Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Implementation

1. How long does it take to implement EDI with my customers?
   Implementation with your EDI customer typically takes 2 to 7 business days. Our team will implement all required EDI transactions. This will not require any of your time. Customer Care will set up your company in MyB2B, establish EDI communication with your customer, and test all required EDI transactions. Your customer will know that you are EDI capable when we contact their EDI department at the beginning of the implementation process. top of page
2. What do I need to do during implementation?
   In most cases you will not need to do anything. Our Customer Care team will take care of set up and testing with your customer’s EDI department. top of page

3. Who can use MyB2B in my organization? What if I have multiple locations or multiple users?
   You can have as many users of MyB2B as you want. The users can be in as many locations as you want and can be anywhere in the world as long as they have internet access and email. top of page

4. Does someone from CovalentWorks need to come to my office?
   No, we do not need to visit your office. We support all of clients around the world from Houston, Texas. Support for your questions is provided by phone and email. top of page

5. How do I get my questions answered?
   You can call or email us anytime with your questions. top of page

6. How is training done?
   Training is done over the phone. You are provided with written instructions. Training time varies based on your prior experience with ordering, shipping and billing. Typically training takes from 15 minutes to an hour. Some of our clients find MyB2B so easy to use that they do not need any training. The amount of training is up to you. All the help you need is included in MyB2B at no extra charge. top of page

7. How do I send EDI to my broker?
   We can set up your broker to log into MyB2B and view orders, or send the EDI transactions to your broker if they are EDI capable. top of page

8. Can I have EDI transactions “carbon copied”?
   Yes, EDI transactions can be sent to other parties such as your broker if you wish. top of page

9. Can I send EDI transactions to my warehouse or 3PL?
   We can set up your warehouse/3PL to log into MyB2B and view orders, or the EDI transactions can be sent to your warehouse/3PL if they are EDI capable. If needed, 850 purchase orders can be translated into 940 warehouse shipping orders and we can receive 945 warehouse shipping advices as well as 856 ship notices from your warehouse/3PL. top of page

10. Can I interface with my accounting system? ERP system? Custom in-house system?
    Yes, we can interface EDI transactions with just about any system with which you require automatic import and export of transactions. Please see our B2BWorks EDI translation service for additional information. top of page

1. What EDI transaction types do you support?
   Any transaction type and any version that your customers require is supported as long as your customer is located in the United States or Canada. top of page

2. How often are EDI transactions sent to me? Does MyB2B service work 24 x 7?
   EDI transactions are sent to you as often as your customers send them. MyB2B operates for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week except for a weekly maintenance window from 1 am to 2 a.m. Sunday mornings. You can send transactions to your customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week except during the Sunday morning maintenance window. top of page

3. Can you support the EDI requirements of my customers?
   Yes, any customer in the United States and Canada is supported. You can read more about the customers we have implemented for our clients.   top of page

4. Do I need a VAN? Do I need AS/2?
   EDI VAN and AS/2 communication is included in MyB2B at no extra charge. EDI VAN stands for Value Added Network and is the way that many EDI transactions are communicated reliably and securely with your EDI customers. Some EDI customers use AS/2 communication instead of VAN communication. AS/2 is a method for sending and receiving EDI files over the internet with encryption and verification of receipt. MyB2B includes AS/2 if it is required by your EDI customers. top of page

5. Do you work with my customer’s EDI department?
   Yes, we work with your customer’s EDI department with your permission and on your behalf. We will work with them during set up and testing and later if they upgrade their EDI system. You will not have to worry about any of the technical EDI jargon. We take care of all of that. Our Customer Care team will assist with any EDI forms that need to be filled out for your customer. top of page

6. Does my customer have to use CovalentWorks in order for me use MyB2B?
   No, your customer doe not have also use CovalentWorks. Your customer will have an EDI department and they will have an EDI VAN service they use. We can interconnect with their VAN or implement AS/2 communication with them. CovalentWorks is a fully certified VAN and we can interconnect with any other VAN. We can implement EDI with any customer you may have in the United States or Canada. top of page

