Education and Training for Successful EDI Implementation

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the direct electronic transmission of standard business forms between a buying firm and its suppliers. EDI is quickly gaining acceptance in the purchasing environment and has evolved into the preferred method of business communication between buying and supplying firms. As the trend toward EDI use continues, firms will expend substantial amounts of time and money in educating personnel about EDI and in training them to use the new systems. This article presents the partial results of an N.A.P.M.–funded research project that focused on EDI education and training, and involved a number of firms considered to be on the leading edge of EDI experience.