Networking and EDI

Electronic Data Interchange - EDI - has been proposed since the 1990's as a way for companies to communicate with customers and suppliers to eliminate paperwork and intermediate transactions. The problem in implementing this approach is the extreme high cost and the rigidity created.

Remember that rigidity is the ultimate enemy of innovation. (See 100 years of Ma Bell fighting any third party as a reference.)

Networking on the general Internet does not require EDI, nor does it seem to want EDI very much.

What is the EDI for Facebook? If you think that is a bogus question then I ask you, has your EDI project connected as many people as well as Facebook? Assuming the answer is "No", I say the network is the solution.

Processes and business models built around the general Internet platform should be the most successful.