Difference between EDI and XI

[Former Member]

Experts,

What is the main difference between EDI and XI ? Is it true that XI replaces EDI in near future?

Links would be helpful but if you can give a clear cut explanation answer for the above question, that would be great too.

Thanks,

Krishen

(P.S. points assured for your helpful answers and thanks for your time)

[ferry_lianto · Accepted solution]

Hi Krishen,

EDI is a industry standard that allows partners to exchange data electronically using a standard format or message. It is not a SAP term. There are two major EDI standards, EDIFACT and ANSI X12. There is a non-profit organization that keeps coming up with new message formats based on industry needs. There are some industry specific EDI standards in place.

Since EDI is a constantly changing one and the focus of EDI is exchange of data between the systems of partners, SAP did not try to implement EDI compatability in SAP. Instead, SAP came up with its own IDOC technology. So if EDI has a EDI 850 stabdard for order acknowledgement, SAP has an IDOC for the data format and a message for identifying its meaning. So IDOC is SAP's proprietery answer for EDI. But since partners still need to exchange data using EDI standards and the data they want to exchange is in SAP, some third party tools have come into existence. Gentran is one such tool (collectively called as EDI subsystems) that maps a SAP IDOC to a EDI message and vice-versa.

Now, SAP has own middeware system which called XI (Exchange Infrastructure ) that can provide the same functionality like Gentran EDi sub system. SAP XI enables you to implement cross-system processes. It enables you to connect systems from different vendors (non-SAP and SAP) in different versions and implemented in different programming languages (Java, ABAP, and so on) to each other. SAP Exchange Infrastructure is based on an open architecture, uses open standards (in particular those from the XML and Java environments) and offers those services that are essential in a heterogeneous and complex system landscape:

● Modeling and design of messages, transformations, and cross-component integration processes

● Configuration options for managing collaborative processes and message flow

● Runtime for message and process management

● Adapter Engine for integrating heterogeneous system components

● Central monitoring for monitoring message flow and processes

SAP XI supports internal company scenarios and cross-company scenarios.

For more information, please check this link.

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/14/80243b4a66ae0ce10000000a11402f/frameset.htm

Hope this will help.

Regards,

Ferry Lianto

[Former Member]

Hey Krishen

few days ago i was having discussion about the same topic with few of my ABAPer friends,see as far as i think EDI is a message format its not a tool,it is definately used to transfer information to/from SAP systems.well few reasons because of which XI might not replace EDI is that EDI comes along with R/3(as its a format not a tool) so u dont need to buy license for XI,secondly, EDI can be handled by an ABAPer(who takes care of others stuffs too) ,for XI u need to hire a SAP XI admin and SAP XI developer(again a investment).

but on the other side XI is very powerful and much more versatile that EDI.

i think XI might not replace EDI but definately it will be used more extensively in integration,moreover SAP(and everyone) recommends never replace an existing working with a totally new system:)

hope this helps

thanx

Ahmad

[moorthy]

Hi,

This link has huge info-

edi - faqs-

http://www.erpgenie.com/faq/edi.htm

thanks,

Moorthy