By : Paresh Trivedi

What is the main difference between ale and edi?

EDI – Definition
EDI is a technique used to communicate business and information transactions between computer systems of different companies and organizations. These transactions include such documents as purchase orders, invoices, inquiries, planning, acknowledgements, pricing, order status, scheduling, test results, shipping and receiving, payments, and financial reporting

EDI System Components Standards
ANSI X12 Transaction Sets   - Accredited Standards Committee X12
EDIFACT   - Electronic Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport.

EDI Introduction
The EDI interface is intended to connect an EDI subsystem with the SAP system. EDI subsystems perform the following tasks related to EDI processing:
1·Conversion of data·
2.Message and Interchange Handling.
3.Communication·
4.Administration of partner profiles·
5.Monitoring of processing

From the SAP side, the EDI interface is based on IDoc technology, which is independent of EDI standards. All data is transferred in files between the R/3 System and the EDI subsystem. Synchronous RFC (Remote Function Call) is implemented to define the time of transfer for a file between the two systems.

EDI – Benefits
Improves data accuracy –
With EDI business can eliminate the need to re-enter data from paper documents and thus prevent potential data entry errors. Additionally, the cost of processing an electronic requisition is estimated to be one-tenth the cost of handling its paper equivalent

Lowers personnel costs-
EDI can help companies reduce the need for personnel involved in orders and accounting processing. Speeds up information exchange- EDI systems can shorten the lead time between receipt and fulfillment  of orders. When  scheduling information is transmitted with ordering  data, companies can plan production more accurately and thus reduce stock investments.

Reduces technical complexity related to data interchange –
With EDI companies use standardized data formats to exchange documents. EDI allows companies using different business applications and systems to achieve computer-to-computer electronic exchange of business documents.

Application Link Enabling

ALE Objectives – ALE incorporates controlled exchange of data messages ensuring data consistency across loosely coupled applications. ALE comprises of three layers.  Application Services  Distribution Services  Communication Services

Basic principle of ALE is to provide a distributed and fully integrated R/3 system. Each application is self-sufficient. The use of self-sufficient system implies a certain measure of data redundancy.Hence data has to be both distributed and synchronized.

General Steps Involved in Configuring EDI – ALE Interface

- Maintaining the Condition Table
- Maintaining the Access Sequences
- Maintaining the Output types
- Assign output types to the partner functions
- Maintain output determination procedure
- Assign output determination Procedures

SAP Basis Reference Books:
SAP Basis Components, System Administration, Security, ALE and iDoc Books

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