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126 P a r t I I I : W h a t Y o u C a n D o

That said, it doesn’t mean that the company shouldn’t adopt EDI—it just means the
company doesn’t have to set it up within its own organization. You can outsource EDI
functions to an EDI service bureau (such as EDI Service Bureau, Inc., via Link 6-7).
Perception is also a problem for EDI. Many think that EDI allows your vendors or
business partners to have their hands in your network. There is a perception that suppliers
can have open access to their data within your network. This isn’t the case.
Although some companies may be hesitant to sign on with EDI, some organizations
insist on it—that is, if you care to do business with them. Some smaller companies are
required to use EDI if they want to do business with larger trading partners.

Going paperless can seem like a daunting task—and it is. You’ve used paper all your work
life, so it’s what you and all your coworkers know. But you don’t have to go cold turkey and
do it all at once. The best thing to do is to introduce new paperless techniques as they arise.
That is, change one business stream at a time.
For instance, maybe next month you’ll change your billing to a paperless model. After
that has smoothed itself out, look at another business stream—such as that intranet—and
get it up and running. By taking the process one step at a time, you’ll be sure to make a
smooth, easy, effective transition.
The message should be loud and clear by now—going paperless helps your company
save money, and it helps the environment. We’ll continue to examine how the environment
can be helped and how you can be conscientious when it comes to disposing of recyclable
material in the next chapter.