7. Does my customer send orders to me or CovalentWorks?
   Your orders flow from your customers to CovalentWorks and then to you. Here is how it works: Orders are sent by your customer’s purchasing system to their EDI system and from there to your customer’s EDI VAN service. Our service interconnects with your EDI customer’s VAN to receive the orders and then MyB2B updates. Your orders are immediately translated into an easy to read web page that you can view in your secure MyB2B web portal. You will also immediately receive an email notification that you have a new order. The email notification will include a link to the web portal from which you can log in to view the order. top of page

8. What if my customer upgrades their EDI system?
   Upgrades of MyB2B for new versions that your customers implement are included at no extra charge. Our Customer Care team will test and implement the new versions for you. top of page

9. How do I get help with my vendor applications and the EDI forms from my customers?
   Our Customer Care team will provide you with answers to all of the EDI questions on your vendor application forms and any EDI forms required by your customer. top of page

10. What is my EDI ID? Qualifier? ISA number?
    Your EDI qualifier and ID will be set up for your company when you become a client. Here is how is works: Your qualifier and EDI ID are two numbers that together uniquely identify your company. Typically we will either use a qualifier of 01 and your DUNS number for your EDI ID, or if you do not have a DUNS number, then usually your qualifier is 12 and your EDI ID is your phone number. Your EDI ID in either case will not have any dashes, parenthesis or spaces. Your EDI ID is also sometimes referred to as your ISA number. Your customer may want to know your GS ID. MyB2B uses the same number for the GS ID as the EDI ID. top of page

1. What is EDI?
   Please see this page What is EDI?   top of page

2. I have been told EDI is complicated and expensive. Is that correct?
   EDI can be complicated and expensive if you buy your own software, implement EDI translation maps, do testing with your partners, arrange for a VAN service, trouble shoot problems and then do the whole process over again when your partners upgrades to new versions. If you want someone else to handle the complexities of EDI for you, then MyB2B should be considered for your business. top of page

3. Is MyB2B really as easy as you make it seem?
   Yes, MyB2B really does makes EDI easy. MyB2B is a complete EDI solution that we manage for you. There is no software to buy or install, all EDI transaction types are included, any customer in North America can be implemented, you can use a PC or a Mac, testing with your customers is done by our Customer Care team, upgrades to new versions by your customers is included at no extra charge, you can have as many users as you need, and VAN service is included. top of page

4. Who is CovalentWorks and what do you do for your clients?
   CovalentWorks has been providing electronic data interchange solutions to clients since 1999. Our focus is providing EDI solutions to small and medium size clients. Read more about CovalentWorks   top of page

1. Do I have to buy or install software?
   No, you do not have to buy or install or upgrade or test software. All you need is internet access and email. top of page

2. What kind of software and hardware do I need to have in order to use your service?
   You do not need any special hardware or software. All you need is internet access and email. You can use either a PC or a Mac. top of page

1. How do I start service?
   You can start service in just a few minutes. Sign up online or call us at 800.496.3380. We will quickly email you a proposal to review and approve. top of page

2. How do I stop service?
   You may stop service at any time and for any reason by calling us or sending an email to our Customer Care team. top of page

3. How long is the agreement? Do I have to sign a long-term contract?
   All of our agreements with all of our clients are month-to-month. There is no long-term contract. We believe that great service is the key to keeping our clients. top of page

4. How does your billing to me work?
   Visa, American Express and Master Card are accepted for payment. You immediately receive an invoice via email showing payment each time we charge your card. Monthly fees are charged within the first 6 business days of the month. One half of the set up fee for your first EDI customer is charged when you sign up for service. The second half of the set up fee is not charged until your customer moves your company to production status. Monthly fees do not begin until your company has been moved to production status. top of page

5. Why is MyB2B so inexpensive compared to traditional EDI?
   MyB2B is less expensive because we host EDI solutions for thousands of clients and their customers in our EDI solution center. We do not deploy and maintain software on thousands of computers around the world. Instead, we use our economies of scale in technology and EDI experience to provide our clients with affordable EDI solutions. top of page

6. How much does MyB2B cost?
   MyB2B is as affordable as a cell phone. You can get a free quote instantly, or request a no-obligation proposal online, or call us at 800.496.3380. top of page