Use Of EDI Research Articles

Supporting of manufacturer’s demand plans as an element of logistics coordination in the distribution network

Abstract The paper deals with the concept of centralized demand forecasting and logistical coordination in distribution networks. The aim of the paper is to relate the results provided by the forecasting tools to the basic aspects of logistical coordination. The case of 29 distribution networks in which a logistics operator (3PL) operates and provides contract logistics services to a manufacturing company is analysed. The paper partially confirms the hypothesis of better testability of forecasts based on machine learning algorithms and artificial neural networks for demand planning by the logistics operator to the manufacturer in the framework of logistics coordination in the distribution network. These algorithms perform better for networks with high specificity of flows and food networks. Traditional algorithms, on the other hand, have their better share in creating forecasts for more standard distribution networks. Additionally, the second hypothesis regarding the positive influence of modern technological solutions (such as the use of cloud technologies, EDI and flow tracking standards) was confirmed. Additionally, a number of factors that did not have a direct impact on forecasting errors were detailed.

The Joint Use of RFID and EDI: Implications for Hospital Performance

Hospitals in the United States (U.S.), and the healthcare industry as a whole, are experiencing major transformations that will likely affect every facet of our society. One such example is a federal regulation known as the Value‐based Purchasing (VBP) program, which shifts hospital reimbursements for services rendered away from a fee‐for‐service model to a value‐based model. This change requires hospitals to more accurately track and document resources/assets utilized in the delivery of care, in addition to appropriate health outcomes. Hence, the focus of this study is on assessing the effect of the joint use of RFID and EDI on hospital performance, namely supply chain cost efficiency, personnel expenses, and hospital readmission rates. The findings, based on secondary, longitudinal data on more than 3300 US hospitals spanning eight years, suggest that hospitals bundling RFID and EDI experience an initial decrease in supply chain cost efficiency and increase in personnel expenses, with no immediate impact on readmission rates. However, over time, better supply chain cost efficiency, lower personnel expenses, and a consistent reduction in readmission rates accrue from the long‐term and consistent leveraging of the RFID‐EDI bundle. Thus, the overarching contribution of this study is the elucidation of how and along what measures the bundled leveraging of RFID and EDI improves hospital performance, as well as which measures of hospital performance are time (in)variant. We round out this study with a discussion of our findings, their implications, and offer directions for future research.

LOGISTICS ORGANIZATION IN A DAIRY ENTERPRISES

The research concerning the solutions for organization of logistics management in a district dairy based in Podlaski voivodeship was conducted in 2016.It was based on the analysis of the documents received and also on a direct interview with the employees of Logistics Department as a technique of gathering information in this dairy. The information regarding to logistics organization in a surveyed dairy proved that it is a modern and innovative plant. The introduction of integrated management system which enables better organization of material management, transport management and store mobile service has an impact on the development of logistics in the dairy. The logistics systems which has been introduced in the dairy enable to automate the process of taking orders due to the use of EDI and B2B Platform. The reasonable solutions which were introduced in the dairy enable to optimize the cost of production.

Development and Deployment of Advanced and Intelligent Manufacturing and Logistics Solutions through the Use of RFID, EDI and Bar Codes

In this paper we describe the practical application of RFID in production and logistics at the Norwegian board and packaging manufacturer Glomma Papp. Delivery of the system took place during late 2013 and 2014. The company’s goal was to automate its production flow and logistics. There were two options: bar codes or RFID.

Complexity and the companies' informatization: Case EDI Tunisian companies

Complexity is a recent phenomenon, characterized by incompleteness and unpredictability. With the globalization of business and technological changes, companies are not immune to the complexity. To control the inevitable growth of complexity, they are increasingly adopting more Information and Communication Technology ICT, such as EDI. It is then necessary to consider the impact of the use of EDI on the performance of complex transactions. A study was conducted among 32 Tunisian companies using EDI technology. Linear regression is used to test our model of dependence relation between exogenous variables (using EDI, product complexity, process complexity) and endogenous variable (delivery performance). Thus, we used the MRA (Moderated Regression Analysis ), followed by the subgroup analysis to analyze the moderating effect of product complexity on the relationship between the use of EDI and delivery performance. The results show the positive effect of the use of EDI by personnel on delivery performance and the moderating effect of product complexity on the relationship between the number of partners using EDI and delivery performance.

