You want to implement an EDI system because you believe that it will make your company more agile, efficient, and profitable. This desire raises the question of what resources you need. How much will it cost to set up and maintain such a system, and do you need personnel to ensure the EDI system’s successful operation?
There are two ways to meet your EDI staffing needs: hire people or select an EDI outsourcing firm. This article explores how to determine whether you should invest in dedicated EDI personnel or choose a firm that will handle all of your EDI needs for you.
Keeping EDI Staffing In-House
What are some of the reasons that a company might hire dedicated EDI personnel? There are a few considerations you should take into account.
The first question you should ask yourself is how vital an EDI system is to your business. Do you have many trading partners? Do those trading partners expect your EDI system to have low rates of downtime? If the answer to those questions is “yes,” it might make sense to hire permanent staff to handle your EDI system.
Fortunately, you do not have to handle this alone. Remedi works with companies every day to asses the types of candidates they need to accomplish their goals, and then finds qualified candidates to fulfill roles inside the company.
What is more, Remedi also provides corporate training to ensure that the EDI professionals you have on staff are up to speed on all things EDI.
Turning to an EDI Outsourcing Company
What if you do not fit into the situations described above? Is that a definite sign that you should find an EDI outsourcing firm immediately?
There are some scenarios in which it makes more sense to outsource your EDI needs. Suppose you are a small company. You do not have that many trading partners, though there are enough of them that you need an EDI system. Your budget is limited, too.
In this case, it makes sense to engage an EDI consultant. You do not have to hire, train, and retain EDI experts. Moreover, the EDI outsourcing company takes care of keeping your EDI software up to date and ensuring it is operational.
The biggest advantage of hiring an EDI consultant is that it enables you to focus on your core business. While an EDI system provides many benefits to companies, many firms still see this software as a cost center. They do not understand that it can make them more agile, competitive, and profitable.
When you hire an EDI consultant, you get the best of both worlds; you implement technology that saves you money and makes you more attractive to business partners, and you do not have to worry about its operation. Someone else handles the complexity; you concentrate on what you do best. It is a win-win situation.
Turning to an EDI outsourcing firm can save you time, money, and effort. It guarantees that your EDI system works optimally so that you keep your clients and your trading partners. While the EDI consultant takes care of your system, you can go about your business without worrying about software that is not your specialty.
To learn more about finding the right EDI outsourcing firm, contact us.
