Your Liaison

On March 5, 2009. By Fran, under Tech Talk.

What is a Liaison?

Webster Dictionary defines liaison as: communication for establishing and maintaining mutual understanding and cooperation.

As the Administrator and Project Manager here at EDI Options, I have personally maintained valuable relationships with Trading Partners (your retailers and other business partners) throughout the years. I personally manage the EDI setup, configuration and testing between the vendors and trading partner, and have done this more times than I can count for all of our clientele. A good liaison builds relationships over time.

I have the type of relationship with major EDI partners like Walmart, Sterling Jewelers and JC Penney that when they hear from me they know that they are in good hands and what they can expect. We have even conducted testing with EDI trading partners when they have upgraded their internal systems to ensure that the functionality remains the same.

Typically duties I perform as a liaison are:

1. Contacting the trading partner to initiate the EDI partnership on the vendor’s behalf
2. Filling out all paper work pertaining to EDI. If the paper work also requires business information, I will contact the vendor and send them the paper work as well so they can fill in their business portion.
3. Send paper work back to the trading partner. I like to do this function as it opens the door for communication between them and myself and it shows them who they will be dealing with.
4. Create and setup a VAN (Value Added Network) account (if one does not already exist) as well as add the trading partnership and interconnection with the VAN.
5. Delegate, inter-office the tasks needed to be completed in order to start testing. For example, mapping creations, configuration and installation of the partnership on the vendors system.
6. Deciding with the trading partner on a testing schedule and timeline for the testing phase.
7. I personally contact the trading partner during testing to ensure the quality of the tests is up to par. And I am personally involved in all of the testing that goes on. I maintain a smooth flow of communication so we can get to the end of testing successfully.
8. Once testing has been completed, we will instruct/train the vendor on the requirements for sending successful transactions to the trading partner.
9. I put an email together to the vendor of the status of the project and what to expect next.

I personally take pride in my duties as I believe I am well liked in the industry, I have a good rapport with the trading partners and I am organized and keep track of progress and outstanding issues. I am always ready with status and can always produce any needed documentation.

Unlike other EDI providers, our customer’s trading partners always hear from the same person(s) and that is how strong relationships and confidence is formed. Personally, I find it to be a good feeling to hear on the other end that they are glad we are the contact, or shall we say liaison for the vendor. Your EDI is in good hands and your trading partners know it.

One of my EDI trading partners that I have worked with for many years is Sterling Jewelers. Marcia Keene from Sterling was nice enough to offer this:

“EDI Options’ staff proves every day that they care about their business because they are responsive and caring. The relationship they have formed with me has resulted in real trust. I never hesitate to recommend this company to anyone who asks for a reference for an EDI provider.” -Marcia Keene at Sterling Jewelers

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

CAPTCHA Code *