What is EDI, and why it matters
Time is the most expensive resource. In today's fast-paced business world, exchanging accurate data quickly, efficiently, and securely is critical. EDI allows businesses to exchange business-critical documents, bookings, equipment movements, customs documents, vessel schedules, invoices, purchase orders, hazardous cargo declarations, and shipping instructions, in a standardized electronic format flowing directly between computers.
In container shipping, EDI connects carriers, terminals, ports, container depots, customs, customers, and vendors. The benefits are structural:
- Faster transactions: bookings, equipment moves, payments, and shipments process more quickly, reducing delays and improving customer satisfaction.
- Reduced errors: information transfers accurately, without the mistakes manual data entry introduces.
- Cost savings: no paper, postage, or manual re-keying.
- Global connectivity: EDI is a worldwide standard, streamlining international transactions with any partner.
Solverminds' global EDI capabilities
Solverminds is a leader in EDI integration for the liner shipping industry, providing end-to-end solutions for carriers automating their B2B communication, whether integrating with terminals, customs, or third-party systems such as SAP and Oracle Fusion, or connecting with local tax filing providers.
The numbers from 2024: 20+ shipping companies served across 150+ countries and 250+ locations, 1,300+ unique EDI formats supported, and 15.12 million+ EDI transactions processed, averaging over a million transactions monthly.
Standard UN/EDIFACT messages cover the full operational spectrum: COARRI (container discharge/loading reports), CODECO (gate-in/gate-out), COPARN (container announcements), COPRAR (handling instructions), COREOR (release orders), CUSCAR (customs cargo reports), and the IFT family for bookings, transport instructions, and status updates (IFTMBC, IFTMCS, IFTMIN, IFTSTA).
Beyond the standards
Solverminds also provides customized EDI services for proprietary formats, supporting liner shipping, NVOCC, feeder, liner agency, freight forwarding, and logistics businesses that need specialized data exchange. Transfer protocols include SFTP, FTP, FTPS, and HTTPS, so every partner can choose the most suitable secure method.
With more than 22 years of experience, Solverminds can establish EDI services within hours instead of days, helping organizations streamline operations, improve efficiency, and stay ahead in a digital-first world.