EDI – AS A TECHNOLOGY
FOR THE NEW E-ECONOMY
Jolanta Chec
National Institute of Telecommunications
Gdansk, POLAND
E-mail: jolac@il.gda.pl
1.
Introduction
The very quick development of information and communication technology (ICT)
created large possibilities for the development of the new e-economy. EDI technology as
a result of ICT development is a technology of public, global nature, very useful for
e-economy. EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) ensures interchange of electronic formatted
documents (equivalent of papers documents such as invoices, orders, etc), without manual
intervention, by the use of data transmission networks.
International standardization, in the scope of ICT (Information and Communication
Technology) for realization of world - wide EDI, comprises two areas of standardization:
 standardization of data formats;
 standardization of communication systems.
Telecommunications system for EDI needs is a very important component in
realization of EDI idea. It should be of global nature for realization of EDI on world - wide
scale (then EDI applications, irrespectively of their locations, will communicate with each
other and interchange data on the world - wide scale). This goal can be achieved by the use of
an internationally standardized telecommunications system for EDI. Such communication
system will be a component of Global Information Infrastructure (GII). Global Information
Infrastructure should enable full access to all types of information and their exchange. GII is a
basis for realization of Global Information Society conception. The appropriate system to
comply with EDI communication requirements should enable communication between
different users (not only local) ensuring them independency of telecommunications networks
and eliminate problems related with connection and interworking between users, which use
non - standardized communication systems.
Realization of such global communication system requires regulations at international,
regional and national levels (mutually harmonized). National (polish) requirements [5]
concerning telecommunications system for EDI, based on international and regional
(european) standards and being in conformity with them, are such regulations at national level.
The role of EDI technology for Global Information Society and communication system
for EDI, as a component of Global Information Infrastructure for Global Information Society
were presented and discussed in this paper.
2.
EDI technology
2.1
General overwiev
Electronic Data Interchange can be defined as electronic interchange of documents
(structured according to agreed standards) between computer applications via a transmission
medium. EDI replaces traditional paper documents (kind of information carrier) by electronic
documents.
EDI offers faster and more efficient ways of working. EDI is a technology for the
future. It will enable realization of the idea: offices without people, by full automatization of
all processes performed by people. Routine works based on algorithms with clear decision
criteria will be done automatically without any people intervention (a computer with the help
of EDI technology will perform these works).
EDI is a technology of interdisciplinary nature. It plays an integration role in many
fields. Many different specialists of law, economy, informatics and telecommunications must
work together to realize EDI idea in practice.
Partners of EDI, according to EDI definition, have computerized information systems.
Traditional model of data interchange between partners using computerized information
systems is shown in figure 1. In traditional model data are put into the database manually
using keyboard. Next, after processing, data are printed as paper documents and sent by post.
Data from received documents are put into the database manually and next are processed.
Model of data interchange between partners using EDI technology is shown in
figure 2. In this model electronic messages are generated instead of paper documents printing.
Paper documents transport by post is replaced by electronic transfer using telecommunications
networks.
2.2
EDI types and fields of EDI use
Now it is possible to distinguish the following types of EDI:
-
-
transaction oriented EDI (interchange of data of temporary nature such as invoices, orders
of purchase, vouchers, etc. although they may be stored for checking purposes);
information oriented EDI (interchange of appropriate statistical data such as catalogues of
prices, technical data. These data will be read or updated and probably stored by receiving
firm);
electronics funds transfer (EFT is specially connected with messages concerning funds
transfer. Implementation techniques of EFT are well determined);
interactive EDI (question-answer EDI. This implementation concerns interactive systems,
such as information and reservation services, where immediate response is required e.g.
hotel orders).
EDI can be used as a technology for telematics applications (in many fields such as:
Administration, Commerce, Transport, Banking System, Industry, Tourism, Health Care,
etc.). EDI enables to facilitate cooperation between firms and companies on world - wide
scale. It hastens the circulation of documents and information especially between foreign
partners and simplifies business contacts on world - wide scale.
