Frequently Asked Questions
What is Electronic Commerce?
Electronic Commerce is any business done electronically. It generally refers to the process of ordering and paying via some electronic means.
What is EDI?
EDI is electronic data interchange. It is the electronic transmission of business documents formatted to an industry standard.
How will EDI benefit me?
There are several ways that EDI will benefit you: It reduces the amount of paperwork and clerical cost you incur while increasing productivity and saving you money. It allows you to communicate with your trading partners faster and more accurately and allows you to have uniform communications with all your trading partners. With EDI capability, you will also have better market position in comparison to your non-EDI competitors.
What is a VAN?
VAN stands for Value Added Network. A VAN is a company that transmits data along its network, i.e., a company such as AT&T, Sterling that transmits data as well as voice. These companies have added other services to their network such as mailboxes and transmission tracking in order to make the service more valuable to their customers.
What is a Trading Partner Agreement?
A Trading Partner Agreement is a legal document which gives the guidelines of business between you and your Trading Partner. You may need a Trading Partner Agreement for each new Trading Partner. By signing the Agreement, you agree that any transactions done via EDI are as legal and binding as a transaction done through the mail or over the phone.
HOM Questions
What is HOM?
HOM stands for Harmony Order Management. This is the Internet solution ESIS has developed for doing EDI.
What do I need to use HOM?
All you need is: A personal computer, a high-speed modem, an Internet service provider (we strongly recommend broadband) and an Internet browser (we recommend Internet Explorer V6.0 or higher).
Do I have to buy software?
No, when you choose to use HOM, you do not have to buy any software. All you need is Internet access and an Internet browser.
Can I use HOM with other Trading Partners?
Yes, you can! All you need to do is become an ESIS customer. You can do this by locating the order form on our general documents WebPages. Then send us the order form along with your payment and a list of trading partners that includes: contact, location, and phone number. Once we have these three things, we will set up your account.
HOM OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS
| Question/Message | Condition Action |
|---|---|
| 'Access Denied' | WRONG WEBSITE, OR PASSWORD ENTERED INCORRECTLY, OR INCORRECT BROWSER VERSION: - Enter correct website address and re-enter password. - Check your sign-on screen; it shows what version of browser you are using. You need to use Netscape 4.7 or higher or MS Explorer 6.0 or higher. |
| 'This URL has no DNS entry' --occurs when you try to log on to website | YOUR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER (ISP) IS HAVING SERVER DIFFICULTIES OR YOU ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET: - Determine if you are connected. If so, call your ISP for assistance. |
| When I click on HOM, nothing happens. | JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED: - Netscape: go to the Edit menu , choose preferences, then choose advanced. Make sure that 'enable Javascript' is marked. - Internet Explorer: choose view, then internet options, then advanced; scroll down to Java JT, make sure that 'JIT compiler enabled' is checked. |
| There is nothing to view when I am on document screen. | EITHER THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTS TO VIEW OR THE 'COOKIES' ARE DISABLED IN THE BROWSER: - Netscape: go to the Edit menu, choose Preferences, then choose advanced. Choose 'accept all cookies'. - Internet Explorer: choose View, then Internet Options, then Advanced; scroll down to Cookies, make sure that 'Always Accept Cookies' is checked. |
| I can't click on the print icon in the report | THE PRINT ICON IS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL YOU CLICK ON THE TEXT: - Click any place within the text on the screen and then select the print icon. - Internet Explorer does not: Printing instructions/saving to a text document are in the user instructions. |