Inventory EDI

 

You would need to determine what format file these suppliers propose to offer, then you would need to build custom software that would read such a format and post it against the store database.

 

EDI is somewhat "old world" technology, and was very popular with large IT shops back in the 90's.  (I built EDI systems back in the day to talk to vendors such as Mervyns, JC Penney's and Toys R Us using large IBM AS/400 corporate systems.)  And while it is obviously still out there, a more current technology is the use of XML feeds. 

 

For example, there is a distributor (CWR) in the electronics sector who makes available a daily XML download of certain product data that their wholesalers may obtain and use.  We began working on an interface to that data feed, but stopped when the client decided to change directions.  Our approach was to use the structure of the "product import" tool, replacing the CSV input with XML.  However, Dan Anderson at www.netprofits.biz tells me that he has also completed a very robust integration to the same distributor.  It's a 1-click operation that one runs from the admin.

 

If your suppliers could make the data available in XML form, the module that Dan created might be a very tasty solution.  I'd suggest you determine the answer to this question, and if positive, communicate with Dan to see if his module could be cloned to suit your needs.