Proprietary versus internet technologies and the adoption and impact of electronic marketplaces

In this paper we provide a trans-disciplinary view on electronic markets and their impact beyond the dyadic use of EDI. Electronic marketplaces and business-to-business (B2B) exchanges are proliferating now that the Internet has made cooperation and collaboration easier and cheaper. The key question addressed is: will these newer forms of electronic markets lead to other mechanisms of integration and governance than the old EDI-based e-markets and Inter-organisational systems? We argue that the characteristics of pre-internet electronic marketplaces structurally differ from those of internet-based electronic marketplaces, and that this results in different adoption and integration patterns. We provide a model and a set of integrative propositions.

The impact of EDI adoption on customer service in the automotive supply chain

This paper analyses the results of a survey about the relationship between the adoption and use of EDI, and customer service in the automotive supply chain. The results indicate that automotive suppliers that have adopted EDI perceive a better customer service than non adopters. Similarly, automotive suppliers that have integrated EDI with their management information systems perceive better customer service than do companies that have not integrated EDI. Regarding the different functions that EDI perform for the automotive company in the supply chain, we have found that production planning, invoice notices and order receipts are those functions that have a greater difference between the automotive companies that use EDI with a large percentage of customers and suppliers, and the companies that use it with a lower percentage. A multivariate data analysis indicates that customer service is positively explained by the quality of the information interchanged, the lower conflict in the relationship, the frequency of deliveries and the experience in the customer–supplier relationship.

Supply chain management in Australian manufacturing—two case studies

In order to promote further understanding of the adoption and integration of supply chain management techniques in Australian manufacturing industry, it was decided to conduct two case studies. The organisations chosen for these cases were companies involved in the supply of goods to a major Australian retail chain. Both companies were involved to some extent in the use of the EAN barcoding system, as well as (in some cases) use of EDI and other enabling technologies. The purpose of the case studies was to identify (and compare) how the companies had approached implementation of Integrated Supply Chain Management (ISCM), what benefits had been experienced and where the points of leverage for each company lay. The evidence indicates that there are benefits from execution of ISCM practices when they are implemented in a ‘Strategic’ fashion, and that companies that implement with a ‘Reactive’ mindset perceive few (if any) benefits. What also emerges is that it may not always be possible (or indeed appropriate) to implement at a fully Strategic level, and the appropriate level of implementation may be moderated by factors such as the nature of the product, competitive environment, size of the company, culture of the company and strategic posture.

Integrated supply chain management and B2B e-commerce practices in Australia - a retailers perspective in implementing the EAN system

The efficient management of the supply chain has become a major issue for retailers, driven by the need to be responsive and effective in the context of changing business rules and facilitated by a dynamic technological environment. Mass merchants have been actively promoting the use of standard numbering, bar codes and EDI across their supplier base to facilitate these practices and are beginning to venture into the brave new world of internet trading. This paper focuses on the position of the mass merchant in the retail supply chain. As the result of a case study conducted in a major Australian retail conglomerate, it is apparent that there are both challenges and opportunities for companies trying to promote improvement in supply chain processes. Small suppliers often struggle to comply with basic requirements for electronic trading and at times struggle to see the full potential of implementation of integrated supply chain management techniques. For the retailer, buyer involvement, computer literacy and the need to find new ways of measuring true channel cost are issues that require attention for a system based on integration and cooperation to flourish. Though the benefits of using new technology for the further integration of supply chains are known and understood by retailers, there are significant organisational issues that need to be addressed. The implication is that the promotion of an integrated supply chain management methodology backward along a retail supply chain creates the need for change in both the retailers' and suppliers' systems.

EDI as a strategic device in the consumer goods industry: an empirical study

This paper analyses the different methods used in the management of EDI Technology in the Spanish consumer goods industry. This empirical study confirms that EDI systems have reached a high development level and can be used for handling invoices and deliveries and are beginning to be used to attain new relationships. The use of EDI is different according to the activity that each company along the distribution Channel carries out. Inter-firm differences in EDI use are not adequately explained by the installation date or by the company size. In this study, the heterogeneity in EDI management appears to be intrinsic to EDI characteristics. EDI is a flexible device that can be used either to empower networking or to strengthen vertical relationships along the supply chain.

Interpreting the adoption and use of EDI in the Portuguese clothing and textile industry

The aim of this paper is to develop an understanding of the adoption and use of EDI in the Portuguese clothing and textile industry. The inherent argument is that although such inter‐organizational systems in small and medium‐sized enterprises facilitate competitiveness through collaboration, the successful deployment of such systems is not solely a function of transaction costs and the resource base of an organization, as has been argued in the literature. In fact the values and attitudes of senior management play a critical role in the adoption of inter‐organizational systems. Various issues are analyzed by critically reviewing the literature, which has traditionally focused either on reducing transaction costs or managing the resource base. The argument of this paper is conducted by evaluating managers’ beliefs and attitudes towards the use of EDI within the Portuguese clothing and textile industry.

Electronic Data Interchange: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Key Usage Aspects Between U.S. and Taiwanese Firms

This study provides a comparison of cross-cultural differences in the use of EDI between 81 firms in the U.S. and 67 firms in Taiwan. Most of these firms were using traditional VAN mediated EDI, and had been influenced by some type of external pressure to use. The motivation for this study was to assess whether the Western model of EDI usage that most research is based on is applicable across cultures. Findings reveal that there are few differences between firms in the two countries with respect to type of benefits realized, compatibility of EDI with existing processes, and degree of integration of EDI in the firm or in the network of trading partners. However, ex post facto analysis provides further insight into the usage of EDI in both cultures.

Quick response in the Australian TCF industry

The principal objective of this study is to understand the impact that the adoption of quick response (QR) has had on manufacturing firms in the retail supply chain. The adoption of QR by six organisations within the Victorian textile clothing and footwear industry is used to review the impact that QR is having on the retail sector, especially in terms of the use of EDI as a pipeline accelerator to QR. We also investigate the level of systems integration, organisational affects and inter‐organisational impacts. The results of the research showed that while firms are positively affected by the adoption of QR, and may strengthen their relative competitive positions, retailers are taking the opportunity to shift their holding and distribution costs onto the supply chain to the detriment of both manufacturers and suppliers. Additionally, failure to adopt EDI between downstream trading partners limits the benefits received from QR at the organisational and inter‐organisational levels.

The use of EDI and internet technologies in the U.S. motor carrier industry

Computer to computer data exchange by companies in a supply chain have been wellrecognized as an effective means of reducing cost and decreasing paperwork errors. In many cases, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers have become electronically linked to better manage inventory, ordering, and billing information. However, supply chains, by definition, also include common carriers that move goods between supply chain partners but may not have a long-term relationship with either the shipper or his customers. This could be the missing or weak link in an otherwise effective supply chain. The purpose of this paper is to examine the state-of-the-art of EDI in the motor carrier industry to identify possible trends.

Strategic Payoff from EDI as a Function of EDI Embeddedness

:A key issue facing IT researchers and practitioners has been the difficulty in realizing strategic payoff from IT investment. This study, drawn on sociological theories of embeddedness, addresses this key issue, with particular attention to the perspective of EDI network initiator. Cross-case analysis is conducted comparing three initiators of sophisticated EDI networks, who realized different levels of strategic payoffs. Results reveal that the achievement of strategic payoffs is a function of EDI embeddedness, which is defined as how central or peripheral a specific EDI network is to managing interfirm interdependence. In a model of EDI initiator strategic payoff, we argue that EDI embeddedness, which is influenced by existing interfirm relationship, moderates the impact of adopter EDI use on initiator strategic payoff derived from the EDI investment. Specifically, while high embeddedness motivates adopter strategic use, low embeddedness deters such use. The model is validated against three reported cases in the literature.

EDIFACT Implementation

Summary The full economic benefit of EDI can only be realized with the use of EDI for the complete cycle of business transactions. Kansas State University Library, Endeavor Information Systems, and Harrassowitz are working in partnership to implement the full cycle of UN/EDIFACT transactions. In this workshop, speakers representing the partners in this project discussed the implementation process, including interface problems, workflow changes, critical elements, and other lessons learned in the process.

