Traditional EDI vs. XML

[Stephanie Upton]

I am in need of some advice...We are currently using traditional EDI via GENTRAN:Director translation software and we have around 15 to 20 trading partners.  We have been told that updating our GENTRAN:Director software may be only a short term solution.  We should be thinking XML for long term because traditional EDI is becoming obselete.  I have done a lot of reading and I don't ever recall any information on traditional EDI becoming obselete.  I have read numerous things about traditional EDI being used along side of other methods of EDI (XML & Web).  I can't see how traditional EDI would just disappear.  I must also say that all of our trading partners are still using traditional EDI.    I would appreciate any infomation and advice about where you think EDI is going in the near and distant future and how your companies may be implementing other forms of EDI with traditional EDI.  Any advice on my predicament would also be helpful :)   Thanks in advance !!   Stephanie Upton EDI Coordinator Design Ideas 217-753-3081 ext. 213