DIG document flow: everything else is message in a bottle!
Complete digitization of purchasing
With interdisciplinary expertise and experience in eProcurement, invoice receipt and electronic data interchange (EDI), DIG is the ideal partner for custom-fit business digitization.
Flexible electronic data exchange
In reality, digital business processes require more from a wide variety of partners than just classic EDI routes, which are only profitable above a certain scale. Because this way the great potential of automation remains unused! That's why we at DIG talk about flexible FDI instead of rigid EDI interfaces. For incomparably practicable, electronic document flow.
As FDI (flexible data interchange), four communication channels facilitate sustainable efficiency improvements along the entire purchase-to-pay chain (from order to invoice). In this way, every company can use fully automated document flow regardless of the size of its partners and the format of incoming documents - for a fast and sustainable realization of valuable efficiency potential that not only saves costs, but also increases supplier relationships in terms of supply security! We cover the purchase area with ideally customizable eProcurement systems!
Automate document flow efficiently
"Document flow" always refers to the dynamic communication between two customer systems, which triggers a process in the other system depending on the process scope (purchase-to-order or purchase-to-pay) by means of purchase order, order confirmation, invoice, delivery schedule or delivery bill: For example, a purchase order is followed by an order confirmation - in the best case fully automated without any manual activity. To make this possible with all partners regardless of their size, DIG flexibilizes the data exchange with FDI instead of EDI.
Automation brings security of supply
Pandemics, geopolitical conflicts, or even coincidences like the blockade of the Suez Canal by a container ship in 2021 put the stability of supply chains to the test. Direct supplier communication in real time and faster document processing strengthen supplier relationships and create clear time advantages when it comes to securing scarce inventory! We will be happy to send you more information.
More flexibility: FDI creates clear advantages
With four channels in the routing (EDI, web.EDI as well as PDF or XML by mail) DIG enables under the name FDI - flexible data interchange to connect new markets and trading partners quickly and efficiently and thus to achieve positive effects on the entire supply chain. On the buyer side, the fast and error-free processing of data leads to the consistent use of better payment terms through discounts and rebates. Delivery times can also be shortened thanks to the fast information flow and, last but not least, the purely digital document flow helps to reduce CO2 emissions by avoiding paper and printing.
More power in the procurement process
More power in the procurement processPaper-based invoice receipt, costs due to complaints, cash discount losses and more - many reasons speak for the exchange of receipts or business documents via the DIG Portal with fully automated receipt processing! With four transmission paths, a suitable solution is available to all participants. From classic EDI with a correspondingly high business volume of the partners via the web portal (web.EDI) to the two mailbox options (PDF format and standardized XML documents such as ebInterface and ZUGFeRD). DIG Consulting will clarify which channel is the most suitable for you.
Depending on the specific requirements, companies normally start with one or two channels; additional transmission channels can be set up if necessary. All common transmission protocols like SOAP Webservice, HTTPS, SFTP, X.400, Peppol, Email, OFTP2 and many more are used. Individual routings are also supported on request.
All connections are encrypted. Protocols that do not support native encryption are protected via IPsec VPN tunnels. Depending on the document, a defined connection (interface) is established. To the customer, a defined connection (interface) is established per document to be transmitted (e.g. order) and this is then connected to the suppliers or vice versa.
Examples for practical use
With the flexibly selectable routing channels of FDI (EDI, web.EDI as well as PDF or XML by mail), document flows such as the creation, dispatch and processing of order confirmations are continuously automated in practice. Likewise, complex orders of highly individualized products defined by design data from a document management system (DMS) can be executed automatically. The communication of catalog data as well as its translation into the customer system is also a practical example. Finally, the incoming invoice portal and the portal for e-invoices create all the prerequisites for subsequently mapping the complete purchase-to-pay process.
- Translation (for format-independent data communication)
- Data reconciliation (the checking of defined parameters, also called clearing)
- Data preparation (or preparing for the problem-free posting of the document in the target system)
- Document flow management (fully automatic forwarding to the target system or defined, manual clarification in case of errors or inconsistencies in individual documents)
Four automation processes
The graphic below shows the basic structure of a document flow solution with the 4-way connection through FDI. This essentially consists of the connection of the suppliers to the DIG Portal (in the graphic on the right-hand side, the so-called routing): As already mentioned, these are EDI or DIG.edi, web.EDI (DIG.webedi) as well as PDF (DIG.easyconnect) or XML by mail (DIG.xml2edi). In the menu item Automation you will find detailed information about the four automation processes!
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