EDI Possibilities

To ensure fast and efficient communication, Unifeeder has direct EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) connections with most customers, ports, terminals and authorities throughout the region. 

This gives a constant flow of information about the many container movements. Through EDI connections, Unifeeder handles more than 10,000 transactions every day, each one of which makes work easy and secure for both business partners and Unifeeder.

The benefits of integrating EDI are significant: 

  • Elimination of re-keying and data duplication
  • Reduction of errors
  • Reduced data interchange cycle time
  • Improved customer service and response time
  • Reduced business transaction costs
  • Improved productivity, possibility of staff re-assignments
  • Improved access to real-time financial data
     

Furthermore, a direct connection between systems eliminates the risk of human error, and, as a significant e-commerce technology, EDI is changing the way business is done and defining successful customer-vendor relationships.

The majority of our bookings are received via EDI and imported directly into the Unifeeder booking system. Likewise, the majority of messages between Unifeeder and our key suppliers are exchanged via EDI.

Use of Standards

At Unifeeder, we have several years of experience with EDI using EDIFACT standards, CSV and XML.

The use and implementation of EDI has grown rapidly in recent years, and UniFeeder are following the development of new technologies and EDIFACT standards closely. Please read the Unifeeder follows the international standards for EDI – exchange page for more details.

 

EDI Products

Unifeeder has centred its extensive customer EDI program on three products:

In a shortsea environment like the Baltic Sea where Unifeeder operates, many factors have an impact on the vessel schedules.


To provide our customers with a stable service, we are regularly updating our vessel schedules – e.g. by swapping vessels to fulfil our engagements according to our master schedule.


To keep our customers automatically updated with the latest changes, Unifeeder's schedule is broadcast via EDI.

 

Implementation

We trust that our customers, like us, appreciate the benefits of EDI and would like to improve our business relationship. For further details and support please contact the Unifeeder IT-department (ithelpdesk@unifeeder.com)

 

Depending on the format and number of adjustments, we expect an implementation time of 2 – 4 weeks per communication process.

 

Our network operates 365 days a year with vessels making almost 8000 calls at 46 ports. Explore our vessels and terminals. 

 

Learn more about our coverage. 

 

 

 

 

The majority of our bookings are received via EDI and imported directly into the Unifeeder booking system.
 

We are able to support the booking process with various message formats and functions – e.g. create new bookings, update/amend existing bookings or cancel part of or whole bookings.

 

However, in order to run secure vessel operations, and supply customs and harbor authorities with correct cargo details, some deadlines for EDI messages have to be fulfilled.

 

Booking

All EDI booking messages are checked twice before they are imported into the Unifeeder booking system.

Upon receipt, a message is checked for structure and mandatory data, according to the format definition. When the message has passed this test, it will be checked for data correctness – i.e. that values are acceptable, can be converted and do not exceed any deadlines. If a message fulfils these tests, it will be processed and imported into the Unifeeder booking system.
 

In the Unifeeder booking system, the EDI bookings are not assigned to a vessel upon receipt. Instead, bookings are sorted by “ready dates” and destinations – i.e. the system will need to know when the containers will be available for shipment. However, if the feeder schedule is known, we are able to support: planned feeder vessel, ETD and ETA as well.

 

New bookings can only be accepted if they are booked for a departure that is later than receipt of the message - i.e. a booking received today until 23.59 hrs will be accepted if it is booked for a departure sailing tomorrow or later.


The details below are the mandatory booking data, which must be included in the booking message:

 

  • Port-of-load & discharge
  • Pier-of-load & discharge
  • Ready date (date when the containers will be available for shipment)
  • Ocean vessel name or call sign
  • Ocean vessel voyage number
  • Unique reference on the booking level
  • Unique reference for each container on the container level
  • Container iso code or type size
  • Container empty or full
  • Container weight (only for full containers)
  • Commodity (only for full containers)

 

The following booking details are not mandatory, but highly recommended:

 

  • Ocean vessel ETA
  • Planed ETD & ETA
  • Original-port-of-load or Final-port-of-discharge

  • IMO, OOG or Reefer details

     

Booking Update

With the Unifeeder EDI booking system, we are able to accept booking updates automatically. Update messages are accepted until the day before the vessel departure - i.e. an update message received today until 23.59 hrs for a booking disposed on a vessel sailing tomorrow or later, will be accepted. Hereafter, all updates are done manually by our agents, due to the risk of impact on vessel operation, stowage, etc. Port-of-load or Port-of-discharge can not be changed automatically via EDI – i.e. if the POL or POD in the update message is different from the existing booking in the Unifeeder booking system, the message will be rejected.

 

Booking Cancellation

The Unifeeder EDI booking system is able to support EDI cancellation of containers. Cancellation messages are accepted until the day before departure - i.e. a cancellation received today until 23.59 hrs for containers disposed on a vessel sailing tomorrow or later, will be accepted. Hereafter, cancellations are done manually by our agents.

 

Booking Confirmation

When bookings are accepted and disposed on our vessels, booking confirmations can be sent.

 

Departure/Arrival Notice

Unifeeder is able to send its customers a long range of notifications via EDI. We have experience with, e.g. container status report messages and container discharge/loading report messages. Unifeeder follows international EDI standards.

 

Implementation

We trust that our customers, like us, appreciate the benefits of EDI and would like to improve our business relationship. For further details and support, please contact the Unifeeder IT department (ithelpdesk@unifeeder.com)

 

Depending on the format and number of adjustments, we expect an implementation time of 2–4 weeks per communication process.

Using EDI in connection with financial transactions reduces errors and paperwork, and improves access to real-time financial data.
 

We have been offering our customers EDI invoices for some years, but we would like to take a step further and arrange payment via EDI too.

 

Invoice

Using EDI in connection with financial transactions reduces errors and paperwork and improves access to real-time financial data. Therefore, Unifeeder is offering customers invoices by EDI. The invoice procedure can be set up individually according to agreement with the customer. We are able to offer both separate and deferred/collected invoicing, based on ocean vessels or predefined periods - i.e. daily, weekly or monthly.

 

Payments

To simplify the payment transfer, we accept payment via EDI as well.

 

Implementation

 

We trust that our customers, like us, appreciate the benefits of EDI and would like to improve our business relationship. For further details and support, please contact the Unifeeder IT department (ithelpdesk@unifeeder.com)


Depending on the format and number of adjustments, we expect an implementation time of 2 – 4 weeks per communication process.