The Influence of Organization Structure and Organizational Learning Factors on the Extent of EDI Implementation in U.S. Firms

Electronic Data Interchange EDI is a widely used form of electronic commerce. Numerous strategic and tactical advantages have been attributed to the use of EDI. We develop and empirically test a theoretical model to explain the extent of EDI implementation in organizations. Factors considered include organization structural characteristics size, centralization, and functional differentiation and organization learning factors technical expertise, level of EDI knowledge, and training availability. We use three dependent variables to assess the extent of EDI implementation volume, diversity, and sophistication. We analyze 235 responses from a national survey of 1200 EDI users. Our analysis suggests the data provide some support for the model. The results indicate that organization size explains much of the extent of EDI implementation in organizations, suggesting that the extent of EDI implementation is partly a matter of resource availability and transaction volume. The level of technical and EDI knowledge also influences the extent of EDI implementation. Functional differentiation affects EDI diversity and EDI sophistication. Training availability influences EDI sophistication in organizations.

Strategic use of EDI in the public sector: the HMSO case study

There has been widespread academic discussion in recent years on the potential of information systems to provide organisations with a strategic advantage. To this debate has recently been added a further controversy, i.e. the extent to which information systems (EDI in particular) and the concept of business network redesign are compatible. The aim of this paper is to contribute to these debates, by arguing that the implementation of EDI may still provide strategic advantage to an organisation, but is dependent upon the industry sector in which the organisation is operating, its position within that sector, the dynamics of the market place, its ability to build on its existing stregths and its ability to exploit the available technology innovatively. Support for these arguments is provided by documenting the case of Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), where the implementation of EDI has resulted in financial gains estimated at between £5 million and £10 million per annum since 1993. This has been achieved through the integration of EDI with the corporate strategy and results from a process re-design programme reflection the changing environment of the British public sector. The paper also explores how the traditional role of EDI as a document exchange system has been extended to that of systems's integrator and corporate change agent, thus facilitating future business and technical change requirements.

Interorganizational Cooperation: The Role of Information Technology an Empirical Comparison of U.S. and Japanese Supplier Relations

This paper explores the comparative and cumulative influence of a number of factors on the perceived level of cooperation in a dyadic relationship. Drawing upon the transaction costs economics, organization theory and information systems literatures, we hypothese three sets of key influences: (1) factors exogenous to the relationship, i.e., the characteristics of the environment within which the relationship operates, and factors endogeneous to the relationship including (2) economic and behavioral characteristics of the relationship, and (3) interorganizational information technology applications. These factors have been independently examined in separate research streams. A key contribution of this study is therefore to conceptually and empirically capture their collective influence on cooperation. We empirically test the five hypotheses we develop within the context of buyer-supplier relationships in the U.S. and Japanese automobile industries. Multiple regressions conducted on a data set of 447 distinct relationships indicate that the relational characteristics (i.e., the behavioral climate of the relationship) are the most robust predictor of cooperation in both countries when compared with other structural (e.g., asset specificity) or technological factors (use of EDI—electronic data interchange). Environmental uncertainty (i.e., technological unpredictability) is positively associated with cooperation in Japanese supplier relations, which suggests that cooperation can act as an uncertainty absorption mechanism. Governance structure is a strong and significant predictor of cooperation in both samples, but with the opposite sign. Similarly, information technology (IT) does not play the same predictive role in the two country samples. Significant only in Japan it reflects an ‘electronic partnership’ approach to the use of IT in supplier relations.

Electronic Data Interchange

Electronic Data Interchange EDI has come to revolutionize in recent years the way in which businesses conduct their trading activities. Based on the establishment of trading partner relationships, EDI systems have come to signify a speedy, efficient, and accurate means of electronically exchanging business transactions. Even as there is growing popularity and potential underlying EDI, there appears to be insufficient insight into the adoption and management of EDI systems. Specifically, there is a need to know more about why EDI is or is not adopted, how EDI has worked for past adopters, what aspects may need further development in order to enhance its value to users, and the nature of organizational experiences with EDI in general. With these factors in mind, this study reports on the results of an empirical study of EDI users. Findings indicated that organizations experience several benefits from EDI. These benefits tended to vary based on factors such as length of EDI use, proportion of customers using EDI, total EDIrelated investment, and number of employees. Findings also indicated that the overall fulfillment of EDI expectations was influenced by incorporation of management reporting and the integration of EDI technology into the information systems function of the organization. The presence of formalized cost-benefit assessment procedures and planned expansion were also associated with greater fulfillment of EDI expectations. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the management of this valuable, strategic IT resource: EDI.