the use of the EDI with suppliers provides the company two substantial benefits. first of all, this cuts the transaction costs associated with the ordering of products and the paying of invoices. ordering products and paying invoices are, for the most part, well defined and routine processes that can be made very productive and efficient throungh EDI. the second benefit is that these electronic links with suppliers allow wal-mart a high degree of control and coordination in the scheduling and receiving of product deliveries. this helps to ensure a steady flow of the right products at the right time, delivered to the right DCs, by all wal-mart suppliers.