EANCOM (international standard)

Advantages of EANCOM

In EDI it is absolutely necessary to identify unambiguously not significantly goods or services, also as well as the parties concluding commercial transactions. Data coding which exchange happens by means of EDI, - the main condition for automatic data processing.

In messages of EANCOM each type of products is identified by the unique standard number of EAN*UCC, and each party - number GLN for Electronic Data Interchange. Use of standards of EAN*UCC in EDI provides the following advantages:

• Standard numbers of GS1: Identification numbers GS1 are unique and are recognized around the world. Use of standard numbers of GS1 means for trading partners that they do not need to contain the difficult mechanism cross-references for internal codes of each of trading partners.

• Standard messages of EANCOM are simple and exact: The insignificant nature of coding of goods and locations of partners to a large extent simplifies EDI of the message, reducing costs for transfer and facilitating processing of data.

• EANCOM is the diversified standard: The insignificant nature of numbers of EAN*UCC allows to identify any object. It means that any entrepreneur, irrespective of a type of activity, can use EANCOM.

• EANCOM has the international character: EANCOM of the message are used worldwide. The international network of the Organizations of commodity numbering integrating more than 140 states provides support of EANCOM in national language for the purpose of substantial increase of number of the companies users around the world.

• Maintenance and support of EANCOM:GS1 and Organization of commodity numbering undertook the obligation to provide further development of EANCOM. Representatives of different industries organized several research groups for the purpose of the analysis of specific questions and development of solutions of those problems which can arise in the course of implementation of business activity.

What gives to the user the EANCOM standard

EANCOM provides logical message sequence, used in business activity. The trading companies come to the joint decision to use the messages adapted for their needs.

The standard messages used in EANCOM can be classified by the following categories:

• The messages containing basic data: such messages contain data which seldom are subject to change (parameters of products, the name and the address...)

• The messages containing information on the participant of information exchange: are used for identification of all parties (numbers EAN/EDI-: a name, the address, contact persons, bank accounts), connected with the corresponding commercial transactions and also belonging to them operational.

• The messages containing information on products: provide the parties with information containing descriptive, logistic and financial parts of products or services.

• Messages according to commercial transactions: such messages cover a normal trade cycle from conditions of purchase of goods to the notification on money transfer.

• Messages about conditions of purchase of goods: contain the detailed information concerning delivery of goods or provision of services requested by the potential buyer (delivery conditions and payments, the price, an insurance and taxes...).

• The block of messages on purchase of goods: concerns process of the order, starting with the offer of the order, subsequent changes and finishing confirmation of the valid order (the corresponding quantity, terms, a delivery point).

• Transport and logistic connections: provide with information on loading transport and receiving the ordered goods.

• Messages about payment and transfer advice of money: concern payment of the delivered goods. The buyer can autocomplete a supplier account, using information about goods receipts.

• Messages about reports and plans: such messages include the general reports about trade allowing partners to plan the activity for the future. They allow trading partners to exchange exact information for the purpose of the best understanding of each other. They give the chance to make detailed relevant reports and forecasts concerning deliveries, sales, stocks and allow concerned parties to plan the activity and marketing strategy.

• Message about the report on syntax and services: it can be sent by the receiver of any EDIFACT of the message for the purpose of confirmation or failure from exchange, functional group or the message.

• Message of the general character: it can be used for data transmission on which there is no standard message yet.

History of creation of EANCOM

The international organization of GS1 and the Organization Commodity member Numberings of GS1 not beginners in the field of EDI. Some Organizations of commodity numbering, such as GS1 Sweden, created industry standards in 1972, and the Organization of commodity numbering of Great Britain by ANA published the TRADACOMS standard which has great success in 1982. Taking into account organization activity of commodity numbering on creation of communications of EDI and in response to the increasing need for creation of the international standard, the General Assembly of EAN in 1987 made the decision on project development of the EDI EANCOM standard. It was decided that creation of EANCOM should be performed on the basis of the developed international standard UN/EDIFACT.

GS1 created the international committee of experts of EDI: Committee on communications systems (CSC). Its main objective – to exercise control of development and providing standards of EANCOM according to the needs of the user and requirements set by specific research groups.

GS1 closely cooperates with national and international user groups worldwide which represent leading companies of various sectors of the economy (chemical industry, electrical equipment, publishing houses and libraries, the sphere of medical care)^[1].

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