Difference between ALE and EDI

[Former Member]

Hi all

Can anyone tell me the exact difference between EDI and ALE ? I have seen many threads which say that ALE should be used for master data whereas EDI for transactinal data.

But in my object I used ALe for posting PO which is transactional data. Hence the above statement is not true.

I just want to know in simple terms what is EDI and ALE and what is the exact difference between them?

I know that EDI is general technology and ALE is SAP technology.

Please don't give the other thread links which are misleading.

I want simple explanation in simple and logical terms.

Thanks

[Former Member]

Hi,

First ALE and EDI are totally two different things.

ALE is a type of connection through which we can Send Idoc. Which Contains Data.

EDI is Structure which contains Data.To send EDI we have to make communication Channel.

So there is no similarity b/w them.

ALE is for SAP Systems.

EDI is for Legacy Systems(NON-SAP)

Hope this Helps.

Regards

Sandipan

[Former Member]

Hi

Hi Sandipan,

According to my knowledge, EDI is a technology for nonpaper data transfer which is based on some standards. EDI is not just the structure. We can send data using EDI system(Hence not just the structure). EDI system comprises of various components like EDI subsystems(translators), IDoc creation program etc.

EDI can be used between sap as well as non SAP systems.

Whereas ALE is SAP technology to transfer data between SAP systems .

Both use IDocs to transfer data.

ALe comprises of distribution model and all and EDI doesn't have all these.

Please correct me where I am wrong.

Now my question is When to use what? And how to decide that?

Thanks & Warm regards

Raveesh

[Former Member]

Hi Raveesh,

You can in general tell EDI as a technology because it has different types

Like ANSI X12

EDIFACT etc.

And one thing EDI can Only be used b/w NON-SAP to NON-SAP and NON-SAP to SAP.

It can't be used b/w two different SAP systems.

Because SAP only knows IDOC format.

Both dont use Idoc for Data Transfer.

EDI uses different communication Structure.

It is Given Below:-

ISA * 00 * 000000000 * 01 * PASSWORD * 12 * 4086554000 * 01 * 205415573 * 970525 * 1032*U*00302 * 000000032 * 0 * P * <!

   GS * PO * 4086554000 * INST * 970525 * 0943 * 1 * X * 003020!

      ST * 850 * 0001!
	BEG * 00 * SA * 00239 ** 970501
	N1* ST * Customer01
	N3 * 300 Street01
	N4 * Our City * State01
	N1 * BT* Supplier
	N3 * 250 Street
	N4 * Our City * State
	PER * Mr Smith
	PO1 * 01 * 200 * EA * 59.00* CA* BP* ABC546
	PO1 * 02* 100* EA* 61.00* CA* BP* BZX321
	CTT * 2* 17900
      SE * 13 * 0001!

      ST * 850 * 0002!
	BEG * 00 * SA * 00239 ** 970601
	N1* ST * Customer02
	N3 * 300 Street02
	N4 * Our City * State02
	N1 * BT * Supplier
	N3 * 250 Street
	N4 * Our City * State
	PER * Mr Smith
	PO2 * 01* 400* EA* 65.00* CA* BP* ABC654
	PO2 * 02* 100* EA* 61.00* CA* BP* BZX321
	CTT * 2* 15400
      SE * 13 * 0002!

   GE * 2 * 1!
   
   GS * PC * 4086554000 * INST * 970525 * 0958 * 2 * X * 003020!

      ST * 850 * 0001!
	BEG * 00 * SA * 00239 ** 970501
	N1* ST * Customer01
	N3 * 300 Street01
	N4 * Our City * State01
	N1 * BT* Supplier01
	N3 * 250 Street01
	N4 * Our City * State01
	PER * Mr Johnson
	PO3 * 01* 213* EA* 12.00* CA* BP* ABC546
	PO3 * 02* 875* EA* 61.00* CA* BP* BZX659
	CTT * 2* 54800
      SE * 13 * 0001!

      ST * 850 * 0002!
	BEG * 00 * SA * 00239 ** 970601
	N1* ST * Customer02
	N3 * 300 Street02
	N4 * Our City * State02
	N1 * BT* Supplier01
	N3 * 250 Street01
	N4 * Our City * State01
	PER * Mr Johnson
	PO4 * 01* 546* EA* 52.00* CA* BP* ABC210
	PO4 * 02* 984* EA* 36.00* CA* BP* BZX549
	CTT * 2* 21600
      SE * 13 * 0002!

   GE * 2 * 2!

IEA * 2 * 000000032!

You can find ISA,GS,ST,SE,GE,IEA those are data segments, and the '*' seperated values are the fields of a data segment.

