Difference Between ALE and EDI

ALE is Application Link Enabling and EDI is Electronic Data Interchange. Both ALE and EDI are mainly used for the exchange of information between different systems. Though the basic aim of ALE and EDI is the same, there are some basic differences, including the method of transfer.

In Electronic Data Interchange, the data is transferred from IDoc’s or Intermediate documents to flat file. On the other hand, memory-to-memory transfer takes place in Application Link Enabling.

ALE is one of the most common technologies used in SAP. In SAP, Application Link Enabling is used to transfer transactional and master data from one system to another. ALE is a new version in SAP.

Electronic Data Interchange is much older than the SAP version. This transfer system has been standardized today using EDIFACT and ANSI principles. EDI is used basically for communication between partners of a company or a firm.
Electronic Data Interchange is mainly used for communicating between partner systems. In case of sending invoices or acknowledgements to customers, EDI system is the best way. EDI is also good for receiving inbound orders from various customers.
On the contrary, Application Link Enabling is used for communicating large volumes of data between Logical Systems. In case of sharing customer master statistics between two systems, the ALE system is best suited. If there is a need to transfer invoices from a core SAP system to a non-SAP system, the Application Link Enabling is the best suited.

Summary

1. ALE is Application Link Enabling and EDI is Electronic Data Interchange.
2. In Electronic Data Interchange, the data is transferred from IDoc’s or Intermediate documents to flat file. On the other hand, memory-to-memory transfer takes place in Application Link Enabling.
3. ALE is one of the most common technologies used in SAP. ALE is a new version in SAP.
4. Electronic Data Interchange is much older than the SAP version. This transfer system has been standardized today using EDIFACT and ANSI principles.
5. Application Link Enabling is used to transfer transactional and master data from one system to another. EDI is used basically for communication between partners of a company or a firm.
6. Electronic Data Interchange is mainly used for communicating between partner systems.
7. On the contrary, Application Link Enabling is used for communicating large volumes of data between Logical Systems.
8. In case of sending invoices or acknowledgements to customers, EDI system is the best way