Vinnie Cordone | June 26, 2018

The words “manual data entry” may make you shudder—and they should.

The good news is, you don’t have to worry about manually entering information if you choose EDI and API integration using cloud ERP. Find out how Acumatica’s wholesale distribution software with extensibility can give you a cost-effective and ‘one-stop’ solution for your logistical and supply chain needs.

In the worlds of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and cloud ERP, manual data entry is akin to a four-letter word—something best not used in the professional space.

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Data entry is defined as “transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device. It can either be performed manually or automatically by using a machine or computer.”  EDI is the electronic transferring of data from one computer system to another using a standardized format, thus removing any manual data entry from the process.

With B2BGateway and Acumatica cloud ERP, wholesale distribution businesses can get the seamless EDI integration they need for communicating effortlessly with their supply chain partners.

EDI and API integration using cloud ERP

At B2BGateway, Acumatica users of all sizes looking for an EDI & API Connectivity Solution ask us every day what solutions we offer, along with the associated costs.  After all, implementing an EDI system is a big deal. EDI will become the center of your day-to-day business. Without EDI, large corporations such as Target, Walmart, and Bed Bath & Beyond may not consider selling your product. You need to make sure you make the right move the first time.

B2BGateway has fully integrated over 25,000 relationships over the years, connecting suppliers with retailers and warehouses. The key point here isn’t the number of relationships we’ve on-boarded but rather the fact that we can fully integrate with Acumatica, a true cloud ERP solution providing modern wholesale distribution software with a complete multi-site, cloud-based Manufacturing Edition.

We are often asked to compare pricing to other manual solutions (think webforms) that are out there in the EDI market.  In our opinion, there is no comparison. A company has the option of “implementing EDI” by selecting a “cheaper”, manually web-based option but in all honesty, that’s not EDI. You are just taking a manual process you are likely already performing in-house and instead, manually input the data on a website.

B2BGateway’s Acumatica integration is built and maintained by B2BGateway developers and eliminates the need for any manual data entry into Acumatica or use of any web portal. Having access to Acumatica’s modern ERP business solution for wholesale distribution management also eliminates using multiple systems to run your quote-to-cash cycle and assists you with making sound business decisions.

The ROI of choosing EDI & API integration using cloud ERP

The cost of manually inputting data on a website or into Acumatica is far more expensive than the sticker price you would pay B2BGateway per month. You will pay your employee to enter that information, and that’s not free.

Let’s break it down into an Example.

Let’s say:

  • A staff member doing order entry works nonstop for 7.5 hours a day (not likely)
  • It takes about 3 minutes to enter an order into your system
  • There are roughly 1,100 transactions per month

7.5 hours X 5 days = 2,250 minutes in the week.

1,100 orders X 3 minutes each = 3,300 minutes to enter the orders.

A full time and exceptional employee can enter about 2/3 of the orders.

So, to be conservative, you need one or two employees at $40,000 plus expenses (taxes, insurance, 401k match, vacations, etc.). That totals $60k in employee costs (on the low end), plus the EDI Provider’s monthly cost. That means you are paying $5,000 to $6,000 (or more) a month for EDI.

Additionally, let’s not forget that we all make mistakes. Manually entering data into your ERP platform has likely already resulted in its share of mistakes. When mistakes happen, trading partners don’t typically respond with “we understand what you meant to type”.  They’ll respond with a heavy-handed chargeback that can cost your business thousands.

The ROI of an EDI & API Connectivity Solution is clear.

And when you look at your EDI & API integration options, be sure you consider all the costs that fly under the radar and that affect your business’ ability to grow.

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Find us online at www.udexx.com, e-mail us at info@udexx.com or give us a call.

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