Many partners, many variants
Each partner uses its own interpretation of EDIFACT or other standards. One message type often hides dozens of variants.
Insights · Integration
EDI in S/4HANA projects
Orders, dispatch advice and invoices run over EDI in many companies. In S/4HANA projects this is often dismissed as mere technology. That backfires.
By Michele Mangieri · Updated
In short
EDI needs its own attention in S/4HANA projects: in many companies, orders, dispatch advice and invoices run over it. Each partner interprets EDIFACT or other standards its own way, partner tests take time, and the ERP format changes: IDocs remain standard for many Private Edition scenarios, APIs come first in the Public Edition.
Why
Why EDI needs its own attention.
Immediately business-critical
If an order or an invoice is missing, customers and suppliers notice at once.
Partner tests take time
Every partner needs dates, test data and sign-off. That rarely fits the schedule of an ERP project.
The ERP format changes
In the Private Edition, IDocs remain standard for many scenarios; in the Public Edition, APIs come first. Both affect the mappings.
Platform
Integration Suite or EDI provider?
SAP Integration Suite brings tools for B2B scenarios with Trading Partner Management and Integration Advisor. Whether it fits, or a specialised provider does, depends on a few questions.
- How many partners and formats are there, and how often are new ones added?
- Is there an EDI provider whose contract continues?
- Who runs the solution, and who in the business sees errors first?
- What do partners require for transmission channels and certificates?
From our project work.
Mappings between IDoc and EDIFACT as well as xCBL for a billing consolidation, EDI interfaces for SAP ERP and the connection of EDI suppliers when a mail-order retailer introduced SAP.
Your interfaces under review: To the Integration Readiness Review →
SAP, SAP PO, SAP Integration Suite and S/4HANA are trademarks of SAP SE. maxClaint is an independent consultancy and not an SAP partner.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about EDI in S/4HANA
Why do EDI partner tests take time?
Every partner needs dates, test data and sign-off, which rarely fits the schedule of an ERP project. On top of that, each partner uses its own interpretation of EDIFACT or other standards, and one message type often hides dozens of variants.
How do IDocs and APIs affect EDI in S/4HANA?
They determine the format in the ERP, and that affects the mappings. In the Private Edition, IDocs remain standard for many scenarios; in the Public Edition, APIs come first.
Which B2B tools does SAP Integration Suite offer?
SAP Integration Suite brings Trading Partner Management and Integration Advisor for B2B scenarios. Whether it fits, or a specialised provider does, depends on a few questions, such as the number of partners and formats and who runs the solution.
Should EDI run on SAP Integration Suite or with an EDI provider?
A few questions decide it: how many partners and formats there are and how often new ones arrive, whether an EDI provider's contract continues, who runs the solution and who in the business sees errors first, and what partners require for transmission channels and certificates.
30 minutes, and you will know whether we can help.
You describe the decision ahead. We tell you which package fits, or that none does.