Adoption factors and electronic data interchange use: a survey of retail companies

Reports the results of a survey on Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) use in the retail industry. Finds that contrary to expectations, the extent of EDI adoption is fairly modest with few companies employing EDI for transactions other than purchase orders and invoicing. Discovers that the motivating factors for the adoption of EDI appear to be rooted in tangible economic gains such as reductions in inventory and operating costs and intangible benefits in the form of improved vendor relations and competitive advantage are also perceived as important antecedents of EDI use in the retail industry.