What is an EDI VAN Provider?
EDI VAN Provider
An EDI VAN (Value Added Network) provider is the company that manages the exchange of electronic data between a business and its trading partners. An EDI VAN provides a secure and reliable way for companies to communicate in the digital world, eliminating the need for paper or human intervention. This helps companies reduce costs, improve customer service and streamline operations.
EDI VAN providers can be found around the globe and provide various services, including converting files from one format to another, transmitting files, storing data and providing visibility tools for businesses. These networks allow for the translation of EDI documents, and some even offer management reporting and other advanced functions for a fee. Some EDI VANs also offer a web portal or UI called “web EDI,” which lets you manually enter your EDI documents into a browser-based interface, instead of using your back-end ERP system right away. This can be time consuming and error-prone, but it can help businesses start their EDI journey without much investment.
There are many options for companies looking to become EDI-ready, and some may choose to set up direct edi van provider connections with each of their trading partners. However, as a company grows and gains more trading partners, this can quickly become overwhelming. Setting up direct connections requires a significant amount of upfront work to understand each trading partner’s connection requirements, build and translate EDI documents, and then integrate these documents with a company’s back-end systems. EDI VANs offer a more cost-effective and scalable solution to becoming EDI-ready by enabling businesses to connect with multiple trading partners at once through a single network.
What is an EDI VAN Provider?
As a result, EDI VANs can offer companies a level of dependability and security that was not possible with direct EDI. EDI networks can also be more flexible when it comes to supporting new document exchange standards and protocols, which is an important consideration for supply chain leaders that must keep pace with evolving technology.
A single EDI VAN network is easy to manage and maintain, cutting down on entry points, which increases efficiency and visibility. EDI VANs also provide ongoing innovation to support new EDI standards and protocols, which can be costly for organizations that rely on outdated EDI systems.
Consolidate EDI communication channels to simplify your operations, eliminate costly errors and get the visibility you need for proactive business decisions. A single EDI VAN pre-connected to your key trading partners is also a strong investment in future-proofing your company. Whether you’re embracing trading partner EDI mandates or expanding technical capabilities, multiple systems are costly to maintain and can slow down your time to market. Ensure consistent, high-quality communications with a single EDI network that’s designed to meet your company’s growing needs.