monetary format (and even broke it down into separate sectors - Order, Invoice, ASN). For the purpose of ease and accuracy I have converted the reports Stg£ values into US$. These are the savings Professor Wilding and his team at Cranfield School of Business Management calculated:

·         Orders:                                            $23.00

·         Invoices:                                          $14.00

·         Despatch Advice (ASN)                 $19.00

Total                                                  $56.00

As can be seen from the above, by switching from a manual paper based transaction to EDI you can save your organization $56.00 per transaction in dollars, nickel and dimes. To put this in real terms, if your organization was processing 50 orders per month, and with each order a matching invoice and ASN was required, your organization would be making savings of $2,800 per month by switching from paper to EDI. Obviously the savings are much greater the more transactions your organization makes.

If you would like to read Professor Wildings full report please click here.  Alternatively, please visit one of our global offices on www.B2BGateway.Net or email [email protected] to see how B2BGateway can make your transition from paper to EDI seamless today.

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Cloud Computing delivers SMART results for SME’s!

According to Forbes.com, small and medium sized enterprises who adopt cloud computing solutions in 2013 will see the following SMART results:

 S: Sales Increases – less time dealing with administrative matters means more time selling and servicing customers. M: More Control, Less Surprises – key business stats and metrics are available in real time; small businesses can make more informed decisions faster and never be out of touch with the most important business data. A: Accelerated Profits – real-time information means better and more profitable decisions. R: Real-time information means key business management data is only seconds away, whenever and wherever the business operator is. T: Technology Enhancements — leads to decreased cost and expense of an IT department — everything is in the Cloud. B2BGateway have been delivering cloud-based EDI solutions globally since 1999, contact one of our global offices today at www.B2BGateway.Net to see how we can help your organization make your supply chain SMART for 2013.

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Check out B2BGateway's parody of A Christmas Carol. Have a look and have a laugh. Happy Holidays from your friends at B2BGateway.net!

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3PL's: Automate, Automate, Automate.....

In Real Estate we are always told the key to success is all about Location, Location, Location! I would like to try and bring this maxim to the world of Third Party Logistics (3PL), where I believe the key to success should be Automate, Automate, Automate! Having a smooth, successful supply chain operation can be achieved by automating as many tasks as possible. At B2BGateway we can help 3PL's achieve this by automating the entire business document flow between the 3PL, their clients and their trading partners. By introducing B2BGateway’s cloud-based EDI solutions, 3PL's can eliminate the need to re-key data into their ERP/WMS systems, giving seamless communication between all trading parties. Eliminating the need to re-key data will increase efficiencies, dramatically decrease errors and help contribute to a greater overall bottom line.

  B2BGateway has been providing cloud-based, fully integrated EDI solutions since 1999 and we are highly proficient in the EDI X12 200 and 900 transaction sets. As a global organization we can also handle all international recognized data standards (X12, EDIFACT, Tradacoms, Eancom, Odette, XML, etc.) and all communication protocols (VAN, FTP, FTPs, AS2, etc.). For further details on B2BGateway's EDI solutions and services for 3PL’s please visit: http://www.b2bgateway.net/flipbook/3pl/3pl_prospectus.html

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Most common EDI transaction sets used by Third Party Logistics providers (3PL’s).

ANSI X12 Transaction

Transaction Name

Transaction Description

940

Warehouse Shipping Order

Data contents of the Warehouse Shipping Order Transaction Set (940) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. This transaction set can be used to enable the depositor to advise a warehouse to make a shipment, confirm a shipment, or modify or cancel a previously transmitted shipping order.

943

Warehouse Stock Transfer Shipment Advice

Data contents of the Warehouse Stock Transfer Shipment Advice Transaction Set (943) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used by a depositor or an agent of the depositor to advise the recipient that a transfer shipment has been made. This transaction set provides a receiving location with detail information concerning product being shipped to that location.

944

Warehouse Stock Transfer Receipt Advice

Data contents of the Warehouse Stock Transfer Receipt Advice Transaction Set (944) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used by a receiving location to advise a depositor or an agent of the depositor that a transfer shipment has been received. This transaction set provides the depositor or the depositor's agent with detail information concerning product that has been received

945

Warehouse Shipping Advice

Data contents of the Warehouse Shipping Advice Transaction Set (945) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used by the warehouse to advise the depositor that shipment was made. It is used to reconcile order quantities with shipment quantities.

946

Delivery Information Message

The transaction set can be used by a receiving location to advise a depositor or an agent of the depositor that a transfer shipment has been received. This transaction set provides the depositor or the depositor's agent with detail information concerning product that has been received. If you need help supporting this EDI document, please visit our signup page. We will contact you shortly after the information is received. Thank you

947

Warehouse Inventory Adjustment Advice

Data contents of the Warehouse Inventory Adjustment Advice Transaction Set (947) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used to inform a warehouse/depositor of a quantity or status change to inventory records. This transaction set provides detail information concerning the internal adjustments which occur between a warehouse and a depositor.

997

Functional Acknowledgement

Data contents of the Functional Acknowledgment Transaction Set (997) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used to define the control structures for a set of acknowledgments to indicate the results of the syntactical analysis of the electronically encoded documents. The encoded documents are the transaction sets, which are grouped in functional groups, used in defining transactions for business data interchange. This standard does not cover the semantic meaning of the information encoded in the transaction sets.

