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Companies can save time and costs by no longer having to retype data, thus avoiding errors. An optimal EDI connection will help improve customer service. Suppliers who use EDI have a stronger competitive position compared to peers who have not yet adopted EDI. Finally, the use of paper can be greatly reduced or even eliminated.

An EDI service provider is a service provider that sells the software and tools to exchange EDI, but also offers additional EDI services such as mapping or translation services to get messages into the right formats; or archiving of the messages. In addition, the EDI service provider also provides the platform or network on used to exchange EDI messages and will monitor the smooth exchange of messages 24/7.

EDI solutions are available in different types depending on a company's EDI adoption rate. For companies that were not yet doing EDI and want to start with it, WebEDI is an ideal entry-level solution. Companies that exchange a lot of EDI are more likely to choose an integrated solution with their ERP, whether or not fully outsourced to an EDI service provider.

Peppol is an organization that publishes and maintains a set of rules and standards for the exchange of business information.

Peppol originated from a European project set up to design and facilitate eProcurement with government agencies. It soon became clear that the e-invoice message was the most important and impactful message from the process. The project evolved into a European platform for the exchange of electronic invoices with public companies. Companies saw the added value and wanted to extend Peppol's capabilities to other trading partners.

A Peppol Access Point is a service provider that allows other companies to access and connect to the Peppol network. Companies wishing to send messages through Peppol must register through an Access Point anywhere in the world. All Access Points interconnect with each other to form the Peppol network.

The Access Point acts as the traffic controller, so to speak, relaying messages to the recipient's Access Point.

SMP stands for Service Metadata Publisher. Peppol SMP is a party that keeps a record of each recipient's address information on the Peppol network, what Access Point they use and what messages they can receive.

SML stands for Service Metadata Locator. Peppol SML contains the identification numbers of all receivers present on the network, as well as in which SMP the detail information can be found.

The availability of the SMP and SML are important components for the operation of the Peppol network. Indeed, parties must be findable in the SMP registry through the SML.

As a certified Service Provider, Descartes has its own SMP in addition to its own Access Point. Consequently, Descartes maintains a list of all parties registered as recipients through Descartes.