Build vs Buy (or Both): The EDI and B2B Integration Decision 

At some point, most growing companies run into the same question: Do we keep building our own EDI and B2B integrations, or do we bring in a partner? 

There isn’t a universal right answer. It usually comes down to how much complexity you want to own internally and how much your IT staff is willing to take on. 

What Does “Build” Mean in EDI and B2B integration? 

When companies plan to “build” EDI in-house, it sounds straightforward. It tends to expand quickly. You’re not just setting up a system that runs itself, you’re committing to: 

• Running servers and software in-house 

• Training (and keeping) specialized IT staff who understand EDI and related formats 

• Monitoring data flows and troubleshooting around the clock 

• Updating systems as standards and partner requirements change 

In theory, building an internal department gives you control. But that control comes with full responsibility that doesn’t go away over time. 

How “Buying” and Working with a Partner Can Help 

For companies that decide not to carry all of that internally, the appeal of a managed services partner is practical. You should make sure that the vendors you consider offer: 

• Consistent monitoring and support, without building a team around it 

• Ability to scale up (or down) without reworking your setup 

• Security (SOC2 or similar) and compliance is handled as a part of the service 

• VAN services, including translation-on-the-fly if your trading partners require a format different than yours 

• Flexibility on connecting via SFTP, AS2 or other methods your partners may require 

• Fast onboarding of additional trading partners, without excess charges 

Some of The Realities of Relying on EDI 

A lot of teams go into the decision thinking mainly about cost or control. But there are a few practical details that tend to surface. 

It’s never just one format. Even if your core business runs on EDI, your partners don’t all operate the same way. You’ll end up dealing with APIs, spreadsheets, PDFs, and the edge cases that you didn’t plan for. 

Partners dictate the connection. There are companies that require VAN connectivity, while others will use an AS2 or SFTP connection.  

There are more changes than expected. Things like AS2 certificates, IP whitelisting, and endpoint updates sound minor, but the related support tasks add up. Someone has to track them, coordinate changes, and make sure nothing breaks in the process.  

Control does not mean you’re independent. Self-service platforms don’t fit everyone’s needs. If you decide to switch, you will likely need to recreate your maps and configurations and re-test. 

It’s not entry-level work. Even with modern tools, managing data integration is not something you can hand off to junior staff. Mapping, exception handling, and partner coordination still require experience. 

Considering a Hybrid Approach 

In practice, buy vs. build isn’t always an either/or decision. You might have an in-house expert but want to outsource some tasks. For example, your internal IT team may continue managing critical APIs or a handful of high-volume EDI relationships, while an outsourced provider like Kleinschmidt handles the myriad connections of smaller or more complex trading partners. This approach combines the control and familiarity of the “buy model” with the scalability, reliability, and around-the-clock expertise of the “build” model or EDI outsourcing.  

How to Decide: Build vs Buy vs Both

When weighing the decision, ask: 

• Do we have the budget and skills to hire and retain specialized EDI staff? 

• Can our team support not just EDI X12, but also APIs, XML, CSV, and custom formats? 

• Who will manage ongoing changes, such as certificates, endpoints, and partner updates? 

• What is the risk if key team members leave, systems fail, or partners change requirements? 

• Would EDI outsourcing free up staff so that they can focus on our core business instead? 

The Kleinschmidt Difference 

At Kleinschmidt, we work as an extension of your team. Whether you need help with EDI, APIs, or hybrid integration, we deliver secure, reliable connectivity across your supply chain. With decades of experience and 24/7/365 support from our Deerfield, IL operations center, you get the peace of mind of enterprise-class service—without the overhead.

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