EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is set of ANIS standards that define a syntax for the computer-to-computer communication of business documents. EDI establishes trading relationships between businesses allowing the exchange of common documents such as purchase orders, invoices, insurance claims, etc. This allows a more flexible and efficient exchange of information over private networks instead of on fax machines, eliminating much of the time, paper, human interaction and errors previously associated with these types of transactions and providing more flexibility.

EXAMPLE: Application Factory Inc. developed a comprehensive application utilizing EDI mapping that changed the way Kansas City Southern Railroad conducted business with an energy industry customer that experienced exceptionally high railroad traffic.  Utilizing this older data exchange technology that was once expensive because it required private networks, Application Factory, Inc. designed a program that uses encryption over the Internet instead of transmitting over proprietary value added networks, or even worse, fax machines making the technology fast and affordable. When a Kansas City Southern rail car leaves a petrochemical plant billing is automatically sent over the system.