In wholesale, collaboration between brands and retailers isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. From sharing product data to tracking sales and managing stock, everything depends on smooth, structured communication. That’s where EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) plays a critical role. We break down how EDI enables smarter, more efficient partnerships — and how advanced EDI solutions, like those offered by Fashion Cloud, help businesses work faster, better, and more data-driven.
What is EDI and why does it matter for your businesses?
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) automates the structured exchange of business documents between partners, such as brands and retailers — no emails or paper-based communication required. It’s faster, more accurate, and far more secure. In fashion wholesale, this means:
→ Brands send
article data, delivery details, and
order confirmations directly into retailers’ ERP systems.
→ Retailers send back
sales and inventory data — enabling shared visibility and smarter decisions.
Because of EDI, brands and retailers speak the same “data language” with standardized EAN barcodes for articles in both systems. This means: faster product placement in-store,
smarter (automated) replenishment decisions and better collection planning due to more insights.
Common EDI messages used by brands and retailers include:
- PRICAT – Product data (Brand ➝ Retailer
- ORDRSP – Order confirmation (Brand ➝ Retailer)
- DESADV – Delivery details (Brand ➝ Retailer)
- SLSRPT – Sales report (Retailer ➝ Brand)
- INVRPT – Inventory report (Retailer ➝ Brand)
Imagine checking an article and instantly seeing how it’s selling — along with current stock levels on both the retailer and brand side. With that insight, you can make informed decisions and even trigger a reorder automatically. That’s the power of EDI.
What are EDI formats and alternatives to EDI?
EDIFACT is a widely used, classical format for EDI. Additionally, Fashion Cloud supports other formats — such as CSV — to automatically transfer product and order data. This gives you the flexibility to integrate data seamlessly into your existing systems without being locked into a single, rigid format.
So, you don’t need to use the EDIFACT format exclusively — other formats also work to exchange different types of messages.
What are typical EDI providers and how do they work?
Other EDI providers — besides Fashion Cloud — include: Pranke, ECC, Fashion United, BTE, BEDEBE, and Edicom. Often, brands and retailers use EDI providers that work together to transfer messages from the brand's ERP system to the retailer’s ERP.
For example, a brand might use Fashion Cloud’s EDI services, while a retailer uses ECC as their EDI provider. ECC then ensures the data is integrated correctly into the retailer’s ERP system. In this case, the message flow looks like this:
Brand ERP → Fashion Cloud → ECC → Retailer ERP
In other cases, the retailer may want to receive messages directly into their ERP. Fashion Cloud ensures that each brand and retailer receives the correct file, in the correct format, and at the correct destination.
Fashion Cloud takes a broader approach:
- We work directly with both brands and retailers, accelerating the setup process.
- We support multiple regions (DACH, Nordics, Benelux, etc.) and various segments (fashion, shoes, sports), whereas most providers focus on just one.
- We offer a flexible setup that supports multiple formats.
- Fashion Cloud works focussed and fast together with brands and retailers: As our record, we've helped a brand roll out over 100 EDI connections in just 3 months. Our average? 10 per month — significantly faster than traditional setups.
And EDI is just the beginning. With tools like
Smart Replenishment and the Digital Showroom, Fashion Cloud offers a complete digital infrastructure for modern wholesale — all in one place.
What are the next steps if I want to explore EDI solutions?
Ready to take the next step toward smarter, faster collaboration? Here’s how to get started:
Schedule a discovery call. We’ll understand your needs, assess your current setup, and show you how our EDI services can help your business work smarter — not harder.
Ready to turn your data into real collaboration and a data-driven business?
