EDI mapping is the process of defining translation rules between two data formats used in an EDI transaction so structured business documents can be exchanged accurately.
What Is An EDI Mapping?
EDI mapping is the process of defining how data fields from one business system or file format translate into another format for electronic data interchange. It helps trading partners exchange structured documents such as purchase orders, invoices, and shipping notices even when their internal systems, data formats, or EDI standards differ. SEEBURGER supports EDI mapping with converter tools, SEEXML canonical mappings, mapping repositories, and training for the SEEBURGER BIS Platform.
Key takeaways
- EDI mapping defines translation rules between source and target data formats so business documents can be exchanged accurately.
- The five-step EDI mapping process is: data analysis, mapping specification, implementation, testing, and deployment.
- Indirect or canonical mapping can reduce mapping maintenance effort when many trading partners or ERP systems need to be connected.
What is EDI mapping?
EDI mapping defines the translation rules between the data format used by one computer system and the data format used by another system in an EDI transaction. A mapping can translate proprietary files such as CSV, TXT, SAP IDoc, or ERP-specific formats into EDI standards such as EDIFACT or ANSI X12, and it can also translate standard EDI messages back into internal formats. Because trading partners often use different systems, file structures, and standards, EDI mapping helps ensure that structured business data is exchanged accurately and can be processed by the receiving system.
How does the EDI mapping process work?
EDI mapping typically follows five steps.
- Data analysis: analyze the structure and content of incoming and outgoing data files.
- Mapping specification: define how each source data element corresponds to the target data element, including data types, lengths, formats, transformations, and validations.
- Mapping implementation: configure mapping software or write code to execute the mapping rules and transform the data.
- Testing: verify that data is translated accurately between formats.
- Deployment: move the mapping solution into the production environment for ongoing use.
Once mappings are implemented and tested, trading partners can exchange business documents electronically, reducing manual entry and paper-based processing.
What does an EDI converter tool do?
An EDI converter tool, also called an EDI translator, converts messages from internal systems into the EDI mapping standard agreed by trading partners. Standards may be defined by organizations such as the UN, ANSI, VDA, or DIN and may include global, regional, or industry-specific message standards.
Translation
Parsing
Validation
Mapping
Generation
Why do trading partner EDI guidelines matter?
Many retailers and automotive vendors act as EDI hubs and publish their own EDI guidelines. These guidelines explain which segments, elements, and codes they use and which fields are mandatory or optional. They can narrow broad EDIFACT or ANSI X12 message structures, but they can also increase complexity for suppliers that must maintain specific mappings for many customers.
What is the difference between direct and indirect EDI mapping?
Direct mapping is a 1:1 translation between a source structure and a target structure. It describes the data relationship between two trading partners with an individually created mapping.
Indirect or canonical mapping uses an abstraction layer between partner formats and internal systems. A partner mapping converts the EDI message into the abstraction-layer format, and a company-specific mapping converts the abstraction-layer format into the in-house format consumed by the receiver's ERP system. This approach can scale better because it supports one process, two process maps, and any number of partner mappings.
How SEEXML supports canonical EDI mapping
SEEBURGER uses SEEXML, a canonical format developed by SEEBURGER. SEEXML trading partner mappings are available for more than 10,000 trading partner relations. For each ERP system and business process, there is one unique process map. On the partner side, a ready-to-use partner map comes from the SEEBURGER mapping repository.
Reduce the number of unique EDI mappings to the minimum.
Connect a large number of EDI trading partners more quickly.
Connect more than one ERP system.
Make changes and extensions easier and faster to implement.
Reduce effort for creating, maintaining, and testing EDI mappings.
Support X12N-capable mapping requirements.
How can EDI mapping knowledge be developed?
EDI training helps teams understand EDI basics, document structures, data formats, communication protocols such as AS2 and FTP, and secure transmission methods such as encryption and digital signatures. Practical exercises and case studies help learners apply EDI mapping knowledge to real-world scenarios.
The SEEBURGER Academy offers EDI mapping training for the SEEBURGER BIS Platform in the BIS Mapping Designers Basics and BIS Mapping Designer Advanced courses.
Frequently asked questions about EDI mapping
What is EDI mapping?
Why is EDI mapping needed?
EDI mapping is needed because trading partners may use different internal systems, file structures, or EDI standards. Mapping helps translate data into a format the receiving system can process.
What are the five steps of EDI mapping?
The five steps are data analysis, mapping specification, mapping implementation, testing, and deployment.
What is an EDI converter tool?
An EDI converter tool is software that converts data from an ERP system or another internal system into an agreed EDI format, and can also translate EDI messages back into internal formats.
What is direct EDI mapping?
Direct EDI mapping is a 1:1 translation from one source structure to one target structure for a specific trading partner relationship.
What is indirect or canonical EDI mapping?
Indirect or canonical EDI mapping uses an abstraction layer so partner-specific mappings and company-specific process maps can be managed more efficiently across many trading partners or ERP systems.
What is SEEXML?
SEEXML is a canonical format developed by SEEBURGER. It supports partner mappings from the SEEBURGER mapping repository and is used to simplify and scale EDI mapping processes.
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EDI Message Standards – an Overview
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