If you’ve been in B2B long enough, you know one thing — EDI isn’t optional anymore. It’s infrastructure.
But here’s what many companies don’t realise: not all EDI deployments are created equal. And more importantly, not every setup will scale with your business.
As a trusted Cleo support partner, Globus Systems works with organisations that are either struggling with legacy EDI environments or preparing to modernise them. The deployment model you choose today will directly impact cost, agility, visibility, and long-term operational stability.
Let’s break it down in practical terms.
Direct, On-Premise EDI: Full Control — Full Responsibility
Direct, on-premise EDI gives companies complete ownership over their data exchange systems. On paper, that sounds ideal. You control the infrastructure, security policies, upgrades, and workflows.
But growth changes the equation.
As your trading partner network expands, so does your EDI complexity. More hardware. More maintenance. More security layers. More integration touchpoints. And that means more investment — both financial and operational.
Many businesses we support as a cleo support partner initially chose on-premise EDI for control. Over time, however, they discovered that:
- Hardware upgrades became recurring expenses
- Security compliance required constant monitoring
- Skilled integration resources were difficult to retain
- Legacy system knowledge walked out the door with retiring employees
Finding experienced EDI talent is increasingly difficult. When specialists leave, internal teams are left managing fragile systems without historical context. That creates risk — and stress.
The Hidden Gap Between Business Agreements and EDI Execution
Here’s something we see often at Globus Systems.
Sales teams negotiate pricing models, shipping terms, SLAs, and logistics agreements with customers. Everyone aligns. Contracts are signed.
Then the requirements move to the EDI team.
Somewhere between business agreement and technical execution, details get lost.
Orders come in — but not according to the agreed structure.
Pick-pack workflows get disrupted.
ASNs go out incorrectly.
Invoices don’t match expectations.
Payments get delayed.
The issue isn’t just technical. It’s operational.
This is where working with a proactive Cleo support partner makes the difference. Globus doesn’t just manage transactions — we align EDI workflows with actual business rules. Because EDI isn’t just data exchange. It’s business execution.
The VAN Model: Expensive and Outdated for Modern Growth
EDI through a VAN (Value Added Network) was once the standard. Many organisations still use it because certain trading partners require specific networks.
But the model comes with challenges.
Most VAN providers charge by kilocharacter — meaning the more data you exchange, the more you pay. For growing companies, this becomes unpredictable and expensive very quickly.
Mail-box based workflows slow visibility.
Cost structures fluctuate.
Support often feels reactive rather than strategic.
From our experience as a cleo support partner, businesses scaling aggressively find VAN-based EDI restrictive. It wasn’t designed for real-time integration ecosystems.
Cloud-Based Web EDI: Flexible, Scalable, Practical
Cloud-based EDI changes the conversation.
Instead of managing servers, patches, and upgrades internally, companies leverage web-based processing through a subscription model. No heavy infrastructure. No ongoing hardware refresh cycles.
This approach provides:
- Easier scalability
- Reduced IT burden
- Continuous backups
- Anywhere, anytime monitoring
- Lower long-term operational risk
As a cleo cloud integration partner, Globus Systems helps businesses transition to cloud-enabled environments while ensuring existing workflows remain intact. The goal isn’t disruption. It’s optimisation.
Cloud EDI also simplifies onboarding new trading partners — which is critical when speed to market matters.
Why Outsourcing EDI Is Becoming the Smarter Move
EDI adoption globally continues to grow steadily. But skilled EDI professionals? They’re becoming harder to find.
Many organisations now recognise that outsourcing EDI to a specialised partner reduces risk and internal strain.
With Globus Systems as your Cleo support partner, you eliminate:
- Infrastructure management headaches
- Software maintenance cycles
- Resource dependency on niche integration talent
- Delays in partner onboarding
Instead, you gain access to experts who live and breathe integration.
And outsourcing doesn’t mean losing control.
There are multiple flexible models:
1. Managed Services (On-Premise Support)
Your infrastructure stays in place. Globus manages operations, monitoring, and issue resolution.
2. Fully Outsourced Cloud Hosting
Applications and infrastructure move to the cloud. We run the environment, optimize performance, and securely deliver processed data back to you.
Both approaches provide security, compliance, and proactive monitoring — without overloading your internal IT teams.
API-Enabled Integration: The Future of Visibility
Modern businesses don’t operate in silos.
Your EDI platform must connect seamlessly with ERPs, WMS, TMS, CRM platforms, and other operational systems. APIs are no longer optional — they’re essential.
Whether you’re setting up trading partners via APIs or web-based interfaces, integration flexibility determines how quickly you can adapt to market changes.
As a seasoned cleo support partner, Globus ensures your platform supports API-driven workflows for end-to-end visibility across business functions.
Because visibility isn’t about seeing transactions.
It’s about understanding business impact in real time.
Final Thoughts
EDI deployment decisions shouldn’t be made based on legacy comfort.
They should be made based on:
- Scalability
- Cost predictability
- Security resilience
- Resource availability
- Integration flexibility
Globus Systems, as a trusted Cleo support partner and experienced Cleo cloud integration partner, helps businesses move beyond transactional EDI management toward structured, stable, and growth-ready integration ecosystems.
If your EDI feels reactive instead of strategic — it’s time to rethink the deployment model.
And more importantly, it’s time to rethink who’s supporting it.
