EDI via the Internet

Only about 5 per cent of the companies that could be doing EDI are doing EDI. Can the Internet change the mathematics with its lower costs and easy accessibility? The Internet is attractive, not only because it is free and can handle EDI, but because it affords even small retail concerns a new marketplace for linking with suppliers. The Internet has its own vulnerabilities. Unreliable Internet performance could result in message loss – totally unacceptable to trading partners. The Internet is perceived as an unsafe medium for the valuable and sensitive information in business transactions. Mass adoption of Internet/EDI will come when Web browser technology is married to forms‐based EDI. While Internet/EDI may be dark and dangerous, several firms are now conducting pilots or implementing production systems.