Prior to sending information via EDI, the information likely resides on a server or mainframe, in a database or in some other back-end software application. As long as it is possible to import and export files from the application, data can be extracted for an outbound EDI transaction and inbound data can be injected automatically or entered manually.
Directing which data elements from an application go where in a file, and vice versa, is known as “data mapping.”
Mapping – the Foundation of System Integration
In simplest terms, mapping data is the act of converting information from one location – the data source – to another format for another application – the destination. In EDI terms, data mapping properly converts a user’s application data into an EDI file format, and vice versa.
Mapping outbound data involves establishing what information from the business or accounting software goes where in an EDI file. The data must be properly arranged and formatted so that it conforms to both the EDI standards and the trading partner’s requirements. EDI software like EDI/HQ™ allows you to map EDI data, and then save that map like a template to use over and over again. You can create multiple data maps, for particular EDI transactions and for each trading partner.
Once inbound data is received, it must also be converted to a format your business or accounting system can understand. EDI software can often map inbound EDI data directly into a variety of destination types:
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Applications
- Readable documents
- Specific layouts like fixed length or delimited records
- XML
• One or more database tables
- A combination of these
This direct mapping can eliminate the need for data entry, and opens the door to full data and system integration.
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Want to learn more about EDI? Read about EDI Translation and EDI Standards. You can also download EDI 101, our FREE EDI resource booklet written by the experts at 1EDISource.