# Why EDI onboarding takes so long for SMBs (and how to fix it)?

EDI onboarding for small businesses is slow because of five core problems: limited internal resources, choosing the wrong EDI software, poor data quality, ticket-based support that goes ignored for days, and no clear project ownership.

Here's what actually fixes each one:

1. Limited resources → Use a fully managed EDI provider so you're not relying on your ops or finance team to become EDI experts.

2. Wrong software → Avoid legacy platforms with hidden fees and rigid contracts. Look for transparent pricing and no long-term lock-in.

3. Poor data quality → Clean your item master before onboarding starts. Inconsistent SKUs and missing ship-to codes will stall certification every time.

4. Ticket-based support → Require direct human communication with your provider during testing. A 2-day response delay during certification can blow your entire go-live timeline.

5. No ownership → Assign one person on your side and confirm one named contact on the provider side before the project starts.

The 856 ASN is almost always the hardest part: carton hierarchy, tracking integration, and timing requirements catch most SMBs off guard.

We cover in detail about it here in this video: <a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://youtube.com/live/yCv553hPGPM.">https://youtube.com/live/yCv553hPGPM.</a>

To read our complete EDI guide on onboarding best practices for SMBs, read: <a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://edielevate.com/complete-edi-onboarding-guide-for-small-businesses/">https://edielevate.com/complete-edi-onboarding-guide-for-small-businesses/</a>

What's caused the most delays in your EDI onboarding?

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: 5 months ago
- Author title: Always By Your Side, Solving EDI Challenges
- Net upvotes: 1



## Related Product
[Elevate](https://www.g2.com/products/edi-support-llc-elevate/reviews)

## Related Category
[Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)](https://www.g2.com/categories/electronic-data-interchange-edi)

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