Electronic Data Interchange in Construction
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 116, Issue 4
Abstract
There is a need within the construction industry to electronically transmit standard documents between designers, owners, contractors, and material suppliers. These documents include purchase orders, requests for quotations, invoices, shipping notifications, materials lists, and payment transfers. Ideally, the transmission should be structured to eliminate or reduce the rekeying of transmitted data. This paper discusses the basic elements of electronic data interchage (EDI), a technology for document transfer that has produced documented cost‐saving benefits in other industries. Through inexpensive translation software that uses industry standards, direct computer‐to‐computer transmission of most any type of document is possible. The fundamentals of electronic data interchange are discussed and an example of document translation using ANSI X12 standards is presented. A case study implementation effort that was examined as part of a research project funded by the Construction Industry Institute is also described herein. This case study illustrates the fact that EDI technology is inexpensive and that tangible cost‐saving benefits can be realized in a relatively short period of time.
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References
1.
Canright, C. (1987). “EDI: The acronym that means business.” Systems/3X World, 15(1), 40–46.
2.
Jenkins, L. (1988). “EDI comes of age.” Systems/3X World, Apr.
3.
Jerome, M. (1989). “Clothes wars.” PC/Computing, 2(7), 171–172.
4.
“X12/DISA information manual October 2–6, 1989 Los Angeles, California.” (1989). ANSI X12/DISA, Data Interchange Standards Assoc., Alexandria, Va., Oct.
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Copyright © 1990 ASCE.
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Published online: Dec 1, 1990
Published in print: Dec 1990
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