EDI technology used on world - wide scale is very useful for creation of Global
Information Society. The use of EDI on world – wide scale, as a technology for information
exchange, will elasticize the world system of information exchange.
Processing
Printing of paper documents
Post
Processing
Manual input of data
Post
Data Processing System
computer printer/keyboard
e.g. car
Figure 1. Traditional model
Processing
Generation of messages
Telecommunications
network
Processing
Interpretation of messages
Telecommunications
network
Data Processing System
EDI subsystem
Figure 2. Model of data interchange using EDI
TELEKOM module
2.3
Standardization for EDI
Standardization for EDI concerns two areas:
data formats and communication systems. Standardization ensures compatibility of EDI
applications at national, regional and international levels.
Data formatting standards for EDI give rules to create messages (electronic
documents). They are of two kinds:
de facto EDI standards - widely accepted and used by user groups. They are developed
without any plans and they are not controlled by standardization bodies. The following
standards are de facto EDI standards:
Great Britain (CEFIC, EDIFICE, ODETTE, TRADACOMS);
USA (AIAG, TDCC, VICS, WINS);
Austria/Germany (SEDAS);
France (GENCOD);
Sweden (DAKOM);
Holland (TRANSCOM);
de jure EDI standards - formal and legal standards developed and published by
authorized standardization bodies. International standards: UN/EDIFACT and ANSI X.12 are
de jure EDI standards.
An appropriate communication system for EDI needs is a very important component in
realization of EDI idea (according to EDI definition). Electronic mail system ensures
telecommunication realization of this problem. Communication system for EDI realization on
world wide scale should be of global nature. This goal can be achieved by the use of an
internationally standardized telecommunications system for EDI. Message Handling System
(an electronic mail system standardized in accordance with CCITT Recommendations of
X.400 series and ISO/IEC 10021 MOTIS complies with EDI communication requirements
(see p.3)
Electronic messages (EDI documents) are formatted according to agreed standards.
It is done by the EDI subsystem on the basis of intermediate files. Basic functions of EDI
subsystem: data reading, output conversion, message transfer, receipt of messages, input
conversion, data recording are shown in figure 3. Data, needful to create messages, are put
into an ouput intermediate file from the database of an information system. A conversion
programme creates EDI messages (using conversion tables for particular messages) from data
in the intermediate file. It is the output conversion. Messages destinated for one receiver are
grouped and sent directly to the computer system of EDI partner or to the EDI partner
electronic mail box. EDI messages received from partners (after input conversion made by
conversion programme) are put into an input intermediate file. They can be used by
a computer system for processing. A conversion programme makes the input/output
conversion according to specified data formatting standards.
EDI subsystem realizes two main functions:
 operational functions such as input/output conversion, transfer of messages, check
and recording of messages. They are performed currently or periodically;
 administrative functions are performed during system implementation and
exceptionally in the case of necessity. Administrative functions concern preparation of tools,
for creation of EDI usable messages. They comprise creating and updating of the EDI
normative database containing EDI standard directories (of data elements together with codes,
composed data elements, data segments) and structures of standardized EDI messages being
used in this subsystem, generation of conversion tables (defining the relations between the
structures of particular standardized EDI messages and the structure of an intermediate file).
SENDER
APPLICATION
PROGRAMME
DATA
READING
OUTPUT
CONVERSION
TRANSFER
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NETWORK
RECEIVER
APPLICATION
PROGRAMME
DATA
RECORDING
INPUT
CONVERSION
Figure 3. Basic functions of EDI subsystem
RECEIPT
2.4
Stages of EDI system creation
Creation of EDI system for a particular organization is connected with the following
works:
 analysis of the actual situation (organizational structure of the organization, general
schema of information flow between functional entities of the organization and between other
organizations, analysis of documents contents to simplify and eliminate needless information);
 working out new procedures of documents flow in the organization and new
formats of unified documents;
 review of existing resources (modernization, development).
The legislative process for new documents, creation of an appropriate organizational
structure, adaptation of existing information systems (or working out new systems), creation
or modernization of network resources are needed for implementation of EDI.
