The Four Processes are: Align, Order, Deliver and Pay
Since 1992, the Irish EDI Retail Model has evolved based on the individual priorities of the Hub companies. Today, however, if you take a bird's eye look at the EDI model it would look like that outlined below.
- Order Processing
- Invoicing
- Data Alignment
Order Processing
Order Processing has been implemented using the Purchase Order and the Purchase Order Response Message. These Purchase Order Messages have been designed to cater for a wide variety of Supply Chain Models:
- Direct Store Delivery
- Central Distribution
- Transshipment Orders via a Central Warehouse
- Cross Dock Orders via a Warehouse
Priced Purchase Orders for each of the above.
The Order Response Message has been designed to:
- Acknowledge the receipt of the order
- Confirm that deliveries will be made as per the requirements of the original order.
- Detail amendments and the reasons for changes
The Despatch Advice message is used to detail the actual delivery to be made. This message replaces the paper version of the delivery note. The present implementation of the Dispatch Advice is limited to a single environment.
Invoicing
The Invoice Message has been designed to support three business models used in Ireland:
- Standard Invoice for a single order/delivery
- Consolidated Invoice covering a period of time and multiple deliveries
- Central Billing Invoice
In all cases, the EDI messages have been designed to comply with the VAT regulations governing both paper and EDI Transactions. It should be noted that the legislation governing VAT and EDI transactions, SI 269 of 1992 will be with drawn in 2002 and replaced with new legislation. The new legislation takes into consideration the European Union VAT Harmonisation and Electronic Signature directives and adopts the S.I. 269 accordingly so that there is a compatibility between Web Developments and at the same time not impacting on existing EDI implementations.
The Tax Control Message is a specific EDI message required by the VAT Regulations SI 269 of 1992. This message summarised the VAT amounts in an EDI Invoice file containing many EDI invoices. In the new regulations, the requirement for this message is removed. However, feedback from the current users indicates that they are unlikely to stop using it as it seen as a good control mechanism for management of the EDI message process.
Data Alignment
Data alignment has been implemented using the Price Catalogue Message and the Price Catalogue Response Message. Data Alignment involves the sharing information about product specifications and prices necessarily to run various applications such Warehouse Management Systems, Order Processing Systems and Accounts Systems. This is maintaining over the life cycle of the product to ensure that all data is accurate at all times.
Data alignment presently takes place bilaterally, i.e., directly between supplier and retailer. However, recognising that certain information about products is not confidential and is static over the life cycle of the product, there is a increasing trend towards providing this information from a global central repository a central catalogue using both EDI and Web EDI technology.
Visit the GDSN section of this website for further information on data alignment solutions.
