00:00 – 01:00 | Introduction

Good morning, everyone. Jim Gonzalez here from EDI Support LLC. Today we’re answering a major question we hear often:

How do you choose the right EDI solution for your business?

Many companies talk to multiple providers—three or four conversations—yet still can’t decide. My goal today is to help you make that decision confidently by understanding the EDI landscape and matching the right approach to your business needs.

I’ll also share helpful evaluation tools you can request from our team.

01:00 – 02:30 | The Challenge Businesses Face

Even after vendor demos, pricing quotes, and feature overviews, teams often remain unsure:

• Is this too complex?
• Are we overpaying?
• Will we outgrow this?
• Do we need more control?

This session breaks down the three main EDI models so you can quickly determine which makes sense for your organization.

02:30 – 04:00 | Model #1 — Fully Managed EDI

Best for:
 Small businesses, startups, and lean teams with little to no IT or EDI resources.

How it works:

• Provider manages onboarding, mapping, monitoring, support
• Minimal integration needed
• Very fast to implement

Trade-off:

• Less visibility and customization
• Often referred to as a “black box” approach

Ideal scenario:
 A small manufacturer with 2–3 trading partners exchanging <100 documents per month.

Elevate excels here because it includes both the platform and an outsourced EDI team.

04:00 – 06:30 | Model #2 — Hybrid EDI

Best for:
 Mid-sized companies that want more control while still getting expert support.

How it works:

• You retain access to maps and trading partner setup
• Provider/partner supports implementation and scaling
• More flexibility + ability to take over internally later

Common hybrid platforms:

• Boomi
• MuleSoft
• Celigo
• Cleo
• io
• Jitterbit

This model supports growing complexity like:

• 20+ partners
• Multiple ERPs
• Custom workflows

It balances control with convenience.

06:30 – 09:00 | Model #3 — In-House / Self-Managed EDI

Best for: Enterprises with large volumes and a dedicated IT/EDI team

How it works:

• All infrastructure and mapping handled internally
• High customization capability
• Providers can still assist for expertise

Use cases:

• Proprietary ERP or warehouse systems
• Tens of thousands of documents per week
• Full control and deep automation needed

Trade-off:

• Highest long-term cost
• Requires strong internal resources

09:00 – 11:00 | How to Select the Right Model

Ask yourself:

• How many trading partners do we support today—and in the next 3–5 years?
• What document volumes and types do we handle monthly?
• Do we have internal EDI or integration expertise?
• What level of control do we truly need?
• Are we trying to get compliant quickly—or transform workflows?

“There is no best EDI approach. There is only the best fit for your workflow, resources, and growth stage.”

EDI capability improves competitiveness and compliance, even for small companies.

11:00 – 14:00 | Tools to Make Better Decisions

We offer three tools to help evaluate solutions objectively:

Provider Evaluation Checklist
 Questions covering onboarding, usability, platform modernity, support quality, pricing transparency

Vendor Scorecard
 A ranking system comparing:

• Integration flexibility
• SLAs and responsiveness
• Pricing structure
• Platform performance

Scope Document Template
 Captures:

• Trading partners
• Document/doc volume
• Labeling and logistics needs
• Integration details

➡️ If a provider does not request detailed scoping — red flag

14:00 – 17:00 | Common Mistakes

Avoid:

• Choosing based on sales pressure rather than operational fit
• Buying enterprise tools when you only need simple automation
• Ignoring scalability and future document growth
• Failing to map trading partner flows before implementation

“Don’t buy a jet when what you need is a reliable car with GPS.”

Documentation upfront = fewer delays and lower cost later.

17:00 – 19:30 | Recommendations by Business Stage

Elevate continues to evolve — optimized today for SMB efficiency, expanding for enterprise needs over the next few years.

Most EDI projects fail not because EDI doesn’t work — but because the wrong approach is chosen.

19:30 – 21:00 | Next Steps and Support

If you’re attending NRF 2026 from Jan 11-13, we’ll be at Booth #6263 in NYC — stop by to discuss your EDI needs directly.