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Launch of Edifactoring 2.0 Test Environment
Edifactoring 2.0 is ready for launch
8 March 2022

Written by Ciprian Radu, Manager Business & IT Solutions, FCI

In FCI’s last newsletter, In-Sight, November 2021 edition, I ended my article stating that Spring 2022 will be most likely the GoLive moment for Edifactoring 2.0. Since then, in the passing months, final touches and tests in terms of security and performance were made that led us to conclude that the current build is ready for production, and therefore it is time to launch stage 1. We have chosen the second week in April, and that’s how the 8th of April 2022 was selected to be the moment for the launching of Edifactoring 2.0 into production. This date will mark when the current version of Edifactoring, which was officially launched on the 8th of April 2002, 20 years back, will hand over the torch to a new version.

As I’ve mentioned in past articles, Edifactoring 2.0 was under a continuous development process for more than a year, counting as many as 17 iterations and several revisions to reach the current stable build. For this build Centric, FCI & ComCom have been working hard to ensure that our cross-border factoring platform is ready for the next step: the future.

I want to share one thought from a personal insight related to this project. To some extent, I was worried on some occasions by the fact that maybe we overdid it in some of the changes made to Edifactoring. This concern comes from my experience for many years as an Edifactoring user when I have enjoyed working with Edifactoring. Doing changes on something that works isn’t easily recommended as we sometimes tend to stay in the safety zone of what we know. Still, receiving the feedback from the users involved in the acceptance period helped me see that the embedded changes led us down the right path. Although we didn’t alter the existing messages (nothing added nor removed from the known structures or flows) or reports, some elements will present themselves as altered and therefore different from the usual Edifactoring we became used to for so many years.

From the source code perspective, Edifactoring received a complete overhaul to improve security and versatility by being updated to one unique language and re-built in line with the existing technologies. The automatic interface received a new updated version, with a twist in the way members will be capable of interfacing themselves with Edifactoring in a more secure and controlled manner.

To improve the user experience, we brought in changes like a revamped dashboard, an automatic delivery system for messages and reports with special attention given for the messages, the possibility to preview a single message, an enhanced system folder layout, enhanced filtering for messages, and folders, new specialized system folders for overall views like those that “groups” messages or presents all the messages exchanged, extended or newly added reports, a new way to make a message by adding the option of ‘Message by Ledger’ that allows users to interact with the existing account receivables ledger and generate messages.

Knowing that we will move to a new version that requires time for an adjustment, like any new creation, we have planned the deployment in two stages. Using a step-by-step approach will provide our users’ community enough time to accommodate for better adoption of the new version.

So, the first stage will cover the Test environment of our cross-border factoring platform, and it will take place in the current month, March. The main aim of this stage is to provide our users’ community a starting moment to learn & explore all about the new platform. Educational material and guides are updated and fi ne-tuned to provide as many viable information sources as possible. A special virtual Edifactoring 2.0 training session will be made available to all members on the 22nd and 24th of March.

The second stage will cover the Production environment, which will be done, as mentioned at the beginning of this article on the 3rd of April.

As for the future of Edifactoring, once we go live with the new version, this will trigger the starting of the next phase, where exploration starts for new possible paths of development that were not possible until now. As soon as milestones are reached, we will share the news.

In the end, I wish to address a special thanks to my FCI colleagues, ComCom, and Members with their dedicated users who joined the User Test Force and who provided their invaluable feedback and expertise to make this new version and moment possible. Thank you!

For those who missed the Edifactoring 2.0 Training Webinar on 22 & 24 March, you can watch the recording by clicking the link below: