Consulting Assessment Details

EDI Specialists strongly urges all clients to perform an EC/EDI and EAI assessment, prior to any major decisions involving B2B and EAI technologies, to determine where potential problems and barriers to successful implementation may exist. The deliverables of a consulting assessment with EDI Specialists typically are:

• A written report detailing our findings, with options and recommendations focused on the short-term requirements and long-term direction of the client's EC/EDI/EAI program.

• If applicable, the assessment will also include a detailed software evaluation matrix and recommendations relative to the software options, which best fit the specific needs of the client.

The following describes the components of a consulting assessment:

Interviews/Discovery/Analysis (Onsite – 1 Day)

• Identify How the Use of EDI/EAI Technology Aligns with Company Business Goals.

• Analyze EDI/EAI Operational and Day-to-day Activities.
• Assess Major Trading Partner Plans and Capabilities (Optional Phone Survey).
• Examine EDI/EAI Organizational Structure, Roles, and Responsibilities.
• Review Internal Business Processes, Applications, and Information Flow.
• Evaluate EDI/EAI Technical Architecture and IT Systems Infrastructure.

Assessment/Research/Report Writing (Off site – generally 2 Days)

• Synthesize Information and Findings.
• Assess Current State and Future State of Environment
• Research Options.
• Develop Recommendations Based on Existing and Future Environment.
• Write Report, Develop Software Matrix if applicable.

Assessment clients should appoint a single individual to work as a liaison with EDI Specialists during this project. This individual will assist in scheduling interviews, gathering documentation, validating certain findings, and other tasks as necessary to complete the study.

To facilitate this assessment, it is important to insure the availability and cooperation of the employees who will be directly involved during the interview and analysis process. Any existing company documentation relating to company goals and strategy, organization, internal processes, trading partners, applications, technical infrastructure, operational metrics, etc. should be examined for accuracy and made available to EDI Specialists.