Hey board, today is exciting. Ive been researching a little about EDI - thats basically an electronic way of purchasing, ordering, placing orders, etc etc via the web. If you recall from the grocery PR, eric stated:
The new listing, starting with 15% of a 600 store group, was aided by Winning Brands' progress toward implementing EDI (Electronic Data Interchange). EDI permits Winning Brands to exchange purchase orders, invoices and shipping information directly between associated computers of participants rather than manually on either end. "With this new capability, Winning Brands can comply with administrative protocols of any large U.S. retailers that are not already served by a Winning Brands distributor, such as the grocery sector. EDI integration by Winning Brands will be completed in June 2009," Mr. Lehner said.
I think this is HUGE and Ill tell you why I think. Three reasons:
1) Reduces error being electronic.
2)Much faster. This must mean that in the grocery sector, thing must MOVE and SELL faster. Instead of sending in a purchasing order amnually, you do two clicks on the interent and your set.
3)when you have 15% of 600 stores ordering, and then IMO all 600 sooner or later, its a LOT of stores to organize - EDI seems to do.
EDI is kinda complicated for me to understand but I think the way I have read it, that it was a HHHHHUUUUUUGGGGEEEEEE implementation and milestone for the company.
