EDI
and UN/EDIFACT
Electronic Data Interchange is not a novelty in the business arena,
some companies have been practising EDI on the basis of proprietary
formats since the late 1960's. However if EDI implementation is to
remain cost-efficient, trading partners must share a common language
for their business and commercial messages.
In
the mid-1970's, sectoral EDI standards began emerging in a number
of countries which sometimes led to the development of national
standards after a few years. It became clear that if the EDI standardisation
efforts were to meet the requirements of the global business community,
an international multi-industry EDI standard was needed.
By
the mid-1980's the development of an EDI standard began taking shape
within the United Nations. The standard is known today under the
acronym UN/EDIFACT, in full:
United
Nations Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce
and Transport.
In
1987, the syntax or grammar of UN/EDIFACT was approved as ISO standard
9735.
UN/CEFACT
is the United Nations Centre for Facilitation of Procedures and
Practices for Administration, Commerce and Transport. The centre's
objective is to develop recommendations and standards such as UN/EDIFACT
to facilitate trade.
Over
50 countries and many international organisations, such as S.W.I.F.T.,
I.A.T.A, the European Commission, International Chamber of Commerce,
ISO, International Chamber of Shipping and EAN International, are
represented in UN/CEFACT.
EAN
International is an active participant in the UN/CEFACT development
process at regional and international levels.
UN/EDIFACT
web site: http://www.unicc.org/unece/trafix
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