3.
Communication system for EDI
3.1
General overview
A telecommunications environment is a very important component in realization of
EDI idea (according to EDI definition). Communication between partners of Electronic Data
Interchange may be realized in the following ways:
 a point to point direct connection using public or leased telephone lines (two far-away
computers are connected using only telephone lines and modems without teleinformatic
networks. This telephone line can be a public or leased line. Both computers must be ready
for transmission at the same time);
 a point to point connection using a (X.25) packet switched data network (two far-away
computers are connected using a packet teleinformatic network. Access to the network is
possible using a switched telephone line and a modem or a leased line and a X.25 network
card. Both computers must be ready for transmission at the same time);
 a connection using X.400 network (each partner has an electronic box like a letter-box.
Direct connection between EDI partners is unnecessary. EDI for many partners using point
to point connection is very inconvenient. In this case.messages can be sent and received
using partners electronic boxes. This solution is independent of partners localization and
time at which messages are sent and received).
EDI users may have access to different telecommunications networks. EDI data, for
cooperation between users (from the same branch or the same region according to the EDI
concept), shall be accessible by different teletransmission routes of different networks that
means independently on the user possibilities concerning network access. Electronic mail
system ensures telecommunication realization of this problem.
Message Handling System (an electronic mail system standardized in accordance with
CCITT Recommendations of X.400 series and ISO/IEC 10021 MOTIS) complies with EDI
communication requirements. MHS is a communication system of global nature so it enables
work on world - wide scale (very useful for world - wide EDI).
Additional standardized service, under name EDI Service, was organized within MHS
to comply with EDI communication requirements. It involved necessity of working out
protocol PEDI that specifies format of data to be sent and data transmission procedures.
Indirect
User
origination
receipt
EDIMS
EDI-AU
export
origination
Direct
User
receipt
direct
submission
EDI-UA
import
MTS
transfer
MTA
transfer
transfer
MTA
delivery
MTA
transfer
MTA
transfer
import
export
EDIPDAU
receipt
Indirect
User
Figure 4. Transmittal
direct submission
indirect submission
EDI-MS
delivery
EDI-UA
retrieval
origination
Direct
User
receipt
Existing MHS mechanisms were used but problems specific for EDI appeared.
Extension of existing possibilities and working out additional features such as: adaptation of
an EDI message structure (in accordance to the data formatting standard e.g. EDIFACT) to the
structure of a typical MHS message, additional notifications (PN, NN, FN), additional
elements of service and facilities, additional security mechanisms, rules for EDI names, time
handling for EDI messages and notifications, working out a concept called EDI message
responsibility were needed to solve these problems.
3.2
Message Handling System features
MHS, is a basis to organize standardized services (such as IPM Service and EDI
Service) of electronic mail. It offers a standardized EDI service to comply with EDI
communication requirements. MHS works according to a rule: ”store-and-forward”. It may
interwork with other communication systems including traditional post (possibility for access
to EDI documents by users not equipped with end devices). It gives possibility to work using
international EDI formatting standards such as UN/EDIFACT, ANSI X.12.
MHS can also be organized within LANs. The Packet Switched Data Network
(PSPDN) should be a transport network between MHS nodes. Access networks to MHS nodes
may be: Packet Switched Data Networks (PSPDN), Public Switched Telephone Networks
(PSTN), Telex Networks (TLX). The Packet Switched Data Network may be also an access
network to MHS nodes for terminals working in other packet switched data networks, PSTN,
ISDN or LAN networks.
MHS ensures rich security mechanism (security of data is very important for EDI
applications) enabling elimination of existing threats such as masquerade, message
sequencing threats, message loss, modification of information, denial of service, repudiation,
leakage of information, manipulation of information by EDI user. Therefore it realizes the
following functions for protection data against these threats: origin authentication, data
confidentiality, data integrity, non-repudiation, message security labelling.
MHS users may be of the following types:
direct users - users that use MHS in a direct manner;
indirect users - users that have an access to MHS through other communication
systems.
