New AASA Special Report: Leveraging the cloud to improve electronic business transactions

Automotive aftermarket channel partners have used electronic data interchange (EDI) for many years to streamline the procurement process with their key vendors, but for smaller firms, the hurdle to implementing a successful EDI solution is often too high.

“Advancing EDI: Leverage the Cloud to Improve Electronic Business Transactions,” the latest Special Report from the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), examines how aftermarket businesses can move beyond traditional EDI to incorporate cloud-based solutions that simplify the process, allowing them to connect with more customers and vendors more easily and cost effectively.

Prepared exclusively for AASA by GCommerce Inc. at the request of the AASA Technology Council (ATC), “Advancing EDI” describes Software-as-a-Service EDI that:

• Creates a one-to-many electronic mapping relationship that eliminates the need to re-create each EDI relationship with each trading partner;
  
• Allows trading partners with different business systems to talk to each other by translating data “in the cloud” and putting it in a format that each party can easily access and use; and
  
• Streamlines and automates non-stock and special orders by creating a central repository for suppliers’ inventory availability that is easily accessible via a Web portal or directly through the distributor’s business system.

The end result is an EDI solution that is easier to implement and maintain, puts more trading partners on the same page and represents a step forward in streamlining the entire supply channel.

The AASA Special Report, “Advancing EDI: Leverage the Cloud to Improve Electronic Business Transactions,” is available for free download through the AASA Web site at AASA Special Reports provide thought leadership on current industry trends and topics prepared exclusively for the association by affiliate members, association executives and other industry partners. The full list of AASA Special Reports is available here. AASA Special Reports are not intended as an endorsement of any product or service by the association.

For more information visit www.aftermarketsuppliers.org.