EDIFACT, or Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport, is an international standard for electronic data interchange (EDI) ratified by the United Nations. It standardizes transaction sets (business documents), data element directories, and syntax rules, enabling global trade through a common language for business transactions.
An EDIFACT transmission consists of one or more interchanges, each containing one or more messages. These messages are made up of segments of data relating to business transactions. At each level, enveloping data pairs keep track of the exchange structure.
Common EDIFACT message types include ORDERS (purchase orders), INVOIC (invoices), and DESADV (despatch advice).
EDIFACT, or United Nations rules for Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport, is the most widely used EDI standard outside North America. This standard facilitates the automation of business transactions across various industries globally.
Structure of EDIFACT Files
EDIFACT files are hierarchical, comprising directories, segments, and messages. The primary elements include:
- UNA: Defines separators, delimiters, and special characters for the interpreting software.
- UNB: File header; part of the envelope with basic information, paired with UNZ at the end.
- UNG: Start of Group.
- UNH: Message header.
- UNT: Message end.
- UNE: Group end.
- UNZ: File end.
Common Message Types
- ORDERS: For purchase orders.
- INVOIC: For invoices.
- DESADV: For despatch advice.
These messages are structured into segments, each containing data elements relevant to specific business transactions.
Example EDIFACT Order
UNA:+.? ' UNB+UNOC:3+SAM:ZZZ+OXTOOLS:ZZZ+231012:1057+2478' UNH+35156+ORDERS:D:96A:UN' BGM+105+501100566+9' DTM+137:20231012:102' DTM+10:20231012:102' FTX+COI++S::92+PO-TYPE' NAD+SU+4821:160:92++OX TOOLS' RFF+AHP:41151919569' NAD+BY+501:160:92++SAMIOS PLUMBING TINGALPA+16 MILLENNIUM PLACE+TINGALPA+QLD+4173' RFF+AHP:91010360899' CTA+PD+:BRADLEY SIMMONS' COM+(07) 3906 6111:TE' COM+(07) 3348 5678:FX' COM+TINGALPA@SAMIOS.NET.AU:EM' NAD+ST+501:160:92++SAMIOS TINGALPA+16 MILLENIUM PLACE+TINGALPA+QLD+4173' CTA+GR+:JEREMY MCWHIRTER' LIN+1++OXTOX-P040109:BP' PIA+1+TOX-P040109:VP' PIA+1+9341231011719:EN' IMD+F++:::CAULKING GUN 230MM' QTY+21:1.00:EA' DTM+10:20231012:102' PRI+AAA:12.0200' LIN+2++OXTOX-P029308:BP' PIA+1+TOX-P029308:VP' PIA+1+9341231015519:EN' IMD+F++:::PRO SS TAPE MEASURE 8M' QTY+21:2.00:EA' DTM+10:20231012:102' PRI+AAA:16.8400' UNS+S' MOA+128:45.70' CNT+2:2' UNT+33+35156' UNZ+1+2478'
Service Segments
Service segments manage the transmission, including:
- UNB: Start of Interchange.
- UNG: Start of Group.
- UNH: Start of Message.
- UNT: End of Message.
- UNE: End of Group.
- UNZ: End of Interchange.
Online EDIFACT file parser: EDI JSON translation and validation – EdiNation