MHS for EDI comprises the following functional objects: message transfer system MTS (that
contains message transfer agents MTAs), user agents EDI-UAs, message stores EDI-MSs,
access units EDI-AUs.
Information objects conveyed within MHS are of the following types:
messages - information objects conveyed between MHS users. Each message consists
of an envelope and a content;
probes - information objects that contain only envelopes. Each probe identifies a class
of messages in order to examine the deliverability of these messages;
reports - information objects, generated by MTS, informing about the flow of a
message or probe through MHS to one or more recipients (users).
The process of information object conveyance between functional objects in MHS is
called transmittal (see fig.4).
The following types of communication protocols are defined in MHS:
P3
P3
P1
MTA
MTA
MS
UA
P7
UA
P2
Figure 5. MHS protocols
P1: transport protocol (defines interworking between MTAs);
P2: interpersonal protocol (defines interworking between UAs in IPM System);
P3: access protocol (defines interworking between MTS and MTS user);
P7: access protocol (defines interworking between MS and MS user).
Use of MHS gives the following advantages:
 possibility of message transfer to recipients being in motion (messages can be received
irrespective of time and location). Simultaneous interworking between partners of
information interchange is not required (MHS is an asynchronous service);
 possibility of message interchange between different telecommunications systems and end
devices of different types on world wide-scale. Conversions of code, transmission speed
and communication protocol are performed in MHS node (MHS is an open service);
 possibility of message transfer (using telematic network) in a cheaper tariff area;
 possibility of message transfer to many recipients simultaneously according to
a distribution list. (MHS is a multi-address service);
 possibility of specifying the grade of message delivery: urgent, normal, non-urgent (MHS
is a service of priority nature).
3.3 Process of MHS introduction for EDI
Process of MHS introduction for EDI into an organization consists of the following phases:
- determination of strategic goals,
- MHS design for an organization,
- implementation of MHS for an organization.
The first phase needs to perform an analysis of existing situation (network resources, use of
communication systems, external connectivity, types of users, types of applications, traffic
volumes). It is helpful to determine current and future organizational requirements and system
needs. MHS internal design for a particular organization should be worked out in the second
phase. It shoul be done in accordance with strategic goals specified in the first phase.
Realization details: system components, internal topology and options (such as optional
elements of service, functional groups and optional protocol elements) should be determined
concerning functional requirements, security policy and management strategy determined in
the first phase. The next phase is implementation of MHS for an organization. The installation
of MHS is generally performed by its supplier. Sometimes it may be modified by organization
(internal development).
3.4 Global MHS
The purpose of the Global MHS concept is to ensure Message Handling on world-wide
scale. It is very useful for world-wide EDI. Global MHS (according to CCITT
Recommendations of X.400 and F.400 series) may be one of the components to build Global
Information Infrastructure (GII) for Global Information Society. Creation of an appropriate
organizational structure for MHS at international, regional and national levels (mutually
compatible) is necessary for realization of Global MHS. This compatibility may be achieved
by the use of appropriate regulations (mutually harmonized at international, regional and
national levels). “National Requirements for EDI System (EDIMS) in Message Handling
Systems” [5] (I am the author of them), based on international and regional (european)
standards) and being in conformity with them are such regulations at national level. They
should be used for conformance testing (purchase, homologation), implementation and
maintenance of EDI system in Message Handling Systems.
PRMD
PRMD
GCMD
PRMD
PRMD
ADMD
PRMD
PRMD
ADMD
ADMD
ADMD
PRMD
PRMD
COUNTRY 1
COUNTRY 2
PRMD
COUNTRY 3
Figure 6 Organization of Global MHS
Global MHS is a collection of organizational blocks called management domains.
Management Domain (MD) is a set of functional objects (it must contain at least one MTA)
that is managed by an organization. MDs can be of the following types:
 Administration Management Domain (ADMD)
is a domain managed by an Administration at national level (a member of ITU or RPOA). It
provides public services on a national basis;
 Private Management Domain (PRMD)
is a domain managed by a private organization, other than an Administration, within one
country. It provides services to particular users in the country;
 Global Corporate Management Domain (GCMD)
is a multinational domain which spans different countries. ADMDs of different countries are
connected to GCMD on the basis of appropriate agreements (bilateral or multilateral).
