Trading Data Communication Standard, also known as Tradacoms is commonly used EDI format within the UK retail sector. It was developed in 1982 and is one of the precursors to EDIFACT, which is more commonly used. Although it is an older standard it is still used by some of the leading retailers such as Boots and Superdrug.
Tradacoms Message Types
Utilising Tradacoms allows you to send over 25 different messages. Below we’ve listed 10 of the most popular messages we see requested:
ORDHDR – Order
INVFIL – Invoice
CREHDR – Credit Note
DLCHDR – Delivery Confirmation
DELHDR – Delivery Notification
SADHDR – Stock Adjustment
DEBADV – Debit Advice
CREADV – Credit Advice
The Tradacoms standard consists of 26 messages or lines set out in a hierarchical structure. Tradacoms uses multiple line messages in a single transmission, whereas EDIFACT uses a single message format. To identify a Tradacoms message quickly, the first line will start with ‘STX’, this is the syntax.
Tradacoms EDI Message Example
TYP=0430+NEW-ORDERS’
SDT=1234567891098:15155A+CUSTOMER COMPANY LTD+LINE ADDRESS:::POST CODE’
CDT=1234567891098+RETAILER LIMITED+Member Warehouse: STREET:CITY:COUNTY:POSTCODE’
FIL=4995+1+230724′
MTR=6′
MHD=2+ORDERS:’
CLO=1110987654321+RETAILER LIMITED – +TOWN:CITY:COUNTY:POSTCODE’
ORD=4486857::230724′
DIN=230727+230727+0900:0900+Raised by NETDA -file?: 172015_20230724_7:03800′
OLD=1+:12345678910982+12345678910980+:62244+12+70+70400+++PRODUCT’
OLD=2++:12345678910982+12345678910980+:62244+12+70+70400+++PRODUCT’
OLD=3+:+:12345678910933+12345678910933+:62244+12+70+70400+++PRODUCT’
OLD=4+:+:12345678910944+12345678910944+:62244+12+70+70400+++PRODUCT’
OLD=5+:+:12345678910922+12345678910922+:62244+12+70+70400+++PRODUCT’
OLD=6+:+:12345678910911+12345678910911+:62244+12+70+70400+++PRODUCT’
OLD=7+:+:12345678910966+12345678910966+:62244+12+70+70400+++PRODUCT’
OLD=8+:+:12345678910977+12345678910977+:62244+12+70+70400+++PRODUCT’
OLD=15+:+:12345678910900+12345678910900+:62244+12+70+70400+++PRODUCT’
OTR=15′
MTR=21′
MHD=3+ORDTLR:9′
OFT=1′
MTR=3′
END=3′
Please note, the identifiable data within this transmission have been altered to protect the identifiable data. However, the example above is based on a EDI document.
Tradacoms Message Structure
A Tradacoms message consists of 3 elements, the header, main message and footer details. When this data is sent all together, it is a full Tradacoms message. Let’s look at a real-life example, if a trading partner was to send an order. In the graph below it will show the application reference and the corresponding line:
Header: ORDHDR MHD=1+ORDHDR:9′
Message: ORDERS MHD=2+ORDERS:9′
Footer: ORDTLR MHD=3+ORDTLR:9′
The MHD is an identifiable feature that will allow you to easily find the application reference within the message. Depending on the order and location, various other tags will be used to create the detailed content of what is being sent within the transmission,
Trying to connect via Tradacoms?
Our solutions Netix One and Netix Flow are able to connect via any EDI standard including Tradacoms EDIFACT and ASC X12. Both solutions are able to translate and transmit various EDI message types into a human-readable format, making it easy for your team to access crucial business information.
If you’re looking to connect to your trading partners via EDI, get in touch today!