FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

What is EDI?

• Electronic Data Interchange, is the electronic communication of business transactions (or documents) between organizations in a published, standardized format using segments and elements.

What's a Segment?

• A predefined set of functionally related data elements. In database terms, it is comparable to a record.

What's an Element?

• Individual item or "piece" of information within a standard document. In database terms, it is comparable to a field. Groups of elements form data segments.

What is a VAN?

• Value Added Network - A third-party service provider; can be viewed as a data clearinghouse.

What is a "Trading Partner"?

• Term that refers to companies sending and receiving documents via EDI. A business (customer, supplier, carrier, bank, etc.) that trades electronic documents.

What is a Transaction Set?

• An electronic business transaction composed of a collection of segments. Also known as a Document.

What is an EDI Translator?

• A software package in which EDI Maps are created, and allows processing of the EDI data.

What's a "Map"?

• Basically, a map is a relational table based on published standards that places or "maps" data elements into a database file or "flat file" type output file.