In logistics, data mapping has always been a blocker. It's what connects raw EDI files to clean order data. It’s the step between your customer’s CSV and your TMS. And until now, it’s been slow, brittle, and frustrating to manage.
We’ve lived that pain. So we fixed it.
With Chain.io’s Custom Mapping Tool, logistics teams can now build, test, and deploy their own data transformations—between EDI, JSON, XML, and CSV—in a fraction of the time it used to take. No external devs. No brittle custom code. Just a simple, powerful tool that puts mapping back under your control.
The Challenge: Mapping Tools Weren’t Built for You
Data mapping is what turns a raw EDI 214 into a usable status update. It’s what lets a JSON order from a digital platform land cleanly in your TMS. Without it, systems can’t talk to each other.
The problem? Most mapping tools today are:
- Overly technical – You need developers with niche knowledge of mapping languages or custom scripting environments.
- Slow to change – A new trading partner or data format can take weeks to integrate.
- Opaque – Once the mapping is done, it’s locked away in brittle code or owned by a third party.
- Error-prone – Small mistakes compound into costly delays, failed flows, and bad data in your downstream systems.
For logistics teams trying to move faster and adapt to customer demands, the traditional approach to mapping is a bottleneck.
The Use Case: Self-Service Mapping for EDI, JSON, XML, and CSV
Here’s where the Custom Mapping Tool comes in.
Let’s say you're onboarding a new shipper who sends orders in CSV, but your TMS expects JSON. Or you’re working with a retailer who only speaks EDI 850s. Normally, that would kick off a multi-week integration project involving mapping specifications, developer time, testing, and back-and-forth.
Now? You upload the source file, hit a Format Code wand that auto-converts it to clean JSON, and build your mapping with simple expressions. Done in minutes.
You can even:
- Reuse common templates for logistics-specific formats like EDI 214, 940, 945, and more
- Use lookup tables to handle value translations (e.g., carrier codes, product SKUs)
- Version and test mappings safely before pushing to production
That means faster partner onboarding, fewer errors, and less reliance on internal development resources.
Why Mapping Has Been So Hard (Until Now)
The logistics industry has been stuck with outdated assumptions about mapping:
- Only developers can do it. Most platforms assume you’ll be writing XSLT, scripting JSONata from scratch, or building transformation logic in a proprietary engine.
- You have to pick a side. Either EDI or modern formats. Either flexibility or stability. Either build it fast, or build it right.
- Each integration is a new project. Mapping was rarely reusable. Even small changes kicked off a full cycle of testing and debugging.
The result? Mapping was something you endured, not something you owned.
How We’re Solving It
Chain.io’s Custom Mapping Tool was built specifically for logistics and supply chain integrations. It simplifies the hard parts while giving you real control.
- Built-in transformations handle the heavy lifting so you don’t need to write complex code.
- Support for all major file types (EDI, XML, JSON, CSV) means no more custom dev just to get started.
- Real-time previews show you what the output looks like as you build it.
- Version control and flow deployment are built-in—no external tooling or workflows needed.
Instead of fighting with brittle, custom scripts, you're configuring reusable, maintainable mappings on your terms.
The Bottom Line: Faster, Smarter Integrations
We built the Custom Mapping Tool because supply chain teams needed a faster, smarter way to transform data.
Whether you’re onboarding a new partner, replacing brittle logic, or supporting multiple file formats across customers, this tool gives you control, speed, and confidence.
Watch a quick overview of how the tool works, or schedule a full demo with our team today.
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