EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is the historical standard for the electronic exchange of commercial documents — orders, invoices, delivery notes, dispatch advices — between different companies' systems, without human intervention. Since the 1980s it has been the operational basis of supply chains in retail (chains require EDI from suppliers), the automotive industry (OEMs require EDI from the network), and logistics (carriers operate on EDI).
The traditional formats (EDIFACT, ANSI X12) are structured but rigid, and implementation typically involves middleware between the company's ERP and the communication protocol with partners (a VAN, Value Added Network, or direct AS2). Modern implementations frequently encapsulate EDI in APIs (REST/JSON), keeping the semantics but modernising the technical layer. The expression 'API-first' is replacing EDI in new use cases, but classic EDI remains dominant in established chains.
INFOS implements EDI integration for customers operating with chains where it is a requirement — larger retailers, automotive-industry suppliers. The MULTI ERP exposes the necessary structures; specialised middleware handles the translation to EDIFACT or X12 depending on the counterparty. For more modern chains, REST/JSON APIs via the Portal dos Subcontratados deliver equivalent functionality with less complexity.