A review of EDI research

In the summer of 1994, researchers with a common interest in electronic data interchange came together in Brighton, England, to hear selected papers and to discuss their mutual interest in the effects of EDI on business. The papers were presented and there was a considered response by an expert discussant. There was also open discussion of their content, and the requirement for further work. This working paper touches on the key content of each of the papers presented and records aspects of the discussion. From the sum of this research we can deduce that the critical dependency of EDI on business process management is a very important factor in success. The differences between the different sectors of business reported upon remind us that there are no absolutes in the business of EDI: the consequences of introducing EDI may well be simply to entrench further current attitudes, strengths and weaknesses. Only by stepping sufficiently far back from the detail of EDI will be able to deal with this.