DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC DATA

INTERCHANGE (EDI) INTERFACE FOR BUSINESS

APPLICATIONS

BY

OKUOFOH JOHN ODIANOSE

ICT/2251290057

A PROJECT WORK SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF

COMPUTER SCIENCE, SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY,
AUCHI POLYTECHNIC, AUCHI

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE

AWARD OF HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA (HND) IN
COMPUTER SCIENCE

SEPTEMBER, 2014.

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 CERTIFICATION

We, the undersigned, certify that this research work was carried
out by OKUOFOH JOHN ODIANOSE with Matriculation Number:
ICT/2251290057 of the Department of Computer Science.

We also certify that the work is adequate in scope and quality in

partial fulfillment of the requirement of the award of Higher National

Diploma (HND) in Computer Science.

_________________ _______________
MR. F.C. CHETE (DEAN)
Project Supervisor Date

_________________ _______________
MR. K.O. OMOREGIE
Head of Department Date

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 DEDICATION

This project is dedicated to Almighty God my Sufficiency, who in his

infinite mercies made all things possible for me throughout my academic period;

and to the memories of my late mother; LATE MRS. REGINA OKUOFOH and

to my beloved brothers and sisters and the entire Okuofoh’s family.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am most grateful to God Almighty for the successful completion of my

HND program. I recognize my indebtedness to my parents in the persons of

Mr. and Late Mrs. Regina Okuofoh, for their moral advice and financial support

throughout this academic years.

The acknowledgement is not complete without appreciating my elder

sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Enefele, Miss. Maris Okuofoh and Mrs. Christiana

Ikpefan for their efforts and contributions, I say thank you.

My heartfelt thanks to my beloved brothers and sisters for their numerous

contribution and support.

My profound gratitude to my supervisor MR. F.C. CHETE (Dean,

School of Information and Communication Technology) for taking time to

read through the work and making necessary correction to the quality and

success of this project work.

I express my gratitude to my friends in the person of Victor Imade,

Chris and Ethel and also to my dear friend Love Edegba.

And also to say kudos to all graduated HND II Computer Science

Students, I love you all.

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

Title ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ i

Approval ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ii

Dedication --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii

Acknowledgement ----------------------------------------------------------------------- iv

Tables of content ------------------------------------------------------------------------ v

Abstract ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.00 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ------------------------------------------- 1

1.01 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ------------------------------------------ 2

1.02 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY -------------------------------------------------- 2

1.03 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ------------------------------------------- 2

1.04 SCOPE OF THE STUDY ------------------------------------------------------ 2

1.05 LIMATION OF THE STUDY -------------------------------------------------- 3

1.06 DEFINITION OF TERMS ------------------------------------------------------ 3

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.00 HISTORY OF ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI) --------- 5

2.01 ELECTRONIC COMMERCE (EC) ------------------------------------------ 10

2.02 E-BUSINESS (ELECTRONIC BUSINESS) ------------------------------- 10

2.03 DIRECT EDI OR POINT-TO-POINT EDI ---------------------------------- 11

2.04 VALUE ADDED NETWORKS (VAN)/ INDIRECT EDI ----------------- 12

2.05 EDI ON THE INTERNET ------------------------------------------------------ 14

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2.06 EDI STANDARDS --------------------------------------------------------------- 15

2.07 EDI SECURITY ISSUES ------------------------------------------------------ 16

2.08 CONFIDENTIALITY ------------------------------------------------------------ 18

CHAPTER THREE: SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

3.00 SYSTEM ANALYSIS ----------------------------------------------------------- 21

3.01 FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS ------------------------------------------ 21

3.02 DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM -------------------------- 22

3.03 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM ----------------------- 22

3.3.1 ARCHITECTURE OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM -------------------- 22

3.04 SYSTEM SPECIFICATION -------------------------------------------------- 25

3.05 SYSTEM DESIGN ------------------------------------------------------------- 26

CHAPTER FOUR: PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

4.00 THE CHOICE OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE USED ----------- 27

4.01 PROGRAM SPECIFICATION ---------------------------------------------- 28

4.02 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------ 28

4.2.1 PROGRAM FLOWCHART ------------------------------------------------- 29

4.2.2 PROGRAM LAYOUT AND FUNCTIONALITY ------------------------ 31

4.03 VISUAL BASIC.NET EVENT HANDLER ------------------------------- 33

4.04 EDI IMPLIMENTATION ----------------------------------------------------- 35

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.00 SUMMARY --------------------------------------------------------------------- 36

5.01 CONCLUSION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 36

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5.02 RECOMMENDATIONS ---------------------------------------------------- 36

5.03 SUGGESTIONS ------------------------------------------------------------- 37

REFERENCES -------------------------------------------------------------- 39

APENDIX I: PROGRAM INTERFACE

APPENDIX II: SOURCE CODE LISTING

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 ABSTRACT

Design and Implementation of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Interface for

Business Applications. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Interface for Business
Applications is commonly defined as the direct computer – to – computer
exchange of data among standard business firm. The ability to send business
document between machines and expedite the business process. Many
businesses choose EDI as a fast, safe method of sending purchase order,
request for quotation, invoice, payment, and other frequently used business
document, it allows the “paperless trading” in companies. Three other issues
are important for EDI trading to take place: standardization format, security and
integrity. This project work can be used in implementing Electronic Data
Interchange among standard Business firms, using Visual basic for interface
design and Microsoft access as a database. Data gathering and sources of
information were both on primary and secondary methods of data collection;
proper data scrutiny was done so as to be able to implement this project work
more effectively. The amount of experience you need in order to be able to do
EDI directly correlates to the type of EDI solution you choose for your business.
Generally, Specific experience is not needed for EDI software implementation;
simple training is often recommended for your employees. Electronic data
interchange (EDI) serves as tools to improve the business process that flows
between organizations. It reduces cost, delays and error inherent in manual
delivery system of document, and the chief benefits of using electronic data
interchange will be accomplished as: Decreasing the potential source of error,
shortening the lead time between receipt and fulfillment of orders, Providing
trading information, and Enhancing the image of the company etc. I hereby
recommend that company’s should implement Electronic data interchange
(EDI) application for their business transactions because it does not necessary
require high level of training and also it is user friendly and reliable.

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