PRMD is limited to one country and has an access at least to one ADMD in this
country. PRMD is not a transit domain between ADMDs. PRMD interworks with ADMD at
MTA - MTA level. Each MD has its own address. ADMD enables message exchange within
one country and between different countries. ADMDs are interconnected within and between
different countries and are the main components of Global MHS. They form a backbone of
Global MHS. It consists of international and domestic backbones. By interconnecting to one
another internationally, ADMDs form an international backbone. By interconnecting to one
another domestically, they may also form domestic backbones joined to the international
backbone. Global MHS is constructed from different MDs: ADMDs, PRMDs, GCMDs. MDs
can be joined in various ways to form MHS.
Coordination of standards development for interworking between various system is the
purpose of international standardization concerning OSI Model. MHS (using OSI means)
ensures compatibility of communication systems that interwork with each other on world wide scale so it enables construction of Global MHS. Realization of Global MHS needs to use
an international directory according to Recommendations of X.500 series (it ensures that
names are globally unique). It also needs to build a global backbone (by interconnections of
ADMDs) for international message transfer related with creation of an appropriate
organizational structure for MHS (by organization of ADMDs, PRMDs and GCMDs).
GLOBAL INFORMATION
INFRASTRUCTURE (GII)
RII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
RII
RII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
RII
RII
NII
NII
NII
NII
NII
RII
NII
NII
NII
MHS
Note:
GII should contain all RIIs, each RII should contain all NIIs mutally related with
each other.
Figure 7. GII, RII, NII for realization of Global Information Society
4.
Conclusion
Realization of world-wide EDI needs to use an appropriate (internationally
standardized) communication system of global nature. Creation of a global communication
system for EDI, being a part of the Global Information Infrastructure (GII), will disseminate
EDI technology on global scale. National Information Infrastructures (NIIs) in one region
form the appropriate Regional Information Infrastructure (RII), all Regional Information
Infrastructures form the GII. Information Infrastructures must be mutually compatible. The
Global Information Infrastructure is a basis for Global Information Society.
EDI technology used on world-wide scale is very useful for e-economy in the
Information Society. It simplifies business contacts on world-wide scale. It replaces traditional
paper documents by electronic documents (formatted according to one of the world standards)
and hastens the circulation of documents and information especially between foreign partners.
EDI can be used for realization of telematics applications in many different sectors
according to European Commission Telematics Applications Programme (1994-1998)
ensuring mutual compatibility of telematics applications at national, regional and international
levels.
EDI is a technology of public, interdisciplinary and global nature. It plays an
integration role in many fields. It will enable realization of the idea: offices without people by
full automatization of all processes performed by people. EDI is a technology for the future.
The development of world-wide EDI will elasticize the world system of information exchange
and enable evolution of the society towards Global Information Society.
Bibliography
[1]
CCITT Recommendations of X.400, F.400 series.
[2]
ISO/IEC 10021 (MOTIS).
[3]
Guide to the implementation of EDI-EDIFACT. EFTA, 1994.
[4]
European Telecommunications Standardization and the Information Society.
ETSI, 1995.
[5]
J. Chec: National Requirements for EDI System (EDIMS) in Message Handling
Systems approved as Annex No 42 to the Dispositions of the Polish Minister of
Telecommunications. Government Gazette of the Republic of Poland. September’97
(in polish).
[6]
J.Chec papers concerning EDI and MHS published in:
Proceedings of International Conferences on Research for Information Society,
Warsaw 1998, 1999 (in english);
Proceedings of National EDI-EC Conferences, Lodz 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
2000 (in polish);
Proceedings of National Symposia of Telecommunications, Bydgoszcz 1994, 1995,
1996 (in polish);
Proceedings of Polish Post Symposium, Szczecin 1997 (in polish).