ASDA

ASDA is recognised as the second largest UK grocery retailer and, since its acquisition by US giant Wal*Mart, is part of a far larger global concern.

ASDA is a veteran of EDI, and the Freeway Team has been involved with enabling its electronic trading community for many years. In fact, at least 85% of all required messages are 'live' and being exchanged using EDI. In that time there have been many lessons learned including a real appreciation of what a true trading relationship between client and supplier is all about. Freeway has worked closely with ASDA Wal*Mart to understand exactly the needs of suppliers both large and small, and once the larger suppliers were enabled it was apparent that a new approach was needed to address some of the smaller suppliers; Freeway and Spectrum were ready.

In order to satisfy ASDA's requirements, suppliers need to ensure they have an EDI software solution that encompasses a number of different message types, not just the more common Sales Order and Sales Invoice messages. To that end, Freeway's Spectrum solutions also include the capability to handle Debit Notes, Statement and Remittance Advice, Advanced Shipping Notes, Price File and Product Files. These messages are all supported either as standalone applications (for example, users can create an Advanced Shipping Note using a 'turnaround' application that uses the original Order data to avoid re-keying) or can be fully integrated via Freeway's Spectrum Professional product.

In the past year, ASDA has signalled a sea-change in the use of EDI, by switching from the 'traditional' EDI Value Added Networks to using AS2. AS2 uses an Internet connection at the supplier (typically via Broadband, ISDN or other leased line) to establish a secure point-to-point link with ASDA for exchanging EDI documents.

AS2 will eliminate traffic costs for ASDA and the supplier's trading relationships. It will outperform the equivalent VAN connection by offering instant delivery and confirmation of receipt of all transmissions. Freeway's Spectrum solutions all support AS2 transmissions with ASDA as well as the traditional EDI requirements of the rest of the grocery retailers.