856

Advance Ship Notice/Manifest

Data contents of the Advance Ship Notice/Manifest Transaction Set (856) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used to list the contents of a shipment of goods as well as additional information relating to the shipment, such as order information, product description, physical characteristics, type of packaging, marking, carrier information, and configuration of goods within the transportation equipment. The transaction set enables the sender to describe the contents and configuration of a shipment in various levels of detail and provides an ordered flexibility to convey information. The sender of this transaction is the organization responsible for detailing and communicating the contents of a shipment, or shipments, to one or more receivers of the transaction set. The receiver of this transaction set can be any organization having an interest in the contents of a shipment or information about the contents of a shipment.

For a full list of all EDI X12 documents supported by B2BGateway.Net please visit http://www.b2bgateway.net/edidocs.asp

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B2BGateway to demonstrate 200Connect EDI solution at Sage Evolve Business Partner Conference in Hinckley, United Kingdom

  B2BGateway will exhibit 200Connect a fully integrated, cloud-based EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) solution for Sage 200 users at this year’s Sage Evolve Business Partner Conference. The Sage Evolve Business Partner Conference will take place on Tuesday, November 20th, 2012 at the Hinkley Island Hotel, Hinckley, Leicestershire, United Kingdom. The Sage Evolve Conference is for Sage 200 Business Partners and an awards ceremony will take place afterwards at the National Space Centre, Leicester.

During the conference B2BGateway will demonstrate its 200Connect fully integrated EDI solution for Sage 200. According to Roger Leyden, Director of European Sales & Marketing at B2BGateway: “200Connect is an ideal, cost effective EDI solution for the Sage 200 user. Due to its cloud-based architecture and full integration capabilities, 200Connect automates the entire business document flow between the Sage 200 user and their trading partners. There is no need to re-key data and this greatly reduces errors, frees up staff resources and hastens the users ‘order to payment’ cycle. Our 200Connect EDI solution is used in retail, wholesale distribution, logistics, automotive, manufacturing, government and healthcare industries.”

If you are attending the Sage Evolve Conference please drop by our stand and say hello to the B2BGateway team.

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B2BGateway Hurricane Sandy Client Assistance

 Although B2BGateway was able to weather Hurricane Sandy, we have found that many of our clients have not fared so well. Many clients located along the east coast of the United States are still without power. Most of these clients are running their businesses on generators and are expecting the power to be out for quite a bit longer. With that being said, if you have been affected by the storm and need assistance in streamlining your transaction processing in order to maintain business operations, please contact us either via phone or e-mail.

We should be able to help in any of the following areas at no cost to you.

Resending transactions

Sending transactions directly to your 3PL, and save your live orders until your systems are available

Sending your transactions via Human Readable format in an E-mail, to be printed at a remote location

Confirming your transactions send and obtain receipts for you

Posting your normally integrated transactions to a website for fulfillment

Holding all transactions on our system and slowly release transactions as the cancel date approaches

Auto-generating time sensitive 855 (PO Acknowledgements) if needed

Plus any other reasonable requests you may have

Please let us know if we can help in any way and we will be happy to lend assistance. We will also be reaching out by phone to clients in the affected areas. Our thoughts are with you. If you haven't heard from us, or if you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at [phone] or email [email protected] for more information.

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B2BGateway's Newsletter 12

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Why Outsourcing EDI may Make Sense for your Organization.

Although EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) has been around since the late 1970’s, it started gaining increased traction in the early to mid 1990’s. The increased popularity in the 1990’s was mainly due to a heavy push from large organizations with large transactional volumes to reduce costs and increase efficiencies through automation.

 Unfortunately, the very thought of EDI, can be daunting for an organization that has not used EDI before or has limited IT resources. The initial reaction is that EDI has been ‘forced’ on their organization by a large retailer or trading partner. Terms such as ANSI X12, UN/EDIFACT, Tradacoms, VAN, AS2, seem like Double Dutch and better still, the traditional English language has been replaced by numeric values, e.g. a Purchase Order is now called an 850, an Invoice becomes an 810, a Ship Notice becomes an 856, and so on. After a short period in production, the new EDI user will suddenly understand the benefits of EDI for their organization – reduced errors, shorter order to payment cash cycles, and reduced costs.

 As mentioned above, there are many standards and communication protocols associated with EDI – in North America ANSI X12 is the predominant EDI standard, whereas in Europe and the Far East a far more popular standard is UN/EDIFACT. Some trading partners prefer to communicate through a VAN (Value Added Network), whereas others will prefer AS2 or FTP. Add to this mix a myriad of 318+ recognized EDI documents, customized mapping and reporting functions and it is clear to see why EDI becomes a daunting task for any organization.

It is at this stage that outsourcing your EDI requirements should make sense to your organization. Outsourced EDI solution providers come in various shapes and sizes. Some providers will require you to invest in your own mapping solution and they then develop the maps. Then there are others, like B2BGateway.Net, that provide the entire service and are also the first point of contact between your organization and your trading partners to resolve any EDI issues that may arise.

 For further information on B2BGateway.Net’s fully outsourced EDI solutions please visit www.B2BGateway.Net or email [email protected]

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B2BGateway and ERPVAR.com Announce Partnership and Webcast Series

ERPVAR.com, a network comprised of Sage, Microsoft Dynamics, Epicor, NetSuite, Intacct and Intuit Value-Added Resellers (VARs), has partnered with B2BGateway to give members access to B2BGateway's EDI solutions. B2BGateway and ERPVAR.com will engage in a monthly webcast series to educate customers about their cloud-based, fully-integrated EDI solutions and how these solutions can meet the customers requirements in a cost effective manner. There will be one webcast held in partnership with five participating VARs outlining the benefits of EDI and automating the supply chain process. http://bit.ly/Vnh6W6

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