That nationwide fashion retailer you’ve been dreaming of working with finally noticed your brand—but before you can seal the deal, they ask you to implement Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). If this request brought you here, you’re not alone. Most major retailers (Burlington, TJX, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Target, JCPenney, Amazon, and others) now require EDI integration as part of their vendor onboarding process.

What Is EDI and How Does It Work?

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) enables fashion brands to securely and automatically exchange documents—like purchase orders, invoices, shipping notices, and returns—with retail partners. It eliminates manual data entry and paperwork, ensuring transactions happen faster and with fewer errors.

Instead of emailing or faxing an invoice, your fashion EDI software sends it in a standardized format that’s instantly readable by the retailer’s systems. This automation improves accuracy, reduces costs, and speeds up fulfillment—crucial advantages in today’s fast-paced retail environment.

Why Fashion Brands Need a Integrated ERP and EDI System

An ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system like AIMS360 is the control center for your entire fashion business, managing orders, inventory, production, and fulfillment. When EDI is fully integrated into the ERP—like it is with AIMS360 apparel software—you eliminate the need for third-party connectors and reduce risk and complexity.

With AIMS360’s built-in apparel EDI system, brands can:

• Trade with top retailers using prebuilt EDI connections (e.g., Nordstrom, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s)
• Automate the exchange of POs, invoices, ASNs, return authorizations, and more
• Minimize chargebacks and reduce manual errors
• Centralize EDI and order management in one fashion ERP platform
• Scale efficiently with any new EDI retail partner

Already working with SPS Commerce, DiCentral, OpenText, or CommerceHub? AIMS360 supports those providers too—giving you the flexibility to connect to your preferred EDI platform while maintaining centralized control in your ERP.

How EDI Helps Apparel Brands Grow

An integrated fashion EDI solution helps brands streamline operations, reduce costs, and meet rising retailer and customer expectations:

• Speed & Accuracy: Eliminate delays and manual entry by automating retail orders and shipments.
• Inventory Visibility: Sync inventory between warehouses, stores, and 3PLs, and push availability to retailers or e-commerce sites.
• Reliable Returns: Automate returns and credits for smoother customer experiences—especially critical in fashion, where return rates are high.
• Scalability: Onboard new EDI retailers quickly and meet compliance requirements effortlessly.

Why Cloud-Based EDI Is Best for Fashion Brands

AIMS360’s cloud-native ERP and fashion EDI system eliminates the need for expensive, on-premise EDI servers or separate login portals. You get:

• Built-in integrations with top fashion retailers
• Easy setup with new EDI partners
• Secure, cloud-hosted infrastructure
• Predictable monthly pricing and scalable architecture

The Risk of Third-Party EDI Integrations: Delays, Errors, and Chargebacks

While AIMS360 apparel software has the best in-house integration, other fashion ERPs rely on external EDI providers or middleware solutions that aren’t fully integrated. While these setups may appear flexible, they can introduce serious risks when things go wrong.

If a retailer sends a file with a missing field, a PO fails to import, or a document doesn’t transmit properly, you could find yourself stuck between vendors—your ERP company, a third-party EDI provider, and possibly your 3PL. Support delays between disconnected systems often result in missed acknowledgments, shipment issues, or invoice mismatches. And when that happens, you risk retail chargebacks, canceled orders, and strained trading relationships.

With AIMS360’s fully integrated, in-house fashion EDI system, your support team is the same team that built your ERP. That means faster resolution, complete visibility, and a single point of accountability—so your orders keep flowing and your business stays protected.

Whether you’re launching your first EDI relationship or managing a large wholesale network, AIMS360 gives you the tools to grow confidently.

How to have integrated accounting for your EDI

AIMS360 integrated apparel accounting helps if your business uses accounting systems like QuickBooks, Sage, or NetSuite. AIMS360 integrates with these platforms to sync invoices, payments, and financial data—creating a seamless connection between your ERP, EDI, and accounting workflows. It’s an ideal solution for fashion brands that want full operational visibility without duplicate entry or disconnected systems.

About AIMS360

AIMS360 is the industry’s leading fashion ERP software built exclusively for apparel, accessories, and footwear brands. Our all-in-one platform includes fully integrated apparel EDI software, advanced inventory management, production tracking, financial tools, and warehouse integration.

We support native EDI connections with top retailers with no third party connectors necessary. We can also integrate with SPS Commerce, DiCentral, OpenText, and CommerceHub. Whether you’re just starting with EDI or managing complex omnichannel operations, AIMS360 helps you automate, scale, and grow—without the complexity of bolt-on tools.

That nationwide fashion retailer you’ve been dying to work with has finally noticed your brand, but before your trading partnership is a perfect fit, they want you to implement an EDI system. If a request such as this has brought you here, you’re in good company, as many organizations in retail (ie. Nordstroms, Bloomingdales, Macys, Target, JCPenny, etc.) are requiring EDI for a variety of reasons. EDI can play a vital role in meeting consumer expectations and supporting business success in the modern digital retail world.

View our integrated retailers or connect with any new EDI partner.

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