Order Processing

Does Your Company Need an EDI?

As your company begins to grow and your employees are processing more orders, it might be time to rethink how you conduct business.

The manual issuance of purchase orders, invoices, packing slips, advanced shipping notices (ASNs), and other documents associated with ordering and shipping merchandise has its benefits, but only to a certain point. For a relatively small number of orders, using your staff to handle all the paperwork makes sense: it is cost-efficient, and they can catch errors before bigger problems occur.

But it is essential to be aware of both the number of orders, as well as their value. When the number of orders your firm is processing hits a critical mass, the possibility of human error outweighs the benefits of doing things manually. Also, the time it can take to process a massive number of orders can quickly become not worth it. If all your employees are doing is data entry from an order processing standpoint, you might consider freeing up their time to work on other matters that do require the human touch. Also, if/when the typical order is valued at less than the time to process it, it is time to adjust that process, or reevaluate your pricing structure.

For companies that are at a crossroads and are looking for solutions when it comes to logistics, transferring to an EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) might be a very real option. [According to Union Pacific, an EDI is the electronic interchange of business information using a standardized format; a process which allows one company to send information to another company electronically rather than with paper. Business entities conducting business electronically are called trading partners.]

There are several providers out there, and it’s just a matter of finding the one that is an appropriate fit. But some questions to consider before pulling the trigger are:

  • Is it cheaper to pay for an EDI service than it is to pay an employee to process orders?
  • Has human error, due to the high volume of orders, become a noticeable issue?
  • Do we need a full-service EDI provider, or one that just handles portions of the process?
  • Do we have any customers that require EDI or do we have any target customers that will require it?

EDI providers can do as much or as little as your company needs. They can manage the transfer of information for everything from POs, invoices, packing slips, and shipment notifications, and interface directly with vendors and 3PLs (third-party logistics/warehouses). A great EDI provider can prevent problems before they even occur, rather than solve problems once they have arisen.

While the investment in an EDI might not be right for your company at this time, it is something to constantly assess as your business grows.

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I have a foreign-based client who has been in the U.S. market for a few years, but was struggling with their sales agent relationship. MI's unique IBI program allowed this client to bring order processing and marketing in-house, without having to add staff. Now the business is in a better position to penetrate the U.S. market. I will definitely refer future clients to the MI team.
Joseph J. SantanielloAttorney, Shumaker Attorneys at Law
We regularly refer our clients to Management inSites for assistance with setting up their U.S. business, and we work with MI to provide visa support for foreign-owned U.S. companies. They have a wealth of expertise and knowledge of multiple industries, business best practices, and practical experience that makes working with them easy, and sets companies up for success.
Meredith W. BarnettePartner, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm
Working with a foreign subsidiary is very different from working with one whose parent company is in the U.S. The questions you need to ask are different, and the process itself can be drastically more complicated. We enjoy partnering with MI because they know about all of those pitfalls and can help companies grow without making the classic mistakes.
Doug MitchellSenior Sales Executive, USI Insurance Services
We hired MI to act as our controller since our U.S. team is small. And we are glad we did! We unexpectedly had turnover in our internal bookkeeping position, and MI was able to seamlessly carry out the functions while they searched, hired, and trained our new employee.
Jaume GrauManager, TecCoat
We have worked with MI across several clients. We find that we are able to get answers and process tax returns faster when MI is involved. MI's experience and knowledge of the US makes them a great partner for companies entering and navigating the U.S. market.
David JonesPartner, GreerWalker CPAs & Advisors
I have been referring clients to MI for over ten years because their services are tailored to foreign companies and meet the operational needs my clients previously struggled with. Plus, MI’s end of year financial packets are professional, making my firm’s tax services easier.
Elizabeth P. MurphyTax Partner, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP
The support we’ve had from MI during our first year in the U.S. has been invaluable…[It] ensured that we were able to hit the ground running and focus on building revenues as quickly as possible.
Hugh FreerPresident, MasterMover, Inc.
As a family-owned and operated business, it was important that the team we worked within the U.S. understood our needs and worked for our company as if it was their own. Management inSites has been that and more.
Alessandro MelottiCEO, Dulcop International
With Management inSites, we knew we were in great hands. Their internationally-minded consultants and professional team supported us at every step along the way. MI gave us the start we needed.
Stefano CazzanigaCEO, LC America
From helping with business plan writing to hiring personnel and looking for a showroom, MI’s IBI service has taken the burden off us so we can focus on sales and really penetrate the U.S. market.
Giuseppe BacciCEO, Bacci America
MI’s consultants optimized our U.S. entry strategy by directing us to form a joint venture with a complementary product offering to achieve the economy of scale needed to support our U.S. operations.
Luigi FabriFormer Managing Director, Comi Condor, S.p.A.

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