EDI systems have been in use for over forty years and until recently users have needed access to either a private network such as Value Added Network or the internet in order to send and receive EDI related business documents.

EDI infrastructures are complex and many software applications used across these networks were never designed with the mobile user in mind. Would EDI users really want to use a mobile device for completing a purchase order or invoice whilst out of the office or would they prefer to use a mobile device to check on the status of a delivery to a supplier, review the performance of a logistics partner by way of a number of graphical charts or simply communicate with a trading partner community in the same way that many of us use mobile phones to provide status updates to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

In addition to identifying where mobile devices can be used across an EDI infrastructure, the other reason for limited adoption of mobile EDI applications has really been down to the devices themselves. The quality and size of the screen of most devices has been relatively poor until the Apple iPhone and RIM Blackberry devices were introduced on to the market. The Blackberry remains the most popular mobile device of many corporate IT departments but the latest 3G version of Apple’s iPhone could lead to an increased adoption of EDI/B2B applications for this platform.

In fact these mobile devices have transformed the way in which users interact with their enterprises whilst on the move and some companies are just starting to launch applications to help mobilise their supply chains.  Applications have already been launched to allow the mobile enterprise user to get access to an ERP or CRM system on the move so why not have the option of getting access to an EDI platform as well?

There is a growing industry for developing software applications or ‘apps’ for downloading on to these mobile devices and Apple, as of 2010, certainly has the largest app store in the mobile device industry.  It will only be a matter of time before you can download a supply chain or EDI related app from a private or corporate app store. Each visitor to the corporate app store would be able to install apps according to their role and function within the business.

Further information about the uses for mobile EDI applications will be added to this section of EDI Basics as it becomes available.