So when You have one or two NON-SAP systems u can use EDI.

when u have two SAP systems u can use ALE for transfer of IDOC.

Regards

Sandipan.

[Former Member]

hai Raveesh,

The Basic Difference Between ALE And EDI is

ALE Is used to transfer data from SAP System To SAP System.

EDI Is Used To Transfer Data Between NON Sap System To SAP System.

Regards.

Eshwar.

[Former Member]

Hi Raveesh,

ALE--

Application Link Enabling (ALE) is a set of business processes and tools that allow applications on different computer systems to be linked. This can be done between different SAP systems as well as between SAP and non-SAP systems.

In a single SAP system different applications are integrated via a single database (e.g. finance, sales, production, and human resources). However, many companies do not have just one integrated system but a distributed environment with different applications running on different systems. To run the whole business in such an environment the distributed applications have to be linked. This can be done through Application Link Enabling (ALE).

ALE provides distributed business processes that can be used to link the applications on different platforms. There is some ALE business processes delivered in the standard SAP system. Furthermore, there are tools that can be used to change the existing ALE business processes or to implement new distributed business processes.

Besides the business processes there are special ALE services that are required to set up and control a distributed environment. These services include a distribution model, business object synchronization and tools for monitoring or error handling.

ALE is a major part of SAP's Business Framework Architecture. Besides the basis middleware, that provides the communication between components, and the interfaces (BAPIs), ALE business processes and ALE services enable the cooperation of the single components within the framework. That makes ALE the glue of the Business Framework

Benifits:

With ALE companies get the opportunity to improve business performance and to solve organizational or technical issues.

Through distribution you can decentralize your business, enabling local units to operate independently from each other. This flexibility enables the local units to return better business results than in a centralized environment. They have the necessary flexibility to optimize business processes in different organizational units and can ensure that information systems can handle the speed of change in rapidly expanding markets. Distribution allows a high level of freedom, provided that this level of freedom has been clearly defined.

On the other hand, some companies, that already have a distributed organization with different computer systems in the local units, have the opportunity to link their units through ALE business processes. This enables them for example to provide a 'one face to the customer' approach. Another area that can benefit through ALE is virtual organizations (partnerships between independent companies, joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions).

USE:

• The functional scope in a distributed environment is restricted. Not all functionality that is available in an integrated SAP system can be used with distributed systems in the standard yet. Although ALE provides tools to create new ALE business processes or to enhance existing business processes, this does involve additional expenditure.

• Each company needs some organizational standards and data harmonization. In a distributed environment less standards are required than on a single integrated system. However, in a distributed environment the maintenance of the standards and the data harmonization is more difficult than on a single system.

• The administration of decentralized systems is more expensive. Support and service costs for hardware and software in decentralized systems are higher than these costs in a single centralized system.

EDI:

The SAP EDI architecture consists of:

• EDI-enabled applications, to support the automatic processing of business transactions.

• The IDoc interface, which consists of IDoc types and function modules that form the interface to the application. There are IDocs available that support orders and invoices. IDocs are identical for inbound and outbound processing.

Eg. ORDERS02

• The EDI subsystem, which converts the IDoc types into EDI message types and vice versa. This component of the EDI architecture is not supplied by SAP, thus the existing ASI EDI subsystem will be used.

Eg: Gentran or Mercator

• EDI Interface between SAP R/3 system and EDI subsystem. For inbound processing, this involves opening the inbound message file, and processing the IDoc messages. For outbound processing, this involves selecting the outbound documents, creating an outbound message file and writing this file to the shared directory. The exact transfer times are scheduled using batch jobs. Please refer to ‘EDI Production Configuration Guide’ for further interface details

USE:

o EDI is used as a strategic tool to reduce expenses, streamline business procedures, and create a competitive advantage

It will be helpful for you..

if satisfied,,rewards me...

Kind Regards

Yogesh Gupta

[Former Member]

ALE is SAP Technology to send and receive business data in SAP Systems.Container for the data is Idoc.

EDI is electonic data interchange is a standard business data format used to exchange business data

between any 2 systems on different networks.

[Former Member]

Hi,

In Simple terms we differentiate in the following way

EDI : EDI is electronic data interchange and used to exchange data b/w 2 partners which are in two independent networks.No need to bother the what the other partner system is,whether SAP or some legassy system.Not an SAP own technology but SAP supports EDI.

ALE: Mostly used to communicate b/w R/3 to R/3 system only.U can still communicate to other legassy systems but not so demand .SAP technology.Note that using ALE u can also used to trnasfer transactional data along with master data.