Communication Methods

EDI is the electronic exchange of business documents (transaction sets) between organizations in a standardized format.
Message are sent via Value Added Network (VAN), which is a private network for transmitting data between business trading partners.

EDI messages can also be sent via the Internet. This requires specialized communication software: 3M currently uses AS2.

Whilst 3M has mailboxes with the major Value Added Networks, we can also accept messages via intermediary companies.
If you already send orders to other suppliers via an intermediary company, this would perhaps be most convenient for you.

XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language. XML files are simple text files in which the content is surrounded by tags describing the content.
3M can communicate using XML in two ways: Https and email.

Excel files may be emailed to 3M for order processing.
We can either provide you with a pre-formatted spreadsheet which you complete for each order and send to our Excel email address, or we may be able to accept your Excel order files as they are currently generated.

3M has a private online store in which our customers can order their products over the Internet.

If you are unable to order from 3M electronically, we are happy to do it the old-fashioned way!
Simply contact our customer service team to place your order.