EDI Is Not Dying—and APIs Were Never Going to Replace It

Executive thesis. The EDI-versus-API debate is based on a false replacement narrative. Different interaction patterns solve different operating problems, and mature supply chains will continue to use multiple mechanisms deliberately.
The replacement narrative is too simple
For years, supply chain technology discussions have framed APIs as the modern successor to EDI. That framing confuses age with fitness for purpose. EDI remains deeply embedded in high-volume B2B document exchange because it pr