Setting aside the Spanish/English argument for the [Off-Topic] discussion, I prefer X12 for one reason: Documentation. With X12 I can go to one book or one CD-ROM and find the documentation I need. This is because the X12 committee and DISA cooperate to get all the documentation in one place. With EDIFACT, there are so many different agencies contributing that it is very difficult to find the standard, or even a cohesive presentation of the standards. People complain that EDIFACT is free, whereas X12 standards cost hundreds of dollars. Well, I have spent thousands of my clients dollars trying to track down the EDIFACT standards, whereas one investment in a CD-ROM for less than $600 has sufficed for all my X12 needs for a long time.
That being said, EDIFACT is not difficult if you know X12. X12 is not difficult if you know EDIFACT. Preference for one standard or the other is probably largely based on which one you learned best. Bien? Art Douglas Lead Consultant Blackwater Network (877) 464-8915 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ricardo Johnson Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2008 2:09 PM To: [email protected] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [EDI-L] Which do you prefer, X12 or EDIFACT? X12 has been around much longer that EDIFACT so it's widely used in the US and Canada, where it started. EDIFACT is much younger and underwent the normal problems of maturing. But now that they're both just as mature, robust, and efficient the question: 'Will EDIFACT replace X12 in the US?' becomes a relevant one. I'd like to answer it with another question: Will Spanish replace English in the US? Like English, X12 is so entrenched in US business culture and systems that it would be impossible to replace. Yet, as the rest of the world embrases EDIFACT, more and more US companies, specially those dealing with international trade, will have to become at least partially bilingual. EDI bilinguism, like any other should thus evolve as a natural consequence of influence, usege, and need, not mandates. In fact, this is already happening: the US Customs bureau, most of the large automotive and logistics firms, and many others others are using EDIFACT with their international trading partners. I know for instance Wal-Mart has been using EDIFACT with all of its TPs in Mexico since 1995, when that country adopted EDIFACT as their national standard. Is suppose Mexico is not the only case either. That said, it would nice to see more companies in the US experimenting with EDIFACT, after all it's developed and promoted by the United Nations for global trade and understanding, it's already included in most of the EDI software, and best of all it's FREE.. Can't go wrong! Ricardo Johnson . However, like Spanish EDIFACT offers many benefits very rapidly a--- On Thu, 9/4/08, Chill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Chill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [EDI-L] Which do you prefer, X12 or EDIFACT? To: [email protected] Date: Thursday, September 4, 2008, 9:34 AM Just starting this discussion to see which is the preferred EDI format. I have heard statements from some that "EDIFACT will replace X12 within the next 5 years" and "X12 is Superior and EDIFACT is Inferior". I would like to hear the Pros and Cons of both from some of the "Superior Minds" that frequent this group. As a little background data, we are using Inovis BizManager (Oracle Data Base) and the Inovis Mapper product. We are on a Linux set up using Redhat 4, using Oracle 11i. Thank you, Char 859-620-3356 ------------------------------------ ... Please use the following Message Identifiers as your subject prefix: <SALES>, <JOBS>, <LIST>, <TECH>, <MISC>, <EVENT>, <OFF-TOPIC> Job postings are welcome, but for job postings or requests for work: <JOBS> IS REQUIRED in the subject line as a prefix.Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ ... Please use the following Message Identifiers as your subject prefix: <SALES>, <JOBS>, <LIST>, <TECH>, <MISC>, <EVENT>, <OFF-TOPIC> Job postings are welcome, but for job postings or requests for work: <JOBS> IS REQUIRED in the subject line as a prefix.Yahoo! Groups Links ------------------------------------ ... Please use the following Message Identifiers as your subject prefix: <SALES>, <JOBS>, <LIST>, <TECH>, <MISC>, <EVENT>, <OFF-TOPIC> Job postings are welcome, but for job postings or requests for work: <JOBS> IS REQUIRED in the subject line as a prefix.Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
