EDI – Electronic Data Interchange, Contact between companies exchanging orders via intra- or internet. (EDI) is the computer-to-computer exchange of structured information, by agreed message standards, from one computer application to another by electronic means and with a minimum of human intervention. In common usage, EDI is understood to mean specific interchange methods agreed upon by national or international standards bodies for the transfer of business transaction data, with one typical application being the automated purchase of goods and services.

EDI documents contain the same data that would normally be found in a paper document used for the same organisational function. However, EDI is not confined to just business data related to trade but encompasses all fields such as medicine (patient records, laboratory results..), transport (container and modal information…), engineering and construction, etc.- (Electronic Data Interchange) The exchange of information between two or more companies with mutual interests over a network.

Email:

(i) E-mail is an acronym of electronic mail

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(ii) E-mail system is basically used for sending message electronically to individuals or group of individuals in an inter and intra office environment. It requires network to connect them.

(iii) No such need.

(iv) One of the advantages of E-mail is that if gives users ability to review, respond message quickly.

(v) No processing of the message received.

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(vi) No such facility

EDI

(i) EDI is an acronym of Electronic Data interchange

(ii) EDI is the inter-organisatonal exchange of business documentation in structured, machine processable form.

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(iii) EDI provides communication between trading partners that agree to exchange EDI transactions.

(iv) EDI eliminates the paper documents associated with common business transactions.

(v) EDI message can be immediately processed by receiving computer without any human intervention or interpretation or re-keying

(vi) One other advantage of EDI is that it generates the functional acknowledgment whenever an EDI message is received, and is electronically transmitted to the sender.

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Hardware required for EDI are:

Modem, NIC, Telephone connection, cable.

Modem: Modem is called modulator/demodulator. It converts digital signal into analog for transmission and vice versa.

NIC (Network Interface Card): It is the means by which the workstations are connected functionally and physically to the network. It is microprocessor bases device. Comes with software/driver which is to be installed. Software supplies the intelligence to control access to and communications across the network and to perform all communication processing.